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10 Clinical Psychology Research Topics to Explore

Whether you’re working toward a PsyD or a PhD in Clinical Psychology , landing on a research paper that will sustain your interest throughout your doctoral program can be both thrilling and challenging.

Should you go with a niche you know well or branch out to another psychology specialization ? Should you choose a research topic you’re passionate about or opt for something more topical and needed in the broader realm of behavioral and mental health?

Only you can answer these questions—however, this blog may provide you with some inspiration and direction. Let’s walk through 10 of the most fascinating clinical psychology research topics and how they might bring you closer to your educational and professional objectives.

Explore Clinical Psychology Programs

10 Emerging Research Topics in Clinical Psychology

One of the benefits of clinical psychology is that it’s far from a static field.

With each passing year, we gain more and more insight into the brain and how it affects behavior. In the last few years alone, for example, we’ve obtained a clearer picture of the negative effects of digital media on mental health and behavior. But we’ve also seen how digital media (specifically, mobile apps) can enhance mental health when used correctly. 1

Put simply, clinical psychology is a dynamic, exhilarating realm with seemingly boundless possibilities for further research.

Nonetheless, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when settling on a clinical psychology research paper topic, especially when it’s one that you may be intimate with for years. To that end, consider these top 10 psychology topics to get you started in your research area:

#1. Mental Health Technology and Digital Interventions

The pandemic dramatically altered how healthcare practitioners interact with their patients and clients. Whereas psychotherapy and other forms of counseling were once performed almost exclusively in person, COVID-19 turned mental telehealth into our new reality.

But what might the long-term effects of this be? And will it persist as we march into the future?

Exploring the impact of digital mental health interventions (such as apps, other digital tools, and teleconferences) on well-being may open up a world of possible clinical psychology research topics and questions. 2 For instance, it may compel you to ask and research thoughts like:

• How will AI alter mental health treatments, if at all?
• Will digital mental health interventions ultimately cause or worsen isolation?
• What are the downsides and perks of turning to social media for mental health information?
• What is the relevance and value of in-person counseling sessions, post-pandemic?
• Do clients feel safer in online sessions?
• How can technology be employed to monitor patients outside of sessions?
• How does mental telehealth affect the elderly?

Technology is rapidly and constantly changing. In other words, psychology and technology may be exciting subjects to explore as you work towards starting or completing your doctorate.

#2. Cross-Cultural and Global Mental Health 

Globalization has its pros and cons. Studies indicate that while it may have its advantages, it can also heighten: 4

• Discrimination

Each of these may have lasting effects, including increasing the risk of mental disorders like addiction, depression, and anxiety. In other words, it needs to be examined by experts from multiple standpoints.

As a doctoral student, you’re in an ideal spot to investigate this complex issue. It also emphasizes the need to gain cultural competency and a global mindset as a mental health practitioner, which is another possible research topic in and of itself.

#3. Neuropsychology and Cognitive Processes

The field of neuropsychology and cognitive processes continues to grow, particularly with the advent of digital tools and their ability to monitor cognition. 5 Exploring our advancing knowledge of how the brain affects behavior may allow you to look at a wide range of mental health disorders and the newest clinical interventions that are being made available, such as treating:

• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

#4. Trauma and Resilience Studies

Psychologists and psychiatrists ranging from Bessel Van der Kolk to Peter Levine forever altered our understanding of trauma. What was once thought of as a purely psychological issue is now understood as a bodily ailment. 6

But how might this look as we move forward in time and gain an enhanced understanding of neuroplasticity? Will somatics continue to play a role in treating trauma, or will technological advances send practitioners and their clients in a completely different direction?

You may be in a position to dig deeper and find out.

#5. Behavioral Health and Chronic Conditions

The unique relationship between chronic conditions and behavioral health is also up for exploration. Growing research indicates that chronic conditions (such as diabetes) can trigger mental health complications like depression, which can then perpetuate the cycle of the chronic condition.

This topic may be especially timely and relevant as it emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between a patient’s full healthcare team and points out flaws in treating chronic conditions solely from a pharmaceutical stance.

#6. Psychotherapy Process and Outcome Research

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and other forms of traditional “talk therapy” have been mainstays in the field of clinical psychology for decades. But this, too, isn’t static, especially as clients continue to look more toward body-based therapies and technology-fueled solutions, like: 8

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Neurofeedback therapy 
• Brainspotting
• Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Is it too soon to know if these and other fresh forms of mental health treatments have the same staying power as, say, cognitive behavioral therapy? This might be optimal for exploration.

#7. Social Determinants of Mental Health 

Social determinants of mental health (SDOMH) refer to the external circumstances that may impact an individual’s mental well-being and make them more vulnerable to conditions ranging from depression to addiction. SDOMH includes: 9

• Unemployment 
• Social isolation
• Urban crowding

How will SDOMH change as we move forward? Will it? Additionally, what is a clinical psychologist’s role in addressing these issues? What are the most effective strategies for working with those who have been disadvantaged?

This is an important topic as we, as a society, continue to address long-buried issues of race and class.

#8. Addiction and Substance Use Disorders

Addiction remains a prevalent topic: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects roughly 10.5% of the population, while 46.8 million Americans wrestled with a substance abuse disorder in 2022 alone. 10

Analyzing the most recent treatments and the future of treatments might not only pave the way for your own work after completion of your PsyD or PhD but also do a tremendous service for those who suffer from addiction (and their loved ones and families).

#9. Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Numerous studies indicate that kids and teens now have unusually high rates of: 11

• Substance use

What plays into this? Is social media entirely to blame, or can social sites also be a resource for youngsters? And how can clinical psychologists tweak their methods to resonate with kids and teens?

These are just three of the many questions you might ask if you decide to adopt this topic for your clinical research.

#10. Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology

Last but not least, consider the value of examining both the main and more subtle ethics and professional issues in clinical psychology at work today, such as:

• Privacy 
• Informed consent
• Cultural sensitivity 
• Termination of counseling

Shape the Future of Mental Health with Alliant International University 

From making a substantial difference in the lives of others to eradicating the stigmas that surround certain mental health conditions, clinical psychologists are in a prime position to fuel lasting change. Selecting a clinical research topic that ignites your spirit and works toward solving larger social issues takes this notion to the next level.

Alliant International University may get you closer to becoming the type of clinical psychologist who can make an impact. Whether you’re exploring our PsyD in Clinical Psychology or have just started college, we’re proud to offer doctoral programs for psychology that can help you excel in your future profession. And with online and in-person classes and training, you might find the flexibility your life requires.

Learn more about our clinical psychology programs today.

Sources: 

• “Exploring the Latest Frontiers in Clinical Psychology Research.” The Clinic, March 25, 2024. https://theclinicca.org/exploring-the-latest-frontiers-in-clinical-psyc… .
•  Park, Susanna Y, Chloe Nicksic Sigmon, and Debra Boeldt. “A Framework for the Implementation of Digital Mental Health Interventions: The Importance of Feasibility and Acceptability Research.” Cureus, September 19, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9580609/.  
• Bond, Raymond R., Maurice D. Mulvenna, Courtney Potts, Siobhan O’Neill, Edel Ennis, and John Torous. “Digital Transformation of Mental Health Services.” Nature News, August 22, 2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-023-00033-y.  
• “Cross-Cultural Mental Health.” CMHA British Columbia, July 14, 2016. https://bc.cmha.ca/documents/cross-cultural-mental-health-and-substance-use-2/.  
• “New Research Looks at the Promise of ‘Digital Neuropsychology.’” McLean News | New Research Looks at the Promise of “Digital Neuropsychology,” January 7, 2019. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/new-research-looks-promise-digital-neuropsychology.  
• Kuhfuß, Marie, Tobias Maldei, Andreas Hetmanek, and Nicola Baumann. “Somatic Experiencing - Effectiveness and Key Factors of a Body-Oriented Trauma Therapy: A Scoping Literature Review.” European journal of psychotraumatology, July 12, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8276649/.  
• “The Intersection of Mental Health and Chronic Disease.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Accessed April 17, 2024. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/the-intersection-of-mental-health-and-chronic-disease.  
• Theodora Blanchfield, AMFT. “What to Know about Brainspotting Therapy.” Verywell Mind, January 16, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/brainspotting-therapy-definition-techniques-and-efficacy-5213947.  
• Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health. Accessed April 17, 2024. https://www.ncsc.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/70864/Social-Determinants-of-Health.pdf.  
• “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics (Facts about Addiction).” American Addiction Centers, April 4, 2024. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/addiction-statistics#.  
• “Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 8, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html.  

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Clinical Psychology Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of clinical psychology research paper topics , designed to support students navigating the complexities of mental health studies. Aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of psychological assessment, therapeutic methods, and the myriad issues faced by individuals with mental health disorders, these topics cover a broad spectrum of areas within clinical psychology. From exploring the efficacy of different therapeutic approaches to examining the impact of cultural and social factors on mental health, this list serves as a vital resource for students seeking to contribute meaningful research to the field. Whether you are interested in the latest trends in neuropsychology, the intricacies of forensic psychology, or the challenges of mental health in children and adolescents, these carefully selected topics offer a rich foundation for your academic inquiries and research endeavors.

100 Clinical Psychology Research Paper Topics

Clinical psychology plays a pivotal role in understanding, diagnosing, and treating mental health issues, standing at the forefront of efforts to improve psychological well-being and quality of life. This field combines rigorous academic research with practical therapeutic applications, making it essential for students to engage with a wide range of topics that reflect the diversity and complexity of human psychology. The topics listed here span foundational theories, cutting-edge therapeutic interventions, and the nuanced interplay between mental health and societal factors, offering students a comprehensive overview of the landscape of clinical psychology.

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• The history and evolution of clinical psychology
• Major theoretical approaches in clinical psychology
• The role of clinical psychology in integrated healthcare
• Ethics in clinical practice and research
• The impact of technology on clinical psychology
• Psychoanalytic theories and techniques
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Foundations and evolutions
• The scientist-practitioner model
• Measurement and evaluation in clinical psychology
• Training and professional development in clinical psychology
• Psychological testing and assessment tools
• Neuropsychological testing for cognitive disorders
• Behavioral assessment strategies
• The DSM-5 and diagnostic criteria
• Cultural competence in psychological assessment
• The role of functional assessments in clinical settings
• Innovations in diagnostic methodologies
• Assessing risk and protective factors
• Personality assessment instruments
• Challenges in diagnosing complex cases
• Comparative effectiveness of psychotherapeutic techniques
• Mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions
• The efficacy of short-term psychodynamic therapies
• Innovations in cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Group therapy dynamics and outcomes
• Teletherapy and digital interventions
• Integrative and holistic therapeutic models
• The therapeutic alliance and outcome research
• Psychotherapy for chronic illness
• Ethical considerations in therapeutic practices
• Advances in understanding and treating depression
• Anxiety disorders: Phenomenology and treatment
• Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
• Personality disorders: Challenges and therapeutic strategies
• Eating disorders: From etiology to recovery
• Bipolar disorder across the lifespan
• Substance use disorders and dual diagnoses
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-informed care
• Child and adolescent mental health disorders
• The psychology of chronic pain and its management
• Developmental psychopathology
• Behavioral interventions in schools
• Autism spectrum disorders: Diagnosis and intervention
• Adolescent mental health and identity formation
• Parent-child interactions and therapy outcomes
• The impact of technology on youth mental health
• Eating disorders in adolescents
• Childhood anxiety and depression
• ADHD: Contemporary approaches to assessment and treatment
• The role of family therapy in treating childhood disorders
• The brain-behavior relationship
• Cognitive rehabilitation strategies
• Neuroimaging techniques in clinical assessment
• Neuropsychological impacts of neurological disorders
• Aging and cognitive decline
• Pediatric neuropsychology
• Concussions and traumatic brain injury
• The neuropsychology of emotion
• Memory disorders and dementia
• Psychopharmacology for neuropsychological disorders
• The psychology of chronic illness management
• Behavioral interventions for physical health
• Psychoneuroimmunology: Stress and immunity
• Health behavior change models and strategies
• The role of psychology in pain management
• Psychological aspects of cancer care
• The impact of sleep on mental and physical health
• Eating behaviors and nutrition psychology
• The psychology of addiction and substance misuse
• Mind-body interventions in health care
• Psychological assessment in legal contexts
• Competency and insanity evaluations
• The psychology of criminal behavior
• Treatment of offenders and risk assessment
• Victimology and psychological impacts of crime
• Eyewitness testimony and memory reliability
• The role of psychology in law enforcement
• Ethical dilemmas in forensic psychology
• Child custody and family law
• Psychological interventions in correctional settings
• Cross-cultural psychology and mental health
• The impact of socioeconomic status on mental health
• Gender and sexuality issues in clinical psychology
• Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care
• The psychology of immigration and acculturation
• Indigenous mental health and healing practices
• Stigma and mental illness
• Community psychology and social change
• The role of religion and spirituality in therapy
• Cultural competence in therapeutic settings
• The future of psychotherapy: Trends and predictions
• Virtual reality and augmented reality in therapy
• The use of artificial intelligence in mental health services
• Digital phenotyping and mobile health
• Genomics and personalized medicine in mental health
• Ethical considerations in the use of technology
• The impact of social media on mental health
• Neurofeedback and biofeedback
• E-mental health interventions and apps
• Integrating technology into traditional therapeutic models

The depth and breadth of clinical psychology research paper topics reflect the field’s dynamic nature and its critical role in addressing mental health issues. These topics not only offer students a wealth of areas to explore but also the opportunity to contribute meaningful insights and advancements to the discipline. By delving into these diverse areas of clinical psychology, students can play a part in shaping the future of mental health treatment and understanding, enriching their academic journey and the field at large.

What is Clinical Psychology

Introduction to the Field of Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology merges the science of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems, making it one of the most critical areas within the realm of psychological study and application. It encompasses a wide range of practices, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. Clinical psychologists employ various therapeutic approaches to treat individuals across the lifespan, dealing with everything from minor stress and life transitions to severe psychopathology.

Importance of Research in Advancing Clinical Practice and Understanding

The bedrock of clinical psychology lies in rigorous research. Research in this field serves multiple purposes: it enhances our understanding of the etiology and progression of mental disorders, evaluates the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, and tests new treatment approaches. Without research, clinical practice would lack the empirical basis necessary for effectively treating patients. Research ensures that clinical interventions are both safe and effective, thereby safeguarding the well-being of clients and advancing the field.

Exploration of Diverse Research Topics in Clinical Psychology

Research in clinical psychology is as diverse as the field itself, covering a wide array of topics that reflect the complexity of human behavior and mental health. These topics range from understanding the neurological underpinnings of mental disorders to exploring the effectiveness of new psychotherapeutic techniques. Research in this field also investigates the social, cultural, and environmental factors that influence mental health, thereby contributing to more holistic approaches to treatment and prevention. This diversity not only broadens the scope of clinical psychology but also ensures that the field remains responsive to the changing needs of society.

Recent Advancements and Innovations in Clinical Psychology Research

The field of clinical psychology has witnessed significant advancements and innovations, thanks in part to technological progress and a deeper understanding of psychological processes. Recent research has explored the potential of teletherapy, digital interventions, and mobile health applications, providing access to mental health services for individuals who might otherwise face barriers to treatment. Additionally, advances in neuroimaging and psychopharmacology have offered new insights into the biological aspects of mental disorders, leading to more targeted and effective treatments. These advancements underscore the dynamic nature of clinical psychology and its continuous evolution in response to scientific discoveries and societal changes.

Ethical Considerations in Clinical Psychology Research

Ethical considerations hold paramount importance in clinical psychology research, given the vulnerability of the populations often involved. Ethical guidelines ensure that research is conducted in a manner that respects the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants. This includes obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and minimizing potential harm. Ethical research practices are crucial for maintaining trust between researchers and participants and for upholding the integrity of the field.

Future Directions for Research in Clinical Psychology

Looking ahead, the field of clinical psychology is poised to explore new frontiers that promise to further enhance our understanding of mental health and improve treatment outcomes. One area of future research may focus on personalized medicine, tailoring interventions to the unique genetic, biological, and environmental factors of each individual. Another promising area involves integrating clinical psychology more closely with other disciplines, such as neuroscience and public health, to develop more comprehensive and effective approaches to mental health care. Additionally, as society continues to evolve, ongoing research will be necessary to address the psychological impacts of emerging societal challenges.

The Impact of Research on the Evolution of Clinical Psychology Practices

The trajectory of clinical psychology is indelibly shaped by research. It is through the diligent efforts of researchers that the field continues to advance, offering new insights into the human psyche and more effective treatments for mental disorders. Research in clinical psychology not only enriches our understanding of mental health but also plays a critical role in shaping policies, therapeutic practices, and public perceptions of mental health issues. As we move forward, the continued emphasis on research will ensure that clinical psychology remains a vital force for good in the lives of individuals and communities worldwide, epitomizing the profound impact that research has on the evolution of clinical practices.

iResearchNet’s Writing Services

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61 intriguing psychology research topics to explore

Last updated

11 January 2024

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Short on time? Get an AI generated summary of this article instead

Psychology is an incredibly diverse, critical, and ever-changing area of study in the medical and health industries. Because of this, it’s a common area of study for students and healthcare professionals.

We’re walking you through picking the perfect topic for your upcoming paper or study. Keep reading for plenty of example topics to pique your interest and curiosity.

• How to choose a psychology research topic

Exploring a psychology-based topic for your research project? You need to pick a specific area of interest to collect compelling data. 

Use these tips to help you narrow down which psychology topics to research:

Focus on a particular area of psychology

The most effective psychological research focuses on a smaller, niche concept or disorder within the scope of a study. 

Psychology is a broad and fascinating area of science, including everything from diagnosed mental health disorders to sports performance mindset assessments. 

This gives you plenty of different avenues to explore. Having a hard time choosing? Check out our list of 61 ideas further down in this article to get started.

Read the latest clinical studies

Once you’ve picked a more niche topic to explore, you need to do your due diligence and explore other research projects on the same topic. 

This practice will help you learn more about your chosen topic, ask more specific questions, and avoid covering existing projects. 

For the best results, we recommend creating a research folder of associated published papers to reference throughout your project. This makes it much easier to cite direct references and find inspiration down the line.

Find a topic you enjoy and ask questions

Once you’ve spent time researching and collecting references for your study, you finally get to explore. 

Whether this research project is for work, school, or just for fun, having a passion for your research will make the project much more enjoyable. (Trust us, there will be times when that is the only thing that keeps you going.) 

Now you’ve decided on the topic, ask more nuanced questions you might want to explore. 

If you can, pick the direction that interests you the most to make the research process much more enjoyable.

• 61 psychology topics to research in 2024

Need some extra help starting your psychology research project on the right foot? Explore our list of 61 cutting-edge, in-demand psychology research topics to use as a starting point for your research journey.

• Psychology research topics for university students

As a university student, it can be hard to pick a research topic that fits the scope of your classes and is still compelling and unique. 

Here are a few exciting topics we recommend exploring for your next assigned research project:

Mental health in post-secondary students

Seeking post-secondary education is a stressful and overwhelming experience for most students, making this topic a great choice to explore for your in-class research paper. 

Examples of post-secondary mental health research topics include:

Student mental health status during exam season

Mental health disorder prevalence based on study major

The impact of chronic school stress on overall quality of life

The impacts of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can occur at all ages, starting as early as elementary school and carrying through into professional workplaces. 

Examples of cyberbullying-based research topics you can study include:

The impact of cyberbullying on self-esteem

Common reasons people engage in cyberbullying 

Cyberbullying themes and commonly used terms

Cyberbullying habits in children vs. adults

The long-term effects of cyberbullying

• Clinical psychology research topics

If you’re looking to take a more clinical approach to your next project, here are a few topics that involve direct patient assessment for you to consider:

Chronic pain and mental health

Living with chronic pain dramatically impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including their mental and emotional health. 

Here are a few examples of in-demand pain-related psychology research topics:

The connection between diabetic neuropathy and depression

Neurological pain and its connection to mental health disorders

Efficacy of meditation and mindfulness for pain management

The long-term effects of insomnia

Insomnia is where you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. It’s a common health concern that impacts millions of people worldwide. 

This is an excellent topic because insomnia can have a variety of causes, offering many research possibilities. 

Here are a few compelling psychology research topics about insomnia you could investigate:

The prevalence of insomnia based on age, gender, and ethnicity

Insomnia and its impact on workplace productivity

The connection between insomnia and mental health disorders

Efficacy and use of melatonin supplements for insomnia

The risks and benefits of prescription insomnia medications

Lifestyle options for managing insomnia symptoms

The efficacy of mental health treatment options

Management and treatment of mental health conditions is an ever-changing area of study. If you can witness or participate in mental health therapies, this can make a great research project. 

Examples of mental health treatment-related psychology research topics include:

The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with severe anxiety

The benefits and drawbacks of group vs. individual therapy sessions

Music therapy for mental health disorders

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for patients with depression 

• Controversial psychology research paper topics

If you are looking to explore a more cutting-edge or modern psychology topic, you can delve into a variety of controversial and topical options:

The impact of social media and digital platforms

Ever since access to internet forums and video games became more commonplace, there’s been growing concern about the impact these digital platforms have on mental health. 

Examples of social media and video game-related psychology research topics include:

The effect of edited images on self-confidence

How social media platforms impact social behavior

Video games and their impact on teenage anger and violence

Digital communication and the rapid spread of misinformation

The development of digital friendships

Psychotropic medications for mental health

In recent years, the interest in using psychoactive medications to treat and manage health conditions has increased despite their inherently controversial nature. 

Examples of psychotropic medication-related research topics include:

The risks and benefits of using psilocybin mushrooms for managing anxiety

The impact of marijuana on early-onset psychosis

Childhood marijuana use and related prevalence of mental health conditions

Ketamine and its use for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) symptom management

The effect of long-term psychedelic use and mental health conditions

• Mental health disorder research topics

As one of the most popular subsections of psychology, studying mental health disorders and how they impact quality of life is an essential and impactful area of research. 

While studies in these areas are common, there’s always room for additional exploration, including the following hot-button topics:

Anxiety and depression disorders

Anxiety and depression are well-known and heavily researched mental health disorders. 

Despite this, we still don’t know many things about these conditions, making them great candidates for psychology research projects:

Social anxiety and its connection to chronic loneliness

C-PTSD symptoms and causes

The development of phobias

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors and symptoms

Depression triggers and causes

Self-care tools and resources for depression

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in particular age groups or geographic areas

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a complex and multi-faceted area of psychology research. 

Use your research skills to learn more about this condition and its impact by choosing any of the following topics:

Early signs of bipolar disorder

The incidence of bipolar disorder in young adults

The efficacy of existing bipolar treatment options

Bipolar medication side effects

Cognitive behavioral therapy for people with bipolar 

Schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is often stigmatized, and less common mental health disorders are a hotbed for new and exciting research. 

Here are a few examples of interesting research topics related to this mental health disorder:

The prevalence of schizoaffective disorder by certain age groups or geographic locations

Risk factors for developing schizoaffective disorder

The prevalence and content of auditory and visual hallucinations

Alternative therapies for schizoaffective disorder

• Societal and systematic psychology research topics

Modern society’s impact is deeply enmeshed in our mental and emotional health on a personal and community level. 

Here are a few examples of societal and systemic psychology research topics to explore in more detail:

Access to mental health services

While mental health awareness has risen over the past few decades, access to quality mental health treatment and resources is still not equitable. 

This can significantly impact the severity of a person’s mental health symptoms, which can result in worse health outcomes if left untreated. 

Explore this crucial issue and provide information about the need for improved mental health resource access by studying any of the following topics:

Rural vs. urban access to mental health resources

Access to crisis lines by location

Wait times for emergency mental health services

Inequities in mental health access based on income and location

Insurance coverage for mental health services

Systemic racism and mental health

Societal systems and the prevalence of systemic racism heavily impact every aspect of a person’s overall health.

Researching these topics draws attention to existing problems and contributes valuable insights into ways to improve access to care moving forward.

Examples of systemic racism-related psychology research topics include: 

Access to mental health resources based on race

The prevalence of BIPOC mental health therapists in a chosen area

The impact of systemic racism on mental health and self-worth

Racism training for mental health workers

The prevalence of mental health disorders in discriminated groups

LGBTQIA+ mental health concerns

Research about LGBTQIA+ people and their mental health needs is a unique area of study to explore for your next research project. It’s a commonly overlooked and underserved community.

Examples of LGBTQIA+ psychology research topics to consider include:

Mental health supports for queer teens and children

The impact of queer safe spaces on mental health

The prevalence of mental health disorders in the LGBTQIA+ community

The benefits of queer mentorship and found family

Substance misuse in LQBTQIA+ youth and adults

• Collect data and identify trends with Dovetail

Psychology research is an exciting and competitive study area, making it the perfect choice for projects or papers.

Take the headache out of analyzing your data and instantly access the insights you need to complete your next psychology research project by teaming up with Dovetail today.

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Clinical Psychology Research Topics

Stumped for ideas? Start here

Clinical psychology research is one of the most popular subfields in psychology. With such a wide range of topics to cover, figuring out clinical psychology research topics for papers, presentations, and experiments can be tricky.

Clinical Psychology Research Topic Ideas

Topic choices are only as limited as your imagination and assignment, so try narrowing the possibilities down from general questions to the specifics that apply to your area of specialization.

Here are just a few ideas to start the process:

• How does social media influence how people interact and behave?
• Compare and contrast two different types of therapy . When is each type best used? What disorders are best treated with these forms of therapy? What are the possible limitations of each type?
• Compare two psychological disorders . What are the signs and symptoms of each? How are they diagnosed and treated?
• How does "pro ana," "pro mia," " thinspo ," and similar content contribute to eating disorders? What can people do to overcome the influence of these sites?​
• Explore how aging influences mental illness. What particular challenges elderly people diagnosed with mental illness face?
• Explore factors that influence adolescent mental health. Self-esteem and peer pressure are just a couple of the topics you might explore in greater depth.
• Explore the use and effectiveness of online therapy . What are some of its advantages and disadvantages ? How do those without technical literacy navigate it?
• Investigate current research on the impact of media violence on children's behavior.
• Explore anxiety disorders and their impact on daily functioning. What new therapies are available?
• What are the risk factors for depression ? Explore the potential risks as well as any preventative strategies that can be used.
• How do political and social climates affect mental health?
• What are the long-term effects of childhood trauma? Do children continue to experience the effects later in adulthood? What treatments are available for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in childhood?
• What impact does substance use disorder have on the family? How can family members help with treatment?
• What types of therapy are most effective for childhood behavioral issues ?

Think of books you have read, research you have studied, and even experiences and interests from your own life. If you've ever wanted to dig further into something that interested you, this is a great opportunity. The more engaged you are with the topic, the more excited you will be to put the work in for a great research paper or presentation.

Consider Scope, Difficulty, and Suitability

Picking a good research topic is one of the most important steps of the research process. A too-general topic can feel overwhelming; likewise, one that's very specific might have limited supporting information. Spend time reading online or exploring your library to make sure that plenty of sources to support your paper, presentation, or experiment are available.

If you are doing an experiment , checking with your instructor is a must. In many cases, you might have to submit a proposal to your school's human subjects committee for approval. This committee will ensure that any potential research involving human subjects is done in a safe and ethical way.

Once you have chosen a topic that interests you, run the idea past your course instructor. (In some cases, this is required.) Even if you don't need permission from the instructor, getting feedback before you delve into the research process is helpful.

Your instructor can draw from a wealth of experience to offer good suggestions and ideas for your research, including the best available resources pertaining to the topic. Your school librarian may also be able to provide assistance regarding the resources available for use at the library, including online journal databases.

Kim WO.  Institutional review board (IRB) and ethical issues in clinical research .  Korean Journal of Anesthesiology . 2012;62(1):3-12. doi:10.4097/kjae.2012.62.1.3

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Clinical Psychology PhD

The PhD in Clinical Psychology is an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program, and also a program member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP). The program adheres to the scientist/practitioner model of training, and requires a number of clinical and research practica in addition to an extensive course curriculum.

• It is a four-year plus internship, full-time program.
• It emphasizes a thorough preparation in theoretical psychology and methodology.
• Theoretical foundations in personality and psychopathology are explored prior to behavioral and personality assessment.
• Concurrent with the work in assessment, students begin study of the theory, research, and practice of psychotherapy.

The Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association can be contacted at:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation  American Psychological Association  750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002  Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail:  [email protected]   Web:  www.apa.org/ed/accreditation   

Admission requirements

This program is open to applications from those who hold an undergraduate degree in psychology or have taken the required number of psychology credits (18). The requirement of 18 undergraduate credits includes statistics and 15 additional credits, preferably introductory psychology, developmental psychology, experimental psychology, and social psychology.

Students are selected from a pool of academically qualified applicants who can contribute to the diversity of the student body. Students enrolled in the clinical psychology program come from diverse ethnic, cultural, individual and experiential backgrounds. Applications are encouraged from those identifying with cultural and/or individual areas of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Acceptance decisions are based on outstanding undergraduate and (where applicable) graduate academic performance, evidence of scholarly activity such as publications and paper presentations, prior work experience, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. 

The deadline for application for admission to the PhD program is December 15, 2024.

NOTE: The FDU application fee for the 2024-2025 application cycle has been waived.

To apply to this program , complete an application through the psychology common application PSYCAS .

This application should be used only to apply for the PhD in Clinical Psychology. Your application to the PhD program will not be considered complete unless you submit the following through PSYCAS:

• Statistics and 15 additional credits, preferably introductory psychology, developmental psychology, experimental psychology, and social psychology.
• All Official Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• The personal statement should not be generated or drawn from an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot)
• An Official GRE Aptitude: The GRE aptitude is strongly recommended however it is optional for all applicants.
• Psychology Test Score Reports: The psychology GRE is optional for those who majored in psychology as an undergraduate or attained an advanced degree in psychology. It is strongly recommended for applicants who were not psychology majors.

Degree plan

1st semester.

• PSYC6112      Clinical Research Methods & Psychometrics
• PSYC6114      Psychopathology
• PSYC6116      History & Systems
• PSYC6118      Computer Application in Statistics Lab
• PSYC6132      Developmental Issues in Clinical Psychology
• PSYC6180      First-Year Clinical Practicum I

2nd Semester

• PSYC6122      Personality Assessment
• PSYC6133      Intellectual Assessment
• PSYC6160      Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
• PSYC6624      Introduction to Psychotherapy
• PSYC6181      First-Year Clinical Practicum II: Ethics
• PSYC7120      Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology

3rd Semester

• PSYC7110      Research Design & Analysis I
• PSYC7113      Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• PSYC7121      Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• PSYC7180      Second-Year Clinical Practicum I
• PSYC____     ASTCP_________

4th Semester

• PSYC7111      Research Design & Analysis II
• PSYC7125      Applied Social Psychology
• PSYC7130      Biological Bases of Behavior
• PSYC7181      Second-Year Clinical Practicum II
• PSYC____     ASTCP______________

5th Semester

• PSYC7133      Learning, Cognition, and Emotion
• PSYC8129      Psychopharmacology
• PSYC8180      Third-Year Clinical Practicum I

6th Semester

• PSYC9124      Advanced Research Seminar (1 credit)
• PSYC9138      Professional Development
• PSYC8181      Third-Year Clinical Practicum II

ASTCP (4 REQUIRED)

ADV PSYCHODYNAMIC (2 nd , 3 rd years) SPRING.

CHILD CLINICAL (offered every other year; alternates with Family; open to 2 nd ,3 rd years)

FAMILY THERAPY (2 nd ,3 rd years)

CLINICAL CASE (3 rd year) SPRING

NEUROPSYCH (Fall every odd year; open to 2 nd ,3 rd years)

ADVANCED PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT (Fall, every other even year, open to 2 nd , 3 rd years)

ADVANCED CBT (open to 2 nd , 3 rd years)

Advanced special topics in clinical psychology, 4 required

A class will run if there are sufficient enrollment numbers to support it.

• PSYC8114      Neuropsychology (offered even years in the fall; open to second- and third-year students)
• PSYC9160      Advanced Personality Assessment (offered odd years in the fall; open to second- and third- year students)
• PSYC8127      Clinical Child Psychology (offered  odd years  in the spring; open to second- and third- year students)
• PSYC8145      Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (offered in the fall; open to third-year students only)
• PSYC9143      Advanced Psychodynamic Therapy (offered in the spring; open to third-year students only)
• PSYC9145      Seminar in Clinical Psychology (offered in the spring; open to third-year students only)
• PSYC9123 Family Therapy (offered even years in the spring; open to second- and third- year students)

Additional optional coursework and independent studies

• PSYC9112      Dissertation Maintenance (summer)
• PSYC9113      Internship Maintenance (summer)
• PSYC9116      Research Maintenance (summer)
• PSYC9180      4th Year Practicum I (fall)
• PSYC9181      4th Year Practicum II (spring)
• PSYC9280      5th Year Clinical Practicum I (fall)
• PSYC9281      5th Year Practicum II (spring)
• PSYC9800      Independent Study

Special requirements

• First Year Research Practicum
• First Year Clinical Practicum
• Second Year Research practicum
• Second Year Clinical practicum
• Second Year Project
• Third Year Research practicum
• Third Year Clinical practicum
• Teaching Requirement
• Dissertation Accepted
• Qualifying Examination
• Comprehensive Examination

Internship and dissertation

Students are required to apply for internship via the national match system offered by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and participate in an approved internship. The internship may begin after the student has completed the courses listed under the first six semesters, completed the second year research project, passed the comprehensive examinations, and successfully defended the dissertation proposal. Typically, the dissertation is completed in the fourth year and the internship in the fifth year.

Evaluations

Ongoing annual evaluations of students will be conducted by the faculty using information submitted by practicum site supervisors, course instructors, and research mentors. Students will meet with the Program Director to receive feedback concerning these evaluations.

Research practicum

All first-, second- and third-year students participate in a research practicum of ongoing projects supervised by doctoral faculty members. The practicum requires approximately 8-10 hours a week. Research projects frequently culminate in the publication of articles in psychological journals and paper and poster presentations at various professional meetings, with students in the doctoral program participating as authors and presenters.

Forensic Track

An optional add-on forensic track is available to students in the Ph.D. program who fulfill the following additional requirements:

• Completion of at least one of the required clinical practicums at any point after the first year. This requirement can be satisfied through an NYNJDOT approved externship or similar placement meeting requirements of the track.
• Completion of at least two additional courses: PSYC7230 Forensic Assessment and Prediction and PSYC7235 Evaluating Criminal Responsibility and Competency.
• Completion of a dissertation on a forensic topic.

It should be noted that research opportunities in forensic psychology are available.

Forensic track courses may incur additional fees if they increase a student’s credit load for a given semester above the allowable flat fee level of 16.5 credits.

Students coming into the program without a Master’s degree may incur additional fees for the two courses mentioned above since they are above and beyond the required courses for the clinical doctoral program.

Completion of the forensic track will be noted on the student’s transcript.

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• Veterans Affairs Medical Center—Bronx, NY
• Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital; Hartford, CT
• NYU Lagone Medical Center (Rusk Inst of Rehab Medicine); NY, NY
• Hudson River Regional Psychology; Poughkeepsie, NY
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center; Elizabeth, NJ
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine—Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx, NY
• Maimonides Medical Center; Brooklyn, NY
• Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility; Roosevelt Island, NY
• NYU Langone Medical Center (Rusk Inst of Rehab Medicine)-child/adol track; NY, NY
• UMDNJ UBHCH; Newark, NJ
• Westchester Jewish Community Services, Inc.; White Plains, NY
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• Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center; Bellerose, NY
• VAMC—North Chicago; North Chicago, IL
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• Temple University Health Sciences Center; Philadelphia, PA
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• Interfaith Medical Center; Brooklyn, NY
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• Astor Services for Children and Families; Poughkeepsie, NY
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• VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System—Montrose Campus; Montrose, NY
• Kings County Hospital Center (Adult Track); Brooklyn, NY
• Jewish Child Care Association of NY; Pleasantville, NY
• Louis Stokes Cleveland DVA Medical Center; Cleveland, OH
• NYU—Bellevue Hospital Center Clinical Psych.; NY, NY
• American Institute for Cognitive Therapy; NY, NY
• Behavior Therapy Associates; Somerset, NJ
• Bellevue Hospital Center; NY, NY
• Bergen County Division fo Family Guidance – Forensic Unit; Hackensack, NJ
• Beth Israel Medical Center; NY, NY
• Bronx Children’s Psychiatric Center; Bronx, NY
• Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy; NY, NY
• Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CCPEP); NY, NY
• City College CUNY; NY, NY
• Columbia University Medical Center Neuropsychology Service; NY, NY
• Columbia-Presbyterian’s Children’s Hospital; NY, NY
• Community Mental Health Services, St. Marys Hospital; Hoboken, NJ
• Henry Ittleson Center; Bronx, NY
• Hoboken University Medical Center; Hoboken, NJ
• Holliswood Hospital; Holliswood, NY
• Jacobi Medical Center; Bronx, NY
• Jamaica Hospital Medical Center; Jamaica, NY
• Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services (JBFCS); Douglaston, NY
• Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services (JBFCS); Riverdale, NY
• JFK Medical Center-The Center for Behavioral Health; Edison, NJ
• Karen Horney Clinic; NY, NY
• Kings County Hospital Center; Brooklyn, NY
• Mt. Sinai Adult Inpatient Unit; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Child & Family Support Program; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Eating and Weight Disorders Program; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurology; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Treatment Center; NY, NY
• Nassau University Medical Center; East Meadow, NY
• New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College – Manhattan Division; NY, NY
• North Central Bronx Hospital; Bronx, NY
• South Beach Psychiatric Center; Staten Island, NY
• St. Barnabas Hospital; Bronx, NY
• St. Dominics Home; Bronx, NY
• St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospitals; NY, NY
• Staten Island University Hospital; Staten Island, NJ
• The Addiction Institute of New York; NY, NY
• The Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers; Piscataway, NJ
• William Paterson University – Counseling Center; Wayne, NJ
• Yale Young Adult Services; New Haven, CT
• YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental health; East Orange, NJ
• Youth Development Clinic; Newark, NJ
• Barnard College Furman Counseling; NY, NY
• Behavioral Associates; NY, NY
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center School; Wethersfield, CT
• Division of Family Guidance; Hackensack, NJ
• Elmhurst Hospital Center – Mt. Sinai Services; Elmhurst, NY
• Essex County Hospital Center; Cedar Grove, NJ
• Fay J Linder Center for Autism; Long Island, NY
• FDU Center for Psychological Services – Assessment emphasis; Hackensack, NJ
• FDU Center for Psychological Services – Therapy emphasis; Hackensack, NJ
• Four Winds Hospital; Katonah, NY
• Hackensack Univ. Medical Center, Audrey Hepburn’s Children’s House; Hackensack, NJ
• Hackensack University Medical Center; Hackensack, NJ
• Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center; Ward’s Island, NY
• Leake and Watts Services, Inc.; Yonkers, NY
• Lincoln Hospital; Bronx, NY
• Long Island Jewish Medical Center, The Zucker Hillside Hospital; North Shore, Long Island NY
• Manhattan Psychiatric Center; Randall’s Island, NY
• Memorial Sloan Kettering; NY, NY
• Metropolitan Correctional Center; NY, NY
• Montclair State University Counseling Center; Montclair, NJ
• Montefiore Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, NY
• Northeast Epilepsy group; NY, NY & Hackensack, NJ
• NYSPI at Columbia Presbyterian; NY, NY
• NYU Child Study Center; Hackensack, NJ
• NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center; NY, NY
• NYU Counseling Center; NY, NY
• Phipps Community Development Corporation; Bronx, NY
• Princeton House Behavioral Health; Princeton, NJ
• Queens Hospital Center; Jamaica, Queens
• Regional Diagnostic &Treatment Center at Children’s Hospital of NJ; Newark, NJ
• Rehabilitation Specialists; Fair Lawn, NJ
• Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center; Orangeburg, NY
• Seton Hall University – Counseling Services; South Orange, NJ
• The Women’s Health Project Treatment and Research Center – St Luke’s Hosp.; NY, NY
• Tomorrow’s Children Institute at Hackensack Hospital; Hackensack, NJ
• Trinitas Hospital Child and Adolescent Outpatient Unit; Elizabeth, NJ
• Uconn; Farmington, CT
• UMDNJ-UBHC; Piscataway, NJ
• Washington Heights Community Center at Columbia-Presbyterian/NYSPI; NY, NY
• Weill Cornell Medical College/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, White Plains, NY
• Westchester Jewish Community Services; Hartsdale, NY

School of Psychology and Counseling

More about PhD in Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology PhD Program

Founded on a scientist-practitioner model, the overall goal of the Clinical Psychology PhD Program is to graduate academic psychologists who are competent, ethical and productive in the science and practice of clinical psychology. Our program emphasizes the integration of science and clinical practice.

Directors' Message Student Admissions, Outcomes & Other Data Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice

How to Apply

Learn more about the criteria for applying to the program as well as tuition and financial aid.

Our curriculum is structured to maximize clinical, research and ethical training for students.

Meet Our Team

Meet our current students and their faculty mentors. Each student works closely with a faculty member throughout their tenure at Northwestern. Browse the Faculty Mentor list to learn more about their research projects and see who is currently recruiting new students.

Current Students    Faculty Mentors

JD-PhD Program

Northwestern's joint JD-PhD program  is a collaboration between The Graduate School and Northwestern Law. It's designed for applicants who are interested in academic careers examining research topics that are enriched by having both JD and PhD degrees.

Visit the JD-PhD Website

Questions about the PhD program? Find out more.

Read the FAQ

How to Contact Us

To contact the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, please email us at [email protected] .

Please DO NOT call the number below as it will go to our clinic; it is reserved for patients. Please DO NOT call any other numbers that you may find within the Feinberg School of Medicine. We will only respond to emails that are sent to the following email address: [email protected] . Please DO NOT  contact via phone or email the MD Admissions Office; they are not involved in the admissions process for the PhD program in Clinical Psychology. 

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Clinical Psychology Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 3rd, 2023 , Revised On August 11, 2023

Clinical psychology is a highly popular area of research for Masters and PhD nursing students. A well-thought-out and appropriate clinical psychology dissertation topic will address trending issues in the field of clinical psychology. You can develop a clinical psychology dissertation topic or idea by addressing a certain clinical experience.

If you are a nursing student looking for an intriguing topic in clinical psychology, you will find all the necessary information on this page. So without further ado, here is our selection of clinical psychology dissertation topics that you can choose from.

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• Educational psychology dissertation topics
• Counselling psychology dissertation topics
• Forensic-psychology-dissertation-topics
• Social Psychology Dissertation Topics
• Criminal Psychology Dissertation Ideas
• Neuro Psychology Dissertation Ideas
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• Analyze the views of cancer patients suffering from advanced stages and their partners
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• How could psychology be used to treat persistent pain?
• What clinical and demographic factors cause individuals with obsessions and compulsions to have poor insight?
• The educational process for clinical psychologists who sought out personal therapy: a narrative assessment
• Dialysis patients’ psycho-social adjustment to their cases of renal failure and the resulting treatment
• Within a bio-psycho-social paradigm of a psychosis episode, the experiences connected to the psycho-social formulation
• The experiences and how they relate to eating habits in maturity
• A cognitive paradigm for assessing major depressive disorder
• The difficulties in communicating sexual dysfunction symptoms after a heart injury
• What are the main causes of adult anorexia?
• Examine major depressive disorder (MDD) in the context of cognitive theory
• Describe the communication obstacles caused by sexual dysfunction after cardiac trauma
• What relationship exists between adult eating habits and experiences?
• Investigate the idea of body image and identity in people who have had a heart or lung transplant
• Describe the clinical and demographic characteristics that predict insight in people with compulsions and obsessions
• Define schizophrenia and list possible treatments
• What drugs and therapies can be used to treat phobias and paranoia?

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Something is mesmerising about the human mind. By writing clinical psychology-based dissertation papers, students can engage in formally conducting research on a variety of topics, including intellect, personality, addiction, relationship dynamics, and so on. Use these clinical psychology dissertation topics to start your academic research now!

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How to find clinical psychology dissertation topics.

To find Clinical Psychology dissertation topics:

• Study recent research in the field.
• Focus on emerging therapies or disorders.
• Address gaps in current literature.
• Consider ethical and practical aspects.
• Explore diverse populations or age groups.
• Seek topics aligning with your passion and expertise.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Psychology

100+ Psychology Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Research

If you’re starting out on the dissertation or thesis journey for your psychology degree, the very first challenge you’ll face is finding a solid research topic . In this post, we’ll help get the topic ideation process started by providing a meaty list of research ideas, spanning a range of psychology sub-disciplines. We’ll also look at some examples from actual theses and dissertations to give you an idea of what these look like in the real world.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps (which we’ll explain a little later). Therefore, it’s important to recognise that this post is only the first step in finding a high-quality psychology-centred research topic. To develop a research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this all sounds a bit intimidating, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course , which covers the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from A-Z. You can also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, have a look at our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Psychology-Related Topics

• How to find a research topic (video)
• Behavioural psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Social psychology
• Sports psychology
• Examples of actual dissertation topics
• Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
• Where to get extra help

How To Find A Research Topic

In the video below, we explain how to find suitable research ideas (in psychology or any field), and how to then refine those into well-articulated potential topics for your dissertation or thesis. We also discuss a few important evaluation criteria to help you make the right choice for your project.

Below you’ll find a list of research ideas to get your thinking started. Please note that these research topic ideas are intentionally broad and generic, so you will need to refine them a fair deal using the techniques we discussed in the video above.

We’ve grouped the topic ideas based on a few popular areas of psychology to make it a little easier for you to find something in your particular field of interest. That said, there is naturally some overlap between topics, so keep this in mind.

Research Ideas: Behavioural Psychology

• Cultural variation in behaviour and mental health of adolescents during a disaster: a case study
• The impact of parental drug use and risky behaviour on early child development
• The effects of video game violence on aggressive behaviour among teenage boys in school
• The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult risk-seeking behaviour
• The impact of physical exercise on anxiety and health-harming behaviour
• The relationship between personality traits and addiction behaviour
• The effects of reinforcement schedules on decision-making and associative learning
• The effects of daily mindfulness practice on stress and anxiety in middle-aged women
• The use of behavioural interventions in the treatment of eating disorders in poorer communities
• Understanding implicit cognitive processes involved in the over-consumption of fast food
• The use of cognitive behavioural therapy for alcohol addiction treatment
• The impact of extensive technology use in children on long-term attention and focus
• The impact of social media on self-destructive behaviour and poor mental health outcomes
• Exploring the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on healthy behaviours

Research Ideas: Clinical Psychology

• The use of mindfulness-based approaches in the treatment of anxiety disorders among college students
• The use of technology in the delivery of psychological services in war-torn countries
• The effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder
• The use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of phobias and PTSD among war veterans
• The role of childhood adversity on adult mental health in immigrant populations in the USA
• The role of genetics and epigenetics in the development of bipolar disorder in Pakistani women: an integrative review
• The effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of social anxiety among hikikomori in Japan
• The perception of healthcare workers and patients on the use of teletherapy for the delivery of psychological services
• The impact of social support on mental health outcomes among single parents.
• The effectiveness of integrative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of schizophrenia
• The effectiveness of trauma-focused therapies on post-traumatic growth in domestic abuse survivors
• The role and use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression among first-generation students
• The effectiveness of family therapy in addressing childhood trauma and depression
• The impact of cultural mistrust on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in culturally-diverse populations
• The effectiveness of group therapy on post-traumatic stress symptoms among survivors of sexual assault

Research Ideas: Cognitive Psychology

• The impact of lifelong aerobic exercise on cognitive function in old age
• The effects of evening screen use on cognitive development in preschool children
• The impact of sleep deprivation on decision-making among graduate students
• The use of neuroimaging to understand the neural basis of memory retrieval
• The effect of conservative religious homes on social functioning in LGBT+ adolescents
• The role of positive emotions in working memory among high school learners
• The neural basis of decision-making and problem-solving during undergraduate statistic assessments
• The neural basis of language processing among adults learning English as a second language
• The role of technological tools in improving working memory in older adults
• The role of attention in emotional face processing among adult males
• The impact of depression on cognitive function during ageing The impact of daily meditation and mindfulness practice on cognitive function
• The relationship between increased protein intake and improved cognitive function
• The effects of stress on cognitive function among final-year learners

Research Ideas: Developmental Psychology

• The impact of maternal affection on cognitive, social, and emotional development
• The effects of parenting styles on children’s executive function
• The impact of late-night screen use on child development
• The role of digital play on child development outcomes
• Exploring the impact of poverty on early child development in Brazil
• The trauma-informed care as moderating the impact of trauma on child development
• Evaluating the relationship between peer relationship quality and child social development
• The impact of child-targeted media and advertising on child behavioural development
• The role of parental attachment in child resilience
• The moderating impact of culture on bullying and child social development
• The impact of single-parenting on child development in India
• The impact of early educational interventions on child socio-emotional development
• The impact of digital technology use on adolescent development and mental health
• The impact of socioeconomic status on child executive function
• The role of genetics and epigenetics on child neurodevelopmental outcomes linked to depression

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Research Ideas: Educational Psychology

• The relationship between self-regulated learning and academic performance in asynchronous versus synchronous learning environments
• Exploring effective parental involvement strategies and their impact on student achievement
• The role of intrinsic motivation in formative assessment in the classroom
• The impact of classroom management and practice on student learning and behaviour
• University students’ preference regarding online learning environments
• The effects of gentrification on student achievement in traditionally poor neighbourhoods
• The impact of teacher expectations and academic self-concept on K12 student mathematics performance
• The use and effectiveness of game-based learning in a high school biology classroom
• The impact of prejudice on the relationship between student motivation and academic performance among Black university students
• The impact of culture on second language English student learning preferences
• The effects of student self-efficacy and engagement on academic performance in secondary school mathematics
• The role of metacognition in learning musicality in hip hop
• The role of small group instruction on teacher efficacy and stress in early childhood education
• The perception and use of multimedia among high school biology teachers in France
• The use of augmented reality applications and its impact on student learning, motivation and attitude

Research Ideas: Forensic Psychology

• The impact of trauma on the psychological functioning of police officers and first responders
• Understanding cultural considerations during forensic psychological assessment and treatment of trauma
• Ethical considerations of the use of AI in forensic psychology in the legal system
• The psychological factors related to recidivism among white collar female offenders in the USA
• The psychological factors related to false confessions among juveniles
• Understanding the use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of eyewitness testimony in criminal courts in England
• The impact of trauma on the reflective functioning of adult female sexual assault victims
• The use and effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing recidivism among non-violent criminals
• The impact of domestic violence on the mental health and forensic evaluation of men
• Exploring the ethical considerations and use of behavioural analysis in the study of criminal behaviour
• The use and limitations of neuropsychological assessment in forensic evaluations
• The use of social media forensics in evaluating criminal behaviour in violent crimes
• The racialised use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of competency to stand trial in Canada
• Exploring the use and availability of virtual reality technologies in forensic psychology in Spain
• The impact of motivational interviewing-based interventions among criminalized drug users

Research Ideas: Social Psychology

• The impact of prejudice and discrimination on social behaviour among African immigrants in South Africa
• The impact of social networks on behaviour and well-being among young adult females
• The effects of social identity on non-conformity in University students
• The effects of group dynamics on risk-seeking behaviour in adult men
• The impact of social media on the quality of interpersonal relationships among high school learners
• The impact of parental emotional intelligence on pro-social behaviour in children and adolescents
• The effects of conformity and deviance on social attitudes and behaviour during a global recession
• The effects of Tik Tok on social comparison and self-esteem among teenage girls
• Understanding gendered differences in social influence and algorithms on impulsive decision-making
• The effects of social support on mental health among healthcare workers in the UK
• The effects of gender roles on social behaviour among trans teens
• The impact of perceived power and social status on the behaviour of social media influencers
• The impact of social norms on prosocial behaviour among women
• The effects of community participation on aggression and violence in middle-aged men
• The impact of culture and gender on social behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research Ideas: Sports Psychology

• The moderating role of cultural factors on the relationship between mental health and sports performance in team sports
• The role of mindfulness practice in addressing stress and anxiety in young national athletes
• The relationship between team cohesion and performance in cricket teams
• The effect of transformational leadership on female sports teams in Canada
• The effect of positive self-talk on athletic performance and motivation among Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of hypnosis in New Zealand team sports Understanding stress and burnout in University team athletes
• The efficacy of personalised nutrition and diet on athletic performance among sprinters
• Exploring mental preparation techniques and their effect on athletic motivation and resilience among team-sport athletes
• Exploring the perception and understanding of goal-setting characteristics on athletic performance among team coaches
• The effects of motivational feedback on the performance of female gymnasts
• The perception and use of visualization and imagery among coaches as a means to enhance sport performance
• The impact of sports injuries on mental health and recovery in high school athletes
• The moderating role of sleep on mental toughness and sports performance in Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of technology in sports training and performance in little league softball

Psychology-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic in psychology, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various psychology degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Effects of a Patient Question Prompt List on Outpatient Palliative Care Appointments (McDarby, 2022)
• The role of affect and exercise goals in physical activity engagement in younger and older adults (Stojanovic, 2022)
• Lay Theories about Whether Emotion Helps or Hinders Reasoning and Well-being (Karnaze, 2022)
• The effects of blast-induced traumatic brain injury on two transgenic models of Alzheimer’s Disease (Gann, 2020)
• Understanding the parental mind: Examining the stability of parental reflective functioning across the birth of a child and associations with maternal mind-mindedness (Pitzen, 2021)
• An investigation of ineffective ally behaviours (Collier, 2019)
• Response Inhibition-Related Beta Power: Distinguishing Cognitively Intact Elders by Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (Evans, 2021)
• Recognition Memory of Extremely High-Frequency Words (Miller, 2019)
• The Relationship between Dementia Caregiver Burden and Caregiver Communications in a Memory Clinic Setting (Martin, 2021)
• Examination of Maternal Versus Paternal Ratings of Child Pre-Injury Functioning in Predicting Child Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (Sayer, 2021)
• Electromyography As A Means of Predicting The Rubber Hand Illusion (Teaford, 2021)
• Linking Diversity Climate and Feedback Seeking Through Interpersonal Processes and Race Effects (Flores, 2021)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are far more specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Fast-Track Your Topic Ideation

Still unsure about how to find the right topic for your research project? Check out our private coaching services , where we work with psychology students on a 1:1 basis to help them find the perfect topic.

11 Comments

Great insight

A very interesting site that offers a variety of options regarding research topics.

You’re most welcome

A good platform to get information

Amazing and interesting options 👌

Very useful but had not any field of research in health psychology

I feel honored going through this lovely stuff put together. Thank you so much

I need counseling psychology research topics

Thank you this is the good information for research topic and help us my research topic

very empowering and insightful presentations. Can I be assisted in crafting a school psychology-related research topic about African context

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PhD in Clinical/Counseling Psychology

Research from faculty in the Clinical/Counseling Psychology program is conducted in laboratories at New York University and the schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and community settings in New York. Additionally, international research is a cornerstone of the program, with faculty and students engaged in studying developmental processes and contextual influences across countries such as China, Argentina, Denmark, and Korea. We work closely with our affiliated global faculty at NYU Shanghai and NYU Abu Dhabi campuses.

Student Research

Students participate in the research team of a faculty member of the Clinical/Counseling Psychology program (or another Applied Psychology faculty, by program approval), beginning the first semester of the first year. Students are expected to allocate half of their time (at least 20 hours per week) to this research team throughout their graduate career. Students are free to transition to another team or collaborate with other research labs and/or research centers during their doctoral training. It is expected that student research experience will entail research productivity, including papers, grant writing, presentations, and publications.

Areas of Research Focus:

• Women and depression; immigrant women; cross-cultural research; feminist epistemology and social action
• Development of prevention, intervention, and service delivery models for youth at risk for or affected with disruptive behavior disorders
• Development of, and social response to, violence and antisocial behavior, focusing on psychopathology, criminal justice systems response, and the role of gender and adolescence
• Immigration, community contexts, individual differences, and racial minority status and the mental health of Asian American individuals and families
• Multicultural assessment and counselor training; qualitative research methods; intelligence testing with diverse populations
• Psychosocial and cultural predictors of health among ethnic minority cancer survivors; development of culturally-sensitive psychosocial interventions; individual differences in emotion regulation and negative self-reflection
• LGBTQIA+ psychology (including homonegative microaggressions) and psychological assessment

Affiliated Research Centers and Institutes

The Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technologies in Education (CREATE)  engages in research on the design, critique, and evaluation of wide-ranging advanced digital technologies for learning. Projects housed in the consortium involve interdisciplinary teams of scholars and developers who bridge basic and applied research, development, and evaluation.

The Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) 's mission is to stimulate interdisciplinary research and influence social policy on children, youth, families, and communities in the context of a rapidly changing social world.

Metro Center

The Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools (Metro Center)  promotes equity and opportunity in education through engaged science work: applied research, program evaluation, policy analysis, community engagement, and professional assistance to educational, governmental, and community agencies serving vulnerable populations.

Affiliated Research Labs/Projects

Chinese Families Lab (CFL)

The project draws from both the Nanjing Adolescent and Nanjing MetroBaby study, which are longitudinal, mix-methods studies with over 1100 Chinese families and children starting at 7th grade for the adolescent study and birth for the MetroBaby study. The project is led by  Dr. Niobe Way,   Dr. Hirokazu Yoshikawa ,  Dr. Sumie Okazaki,  and  Dr. Sebastian Cherng  from NYU, and is a collaboration across NYU, NYU-Shanghai, NYU-Abu Dhabi, University of Pennsylvania, and Southeast University in China. We are interested in how the changing social, economic, and cultural context influences Chinese parents' parenting practices and children’s development. The project has finished a ten-year follow-up from the MetroBaby project in 2016. Ongoing research papers under development include examining Chinese mothers’ and fathers gender socialization, adolescents' gender beliefs and their academic achievements, gender beliefs and friendship quality, parents' workplace climate and families' mental health, etc. 

The Culture, Emotion, and Health Lab (CEH)

CEH is directed by  William Tsai, Ph.D.  The lab studies how people regulate their emotions, cope with stress, and how these processes lead to health and well-being. We focus our research questions on how cultural tendencies and values can shape the development and use of these processes. Our work is interdisciplinary, spanning across social, clinical, and health psychology. Recently, we have begun a line of research with ethnic minority cancer survivors, which is a population that experiences significant cancer health disparities. We are interested in applying cultural psychology theories with psychosocial interventions to overcome cultural barriers to reduce the undue burden of cancer experienced by ethnic minority cancer survivors.

The Families and Children Experiencing Success (FACES) Lab

FACES is directed by  Anil Chacko, Ph.D . The lab was developed to serve the families of youth exhibiting disruptive behavior disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, and other conduct disorders. Its research aims to understand how to develop the most effective prevention, intervention, and service models for youth with disruptive behavior disorders and related conditions, or those at high risk for developing them.

The Researching Inequity in Society Ecologically (RISE)

RISE is directed by Erin Godfrey, Ph.D.,  and  Shabnam Javdani, Ph.D . The team’s research and activities serve traditionally marginalized populations, focusing on health and mental health disparities in women and youth who are involved, or at risk of involvement, with the justice system. As such, the RISE Team takes a contextual, multi-level and interdisciplinary approach to systems change and implementing evidence-based practices promoting health and well-being, working closely with community partners to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Faculty Publications

To find out more about a faculty member’s research, please visit their NYU Scholars page by clicking on the professor’s name below.

Anil Chacko

Shabnam Javdani 

Lisa Suzuki

William Tsai

A. Jordan Wright

• Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals, couples, families, and groups; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice. It is a specialty in breadth — one that addresses a wide range of mental and behavioral health problems— and marked by comprehensiveness and integration of knowledge and skill from a broad array of disciplines within and outside of psychology proper. The scope of clinical psychology encompasses all ages, multiple diversities, and varied systems. 

Specialized knowledge

• Understanding of psychopathology and mental health across the lifespan 
• Ability to assess cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and interpersonal functioning, and to integrate and synthesize test data with observations, interviews, and other data sources 
• Ability to conduct psychological and behavioral intervention to improve health and functioning using a wide range of evidence-based interventions 
• Ability to conduct, disseminate, and implement research on a range of clinical psychological processes  
• Establishment and maintenance of therapeutic relationships and communication with a broad diversity of populations 
• Ability to recognize and respond to ethical, legal, regulatory issues as they pertain to the practice of clinical psychology 
• Understanding of professional expectations that guide behavior, promote self-reflection, integrity, and accountability 
• Awareness and understanding of how developmental stages and life transitions intersect with the larger biosociocultural context, how identity evolves as a function of such intersections, and how these different socialization and maturation experiences influence worldview and identity 

Problems addressed

The specialty of clinical psychology addresses behavioral and mental health issues faced by individuals across the lifespan including:

• Adjustment issues and traumatic stress reactions
• Emotional and psychological problems, including serious mental illness and crisis intervention
• Interpersonal or social problems and dysfunction
• Behavioral problems including substance abuse and dependence
• Intellectual, cognitive, and neurological conditions

Populations served

Clinical psychologists provide services to individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan, and populations from all ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The problems or needs addressed range from minor adjustment issues to serious mental health problems. Clinical psychologists work with groups and communities to address or prevent problems and intervene in organizations, institutions, and communities to enhance people’s effectiveness and well-being.

Skills and procedures utilized

• Assessment using interviewing, behavioral assessment, administration and interpretation of psychological test measures
• Intervention using a range of evidence-based approaches for individuals, families, and groups
• Supervision and training of students and other trainees as guided by theory and research
• Consultation with a range of health and behavioral health professionals and organizations

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Home > SBH > PSYCHOLOGY > ETD-CLINICAL

Theses, Dissertations and Projects - Clinical Psychology

Theses/dissertations from 2022 2022.

Neurofeedback Training for Attentional Processing in Anxious Individuals , Caleb Benjamin Barcenas

Cultural and Psychological Predictors of Exercise-Treatment Adherence and HbA1c for People with Type 2 Diabetes , Connor M. Nance

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Body Dissatisfaction, Verbal Commentary, Social Influences and Cigarette Smoking , Nicole Bennett

Factors Related to Cognitive Reserve in Healthy Older Adults , Ann Tram Nguyen

Therapists’ Willingness to Access Client Social Media Accounts in the Context of Suicide Risk , Jacob A. Vermeersch

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Religious Doubt as a Mediator of the Relationship between Religious Identity and Well-Being , Jedd P. Alejandro

SOAR (Stage 2 Outpatient Adolescent Recovery) Clinical Interview Manual , Aniel Ponce

Mediators of the Relationship between Mindfulness and E-cigarette Use , Denise Dao Tran

The Effects of a Polyphenol-rich Diet in a Fruit-fly Model of Traumatic Brain Injury , Alexandra D. Trofimova

Chronic Disease and its Relationship with Elder Mistreatment , Ryan Wong

Nonsexual Boundary Crossings in Psychotherapy: Factors in Ethical Decision-Making , Katherine S. H. Wu

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Sociocultural Pressures, Thin Ideal Internalization, Body Appreciation, & Eating Pathology in Women , Gabriela Joanna Bolivar

Exploring the Effects of Age in a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Traumatic Brain Injury , Andrea Maria Briseño

The Complexity of the Bilingual Experience: Linguistic Variables Predict Cognition in Older Adults , K'dee D. Elsen

Education and Social Support as Mediators of Function and Cognition in Patients with Schizophrenia , Spring Flores Johnson

The relationship between cognitive function and Activities of Daily Living , Pamela V. Lorenzo

Body Dissatisfaction, Perceived Smoking Consequences, and Weight Control Smoking , Samantha N. Martinez

Fatalism and Pain Experience in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Patients with Chronic Pain , Esmeralda Ibette Nuñez

Comparison of Neurofeedback Treatment on PTSD Symptoms within Military and Non-Military Populations , Lelah S. Villalpando

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

The Role of Therapeutic Processes within MBSR for Parents of Children with Developmental Delays , Grant Griffin Boostrom

Effects of Emotional Content on Working Memory Updating: Proactive Interference and Resolution , Maria Guadalupe Corona

An Empirical Examination of Doctoral Training Models in Clinical Psychology in the United States , Katherine E. Dautenhahn

The Relationship between Psychotherapist Personality and Therapeutic Alliance , Michael Finlay

Neurocognitive and Psychosocial Effects of Repeated Concussions in Children and Adolescents , Shina Halavi

Religious Orientation, Social Identity, and Reactions to Religious Disaffiliation , Alexander Daniel Larson

Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised in Asian Americans , Dean Lim

Evaluating Cognitive Changes in Patients Receiving Outpatient Alcohol Treatment , Michelle McDonnell

Abnormal Beta and Gamma Frequency Neural Oscillations Mediate Auditory Gating in Schizophrenia , Ann Tram Nguyen

Consequences of Attributions for Unfair Healthcare Treatment among Culturally Diverse Patients , Nathalie Serna

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Parenting Stress and Emotion Dysregulation in Children with DD: The Role of Parenting Behaviors , Neilson Chan

The Impact of Interpersonal Violence on Depression and Social Support , Katherine Dautenhahn

Camp-Based Intervention for Overweight Children with Developmental Disabilities , Allyson Davis

The Effects of Poverty and Allostatic Load on the Development of Chronic Disease , Natali Do

The Effect of Language on Cognition in an Acculturated American Sample of Healthy Older Adults , K'dee D. Elsen

Preliminary Validation of the Pediatric Rating of Chronic Illness Self-Efficacy , Natacha Donoghue Emerson

Behaviorally-Induced Structural Remodeling of the Hippocampus , Michael Finlay

Coping as a Mediator between Symptom Burden and Distress in Lung Cancer Patients , Spring F. Gehring

Age of Drinking Initiation’s Association with Cognitive Functioning , Joshua Seth Goldberg

ERP and Theta Activity Associated with Facial Emotion Memory , Shaina Roxanne Herman

Relational Savoring among Intimate Partners of Cancer Patients , Adrianna Elyse Holness

Church Member Reactions to Religious Disaffiliation , Alexander Daniel Larson

Smoking, ADHD, and Problematic Video Game Use: A Structural Modeling Approach , Hyo Jin Lee

Parental Quality of Life Among Parents in the NICU: Examining Moderators of Change Over Time , Evan Lima

Water Maze Strategies used by Mice Exposed to Radiation and Pomegranate Juice , Pamela V. Lorenzo

The Role of Temporal Distraction on Short-Term Memory and Delayed Recognition , Susanna Luu

The Effect of Discrimination on Mental Health after Adverse Childhood Experiences , Maleia Mathis

AM Happy Scale: Reliability and Validity of a Single-Item Measure of Happiness , Christina P. Moldovan

An Examination of the Moderating Effect of Proactive Coping in NICU Nurses , Britan M. Moore

Stress, Depression, Social Support, and Help-Seeking in College Student-Athletes , Clint H. Norseth

The Relationship between Physical Activity, Depressive Symptoms, and Cognitive Functioning , Imari-Ashley F. Palma

Demographic Differences in Resting State EEG in Healthy Controls and Patients with Schizophrenia , Keshia M. Sanders

Parental Distress and Child Behavior Problems: Parenting Behaviors as Mediators , Catherine M. Sanner

The Effects of Seizure Modeling and Polyphenols on Behavior in Bang-Sensitive Drosophila , Alphonso A. Smith

The Influence of Health Framing on Weight Stigma and Health Knowledge , Serena D. Stevens

Role of Cultural and Psychological Factors Influencing Diabetes Treatment Adherence , Sonika Kravann Ung

Parental Stress, Emotion Regulation, Meta-Emotion, and Changes Following an MBSR Intervention , Yangmu Xu

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Neuropsychological Effects of Pomegranate Supplementation Following Ischemic Stroke , John A. Bellone

The Adolescent Smoking Prevention Project: A Web-Based Smoking Prevention for Adolescents , Whitney N. Brown

Lung Cancer Stigma: Associated Variables and Coping Strategies , Kevin R. Criswell

The Influence of Parental Mental Health on Child Outcomes: The Role of the Parenting Process , Meredith L. Dennis

Hypertension in Older African Americans: Testing Psychosocial Mediators , Taylor L. Draper

Multi-level Model of Parent-Child Attachment, Depression & Self-Concept in Pediatric Chronic Illness , Natacha Donoghue Emerson

Phenotyping Double Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s that Express Human APP and ApoE3 or ApoE4 , Shina Halavi

The Effects of Appearance Schemas and Commentary on Body Image and Eating Disorder Psychopathology , Alyson C. Hermé

Relationship between Crime, Psychological Diagnosis and Cognitive Functioning , Kayla M. Kinworthy

Interleukin-6, Depression, and Religious Coping in Older Seventh-day Adventists , Palak Dipak Kothari

Heart-focused Anxiety and Cardiac Treatment Adherence , Angelyna M. Lowe

The Frontal-Temporal Signature of TBI-Induced Acute Cerebral Metabolic Crisis , Christina Mannino

Emotional Memory: Examining Differences in Retrieval Methods , Audrey Martinez

Appearance-Related Commentary and Body Image in Women , Christina P. Moldovan

General Fatalism and Diabetes Fatalism as Predictors of Diabetes Treatment Adherence , Esmeralda Ibette Nuñez

NICU Parental Mental Health and Infant Outcomes: Effects of Psychological Well-Being and Psychopathology , Kathleen H. Parker

Effects of Stress, Sex Differences, and Cognitive Reserve on Cognitive Decline in Healthy Elderly Subjects , Courtney Ray

Interacting Beliefs and Processes in Mothers of Children Diagnosed with Autism , Lara L. South

An Examination of Social Media and the Tripartite Influence Model of Body Image Disturbance , Amanda F. Suplee

Survive or Thrive: Focusing on the Forest (Global) or the Trees (Local) Impacts Meaning Making , Seda Terzyan

Predictors of Adolescent E-cigarette Use , Denise Dao Tran

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Cultural Beliefs and Professional Empathy Influence Continuity of Healthcare , Jael A. Amador

Executive Dysfunction is Predictive of Clinical Symptomatology in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome , Chinonyere Kemdirim Bello

Parental Stress and Child Behavior Problems in Families of Children with Autism , Allyson Davis

Acceptability and Preferences for Empirically-Supported Psychological Treatments , Amanda Gorlick

Parent Stress and Social Skills Development in Children with Developmental Delays , Andrea Lewallen

Relationship among Psychotherapy Measurements: Predictors of ORS and OQ-45 Scores , Evan Lima

Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Adolescent Patient Treatment Dropout , Danessa Mayo

Comparison of Text Analysis Programs for Identification of Emotional Expression , Michelle McDonnell

Nondysphoric Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Abilities in Healthy Older Adults , Clint H. Norseth

An Attribution-Emotion Approach to Political Conflict , Daniel Joel Northington

Do Clergy in Hidalgo County, Texas Serve as a Bridge or Barrier to Mental Health Services? , John C. Park

Performance of Number of Factors Procedures in Small Sample Sizes , Marc Thomas Porritt

Elections Have Consequences: Moral Value Foundations Ensure Gridlock through the Ballot Box , Gregory John Regts

Executive Functioning Outcomes among Self-Harming Adolescents Receiving DBT-A , Alphonso A. Smith

Use of an Enhanced Engagement Approach to Increase Engagement in an Online Support Group , Ketlyne Sol

Weight Stigma as a Mediator among BMI, Childhood Overweight, Body Image and Depression , Serena D. Stevens

Assessment of Geriatric Depression: Construction of a New Screening Inventory , Earl C. Thorndyke III

Cultural Beliefs and Self-Efficacy in Diet Adherence among Type 2 Diabetics , Sonika Kravann Ung

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Cognitive Function in the Alcohol Addiction Treatment Population , Suranee Abeyesinhe

Perceived Empathy and Continuity of Cancer Screening Care Among Latino and Anglo Women , Jael Aniuska Amador

Predicting Cognitive Decline in Older Adults , Kimberly M. Baerresen

Effects of Proton Radiation on Behavior in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease , John A. Bellone

The Effects of Childhood and Combat-Related Trauma on Psychological Outcomes in Veterans , Alyson C. Hermé

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PhD in Clinical Psychology

Serve the underserved as a mental health professional.

Certain demographics face barriers when attempting to access mental health services. The University of Texas at Tyler’s PhD in Clinical Psychology trains you to provide expert care to underserved populations in East Texas and beyond. Become a practitioner who is not only equipped to assist a wide range of individuals but also provides evidence-based, accessible and equitable treatment to all you serve.

Toward this goal, you’ll integrate research and practice as you master interviewing, therapy and assessment skills that will help you excel in any clinical setting. The program also provides training in the science of psychology in a matched-mentorship program. Nationally-recognized faculty will supervise both your research and counseling work to help you grow and thrive as a professional ready to provide vital care in medical, clinical and more settings. The PhD in Clinical Psychology is a dissertation-based program involving four years of on-campus study and a one-year doctoral internship, plus hands-on clinical experience beginning your second year.

Why Earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology at UT Tyler?

At UT Tyler, you’ll find a program uniquely focused on mental health for underserved populations. You’ll start to understand how to better assist veterans, rural residents and seniors. Following your completion of the program, you’ll be ready to step into a unique role and offer help where it is needed most — and where jobs are in high demand.

When you do so, you’ll have confidence knowing you’re prepared for the challenges ahead. In our program, you’ll experience:

• Comprehensive training: Master theory and practice. Our five-year residential program gives you a strong foundation in research, along with abundant practice in assessment and therapy. Explore all faculty research areas .
• In-demand specialization: Get equipped to meet growing needs for rural mental health, geropsychology and care for veterans.
• Support: Earn a UT-caliber degree on a smaller campus with a strong network of support within the department.
• Experiential learning: Develop interview, therapy and assessment skills in our on-campus clinic in your second year. Then, deepen your learning with off-campus clinical experience, culminating in a 12-month internship. Learn more about the program’s practicum component .
• Ready for licensure: When you graduate, you will have satisfied the educational requirements to become a Licensed Psychologist in Texas.
• World-class faculty: Learn from faculty who are practicing therapists, skilled teachers, active scholars and innovative researchers with externally funded research projects. They are devoted to your success and ready to mentor you in your professional growth.
• Affordable: Focus on your studies with a generous financial aid package that is among the best in the state.

What You’ll Learn

UT Tyler’s PhD in Clinical Psychology prepares you for practice as a licensed psychologist. The full-time, five-year program includes four years on campus and an off-site doctoral internship year.

The program balances the discipline’s theoretical and practical sides while emphasizing the importance of investing in underserved communities. You will receive a thorough grounding in advanced psychology topics and undertake independent research as you write a thesis and dissertation. You will also gain an abundance of hands-on experience in patient testing, diagnosis and treatment.

Based on guidance from the American Psychological Association, the program’s three emphasis areas reflect the projected demand for mental health services in East Texas over the next 10 to 15 years:

• Rural mental health: Prepare to work with populations experiencing the greatest need for services. Students receive training on providing tele-mental health services.
• Veterans and active duty military: Serve the specific mental health needs of military veterans, service members and their families.
• Geropsychological care: As the number of adults age 65 and older continues to increase, meet the growing demand for age-specific mental health services.

When you complete the program, you will be:

• Trained as a scientist-practitioner who has expansive knowledge of the scientific and behavioral foundations of psychology.
• Capable of developing, conducting and reporting research knowledge through your own program of independent research.
• Competent to assess, diagnose and treat psychological disorders using evidence-based practices.
• Trained in ethics and professional issues related to clinical practice and research.
• Equipped with clinical and research training to better support underserved populations, such as the elderly, rural communities and veterans as well as active-duty service members.

See Full Degree Requirements for the PhD in Clinical Psychology

What Can You Do With a PhD in Clinical Psychology?

Following licensure, you’ll be qualified to offer expert help as a licensed clinical psychologist to those who are struggling with mental and emotional problems. With an aging population and increased awareness of mental health issues specific to veterans and rural communities, you’ll meet these pressing needs in clinical settings ranging from hospitals to private practices to mental health centers across East Texas.   Your PhD will also open the door to research-based positions where you can help move our understanding of psychology forward. You might serve as a professor at a university or as a research psychologist at a government or private research institution.

How to Apply

The PhD in Clinical Psychology is designed for students who have at least some preparation in psychology. The strongest applicants will have 12 or more credits in the discipline, including coursework in statistics, research methods, history and systems of psychology and abnormal psychology. In some cases, students may be admitted without this prior coursework but will be required to complete these courses during the program. You must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in prior coursework.

Your application requires the following:

• Complete the online application .
• Official transcripts for all prior college- or graduate-level work, submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions .
• Department Information Sheet .
• A statement of purpose. Submit electronically along with the department information sheet using the link above.
• Three letters of recommendation. Use our online system to request these from those who have agreed to write them for you.
• Curriculum vitae/résumé. Please send to [email protected] .

Admitted students must complete a background check prior to enrollment.

Review Detailed Application Requirements

See General Graduate School Admissions Requirements

As a doctoral student in clinical psychology at UT Tyler, you’ll receive generous financial support so you can focus on your studies.

Sources of support can include scholarships and assistantships. If funded, you will receive a four-year scholarship and a 50% tuition reduction. Assistantships are based on service of 20 hours per week and are intended to be renewable for up to four years, pending satisfactory performance.

While we can’t guarantee that you will receive funding, we have been able to provide full support to every student in the program since its inception.

Learn More About Financial Support for PhD in Clinical Psychology Students

Application deadline for all students to begin the following fall.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) opens for the upcoming academic year.

Meet a Professor

Dr. Adam McGuire

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Explore Related Programs

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

MA in School Counseling

MS in Clinical Psychology

Your future starts here. Make an impact among the underserved with a PhD in Clinical Psychology from UT Tyler.

Psychology, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences, program requirements .

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences emphasizes training and experience in the research methods essential to the development of new knowledge in the various sub-fields of psychology. Our core program for doctoral students emphasizes scientific methodology and provides rigorous research training. Each doctoral candidate is expected to become familiar with both a relatively narrowly defined area and a broad spectrum of knowledge related to the student’s topic of specialization.

In addition to general university requirements, the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences has the following regulations:

A thorough understanding of statistics is useful in virtually all research settings.  Two statistics courses are required during the first year of graduate training.  The normal sequence is AS.200.657 Advanced Statistical Methods during the first semester and AS.200.658 Advanced Research Design and Analysis during the second semester. Students with exceptional statistical training should take two more advanced courses by arrangement with the Director of Graduate Studies.  Students are encouraged to take more statistics, as appropriate.

Fundamentals and Core Topics in PBS

AS.200.613 Fundamentals of Biopsychology , AS.200.617 Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology ,  AS.200.654 Psychological & Brain Sciences Core Topics A , and AS.200.655 Psychological & Brain Sciences Core Topics B  offer an introduction to the fundamental principles and methods of the psychological & brain sciences. Students will read seminal and contemporary papers in topics that cover the breadth of the field. In addition, students become versed in the careful consideration of data and in formulating written and oral arguments.

First-Year Research Report

During the first year, the student, together with the faculty advisor, identifies a research project that will provide extended research experience. Normally, the student designs a study as part of a larger ongoing project. A project proposal must be submitted by June 1 of the first year; this proposal introduces the nature of the scientific problem, reviews the relevant literature, and describes the proposed study in detail, together with the anticipated data, means of analysis, and interpretations. A final written version of this report must be submitted by December 15 of the student's second year; ideally, this "first year project" report includes all the information that would be appropriate for submission to a scientific journal.

Advanced Examination

The Advanced Examination is designed to assess expertise in the student’s area of concentration. This examination, which includes both a written and oral part, is graded by a committee of at least two faculty members. The written and oral portions of the advanced examination offer the student an opportunity to demonstrate both in-depth, focused knowledge in their specialty area of study, and also a breadth of knowledge outside of their area of expertise. The student must pass the advanced examination by the beginning of the third year of study.

Advanced Seminars

Advanced seminars are more specialized in content than a Core Topics course, but are still geared to students with interests both inside and outside the area.  Students are required to complete one advanced seminar outside their concentration area.  Completion of an additional advanced seminar is strongly recommended.

Topical Seminars

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers topical seminars in which one or more faculty members leads seminars on topics of special interest, such as cognitive processes, developmental psycholinguistics, neuro-physiological aspects of behavior, mathematical psychology, and information processing. Through participation in these seminars, students are exposed to findings in subfields of psychology. Topics vary from semester to semester and are determined by the interests of both faculty and graduate students.  The format of the seminar is optional, and the course may or may not require formal tests of knowledge.  Students are urged to complete topical seminars as appropriate.

Research Seminars

Students and faculty engaged or interested in research in particular areas organize these seminars. Participants discuss their own research and other current research in the area.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching experience is regarded as an important part of the graduate program, and graduate students are required to teach during their program. More details are available in the handbook.  The Department Chair, Director of Graduate Studies, Department Administrator, and Academic Program Administrator collaborate to assess the instructional support needs of the department and assign these teaching duties.

Advanced students may apply for a Dean’s Teaching Fellowship . This prestigious fellowship provides graduate students an opportunity to grow both as educators and scholars by allowing them to propose, design, and offer an undergraduate seminar course.

Literature Review

Students complete a written literature review in preparation of the completion of their dissertation. The literature review is modeled on articles appearing in professional journals, and it should be suitable for publication in such a journal. Typically, the review provides a background for the thesis plan, but for some students it may be prepared on a topic other than the one selected for the thesis. The literature review is evaluated by the same committee that will evaluate the thesis plan.

Thesis Plan

At least one calendar year before receiving the Ph.D. degree, each doctoral candidate must develop a plan for the dissertation research and present the plan before a departmental committee.  The thesis plan is a detailed document stating the issue the student wishes to address in a dissertation, the experimental design to be used, and the way the student will interpret the various possible results.  In essence, it is a proposal for a research project with predictions and preliminary data, rather than results.  The outline of the experiments should be sufficiently clear that the readers will fully understand the procedures; the plan should also include a timeline.

This plan should be completed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the fourth year.  Dissertation research cannot proceed until the Thesis Plan has formally been approved.  With the committee’s approval, the student then prepares a dissertation.

Dissertation

The dissertation represents the student’s culminating piece of scholarly work. It establishes the start of a research career and the basis for postgraduate employment. The Graduate Board of the University administers the final oral examination, a defense of the thesis. The doctoral dissertation must be in a form suitable for and worthy of publication.

Financial Support

Support for graduate students comes from many different sources. Domestic and international students in good standing can expect to receive tuition remission and a stipend.

Stipend support is competitive with that at other institutions and provides sufficient funds to live modestly. Stipends may come from research grants held by faculty members, allowing students to collaborate and be paid as research assistants. The university also provides funds for teaching assistants, as well as special fellowships.

All students are encouraged to apply for national awards, fellowships, and scholarships (e.g., NSF Graduate Fellowships). Our students have been remarkably successful at winning these honors.

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is also affiliated with two diverse training programs supported by the Center for Hearing and Balance and the National Institute on Aging , including the NIA-supported training grant titled “Research Training in Age-Related Cognitive Disorders.” Qualified graduate students are encouraged to discuss relevant and appropriate training grant applications with their advisors. Stipend and tuition remission may be provided to accepted applicants through these and other training programs.

For further information on graduate study in psychology, contact the Academic Program Administrator for the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences .

Master of Arts in Psychology

A student who has been admitted into the Ph.D. program can earn a Master of Arts degree in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Normally, candidates for the Ph.D. degree in psychology will qualify for the M.A. degree at the end of their second year, after having completed two area seminars and at least two courses in psychological research design and/or advanced statistics, provided that their performance is of the quality judged satisfactory for the M.A. level. There is no terminal master’s program.

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February 12, 2023

Understanding the Differences Between Graduate Degrees in Clinical Psychology

• Graduate & Professional School Advising
• Graduate School
• Graduate Students

If you are working with students applying to graduate school in clinical psychology—or planning to do so in the future—you are bound to confront the question: what is the difference between a PhD in clinical psychology and a PsyD program? How do these two degrees vary in terms of application requirements, academic experience, and career paths offered? Furthermore, what can psychology students who graduate with a master’s degree go on to do? I have worked with applicants to graduate programs in psychology for over ten years and recently spoke with four knowledgeable professionals to gain an even deeper understanding of the options available to students. In the article below, I’ll walk you through defining features of the various graduate degrees in psychology and discuss how to help your students make the best choice for their interests, preferences, and goals.

Overview of Accredited Program Types

First, let’s take a look at the options students have, by the numbers. There are 418 APA-accredited doctoral programs of psychology, including 310 PhD programs and 108 PsyD programs, according to the American Psychological Association.

Interestingly, very few universities offer both PhD and PsyD programs, and the schools that offer PhD programs tend to be the more research-based “R-1” universities (as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education based on the schools’ investment and productivity in research).

The Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD, in clinical psychology is the most research-focused of the three degrees. Such programs are said to follow a “scientist-practitioner” or “scholar-practitioner” model, in which the generation of new knowledge is the first priority. PhD programs thus focus on admitting students who have at least two years of research experience prior to applying and make the creation of original scholarship a centerpiece of the graduate school experience. Such programs take five to eight years to complete, and generally require that students write a dissertation.

PhD programs tend to be small and are highly selective in their admissions. Nova Southeastern University’s PhD program, for example, admits many fewer applicants than their PsyD program because PhD students work with specific faculty members throughout their training. “We have these wonderful one-to-one number of faculty who are available to be a mentor for that applicant,” says Gregory Gayle, EdS PhD candidate in educational leadership, director of recruitment and admissions for the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern. An added bonus of PhD programs is that they often provide students with full or partial funding.

Applying to a PhD program at which you’ll work with a specific research adviser throughout your training is “a bit of a risk if you are not completely sure what you want to study,” says Mary Thorn,* a third-year PhD student in clinical psychology at the City College of New York. But such programs tend to provide full funding, so “financially, it makes a lot of sense—but those programs are by far the most competitive, because you get a full ride.” When Thorn applied to graduate school in 2019, she looked at the faculty accepting students at each program she was considering and, if there wasn’t someone whose specific research area appealed to her, didn’t apply to that school.

Thorn applied to a total of around 15-18 graduate programs, including about two-thirds PhD programs and one-third PsyD programs—so she hadn’t decided which route to take by the time she applied. But, per her interests and background, she favored programs with a more clinical bent that were still PhD programs, which were more affordable, skewed older (Thorn was in her late twenties when she applied), and tended to have more diverse student bodies, as far as she could tell. Thorn ultimately was accepted to six PhD programs and four PsyD programs, and narrowed her choices down to three PhD programs that had more psychodynamic or mindfulness-oriented offerings than the others: Adelphi, Hofstra, and City College, which she ended up selecting.

PhD degrees are ideal for students who enjoy conducting original research, are up for a long schooling experience, want or need to spend little to no money on graduate school, and hope to pursue a combination of research, teaching, and clinical work. Many of Thorn’s classmates hope to balance out private practice with work that’s more affordable for patients and have a wide variety of career aspirations: one wants to focus on eldercare; another wants to be a sports psychologist for a premier-league team; others are particularly interested in cross-cultural studies (since research to date has primarily focused on societies that are “WEIRD”: Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic). Many PhD students go on to complete post-doctoral degrees upon graduation—for example, at psychoanalytic institutes like IPTAR or the William Alanson White Institute.

“PhD—there’s more gravitas to it, and people in a social psych lens will respect it more,” Thorn says. Teaching opportunities can come more easily to PhDs, who can teach at any level, including at PhD programs. But as we’ll see in the next section, the difference between PhD and PsyD programs has become less and less acute over time.

The Doctor of Psychology, or PsyD, is more focused on the clinical experience than the PhD. While PhDs follow a “scholar-practitioner” model, PsyDs tend to follow an inversion of it, namely: the “practitioner-scholar” model. While PhD programs train students to generate original knowledge, PsyD programs have traditionally been centered on applying said knowledge in the field. PsyD programs are a bit shorter than PhD programs—they take four to six years to complete—and do not tend to be funded.

“Historically, when PsyDs were newer to the space of psychology, the career paths were very different,” says Katherine Marshall Woods, PsyD, assistant professor of clinical psychology, director of clinical training, and deputy director of the Professional Psychology Program at George Washington University. “That is no longer the case. Most things that one can do with a PhD, one can do with a PsyD. There is no longer that sort of discrepancy.” Gayle echoes this sentiment: PhD graduates working in the academy and PsyD graduates working in the clinic “is really not a strong difference anymore,” he says. “We have individuals who are PsyDs teaching, we have individuals who have their PhD working in agencies, etcetera. But historically, that has been the difference.” Thorn points out that many PsyD programs have developed robust clinical research tracks that align to some degree with PhD programs’ research sequences. And PsyD students can, like PhD students, go on to teach at the college level, do original research, and/or become licensed psychologists (pending passing a licensing exam after graduation).

Overall, though, research requirements tend to be less rigorous in PsyD programs, whose students dive into clinical work more quickly. “In a PsyD program, it is more about applying the theory to patients within actual clinical experiences,” says Woods. PsyD students must do some research in order to graduate and can lean into it more deeply if they choose—but they usually don’t have to write a dissertation, as PhD students do. At some PsyD programs, students have a different sort of writing requirement: at GW, for example, PsyD students must compose a long piece describing a clinical experience that they’ve had with a patient. Such a work is challenging, like a dissertation, but differently focused. Other PsyD programs, like Nova Southeastern’s, do not require that PsyD students complete a capstone piece of writing at all.

Claire Banko,* a second-year student in the PsyD program at Nova Southeastern, only applied to PsyD programs because “my main focus was to continue developing my clinical knowledge skills,” she says. “I did my undergraduate program in Bogota, Colombia and did a specialization and internship with adolescents and adults conducting evidence-based therapy. This motivated me to continue further in my career and apply to a more practice-focused degree.”

When Woods applied to graduate programs in clinical psychology, she, like Thorn, focused more on specific programs than on the PhD-versus-PsyD divide. “I was interested in this program in particular, the George Washington University PsyD program, for years—actually, since its inception, which was not that long before I went to grad school,” she says. She points to a number of unique features of the program, chief among them its psychodynamic orientation and special interest in psychoanalysis. (GW students still can take courses that follow other models, like CBT, or gain exposure to such lenses through externships.)

She was also drawn to the GW PsyD program’s focus on both the scholar and the practitioner elements of education. “You are a scholar—you are always someone who is learning—and you are an individual who practices psychology daily,” she says. At that time, she was not as interested in research: “I wanted to be somebody who was always learning and thinking and doing so while being a practitioner, and having whatever I’m learning be something that was applicable to serve the public.” PsyD students at GW typically take three years of full-time coursework in clinical psychology, followed by a yearlong internship.

Woods went on to graduate from GW’s PsyD program, and now serves on the program’s faculty. Her role involves not only teaching but also supervising students, advising, and helping students obtain training in the community as well as internships. She wears many other hats, too: she spends 12-15 hours per week treating patients in private practice; hosts a television show, A Healthy Mind, that aims to enhance community health awareness; assists filmmakers in developing characters in a way that is realistic and accurate; writes blog posts and books; and more. Her PsyD degree has enabled her to do clinical work, teach, and beyond.

If the difference between the PhD and PsyD degree has narrowed in recent years, the master’s in clinical psychology degree still stands apart: it usually does not enable graduates to teach at the college level or practice as a licensed clinical psychologist. This makes sense, as the MA degree takes only one to two years to complete, does not involve original research, and typically involves fewer than twenty hours of fieldwork. Master’s programs, like PsyD programs, are not funded.

However, an MA in clinical psychology may be an ideal option for students who want to apply to PhD programs but don’t yet have the requisite two-plus years of research experience. It can take much longer than two years to actually amass this experience, as getting such posts can be competitive: it might take years for a student to get their first research gig. Obtaining an MA would supplant the need for such experience prior to applying.

Master’s degrees in other psychology-related fields can offer other opportunities, so such a degree might be ideal for students who are interested in psychology but don’t want to invest in upwards of four years of graduate education. Obtaining an MS in counseling, for example, enables students to work in such environments as mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, and more. Obtaining a master’s in social work, or MSW, degree, followed by many hours of supervised training as well as licensure, enables graduates to serve as clinical social workers—which can be the jumping-off point for careers as disparate as social worker on the one hand or psychoanalyst in private practice on the other.

Tips for Students

Consider Overall Career Priorities. Since there is increasing overlap between PhD and PsyD programs, I advise helping students identify, as specifically as possible, the areas they’re interested in before they apply to psychology graduate school. Start by discussing the balance they desire, for their future career, between clinical work, research, and teaching; then, drill down into the specifics of their interests. Are there subject areas, populations, and/or disorders that they feel most compelled toward?

Identify Specialty Areas. There is a wide range of specialties students can pursue, from those involving the individual and relationships (like developmental psychology, or marriage and family psychology) to school-related areas (like educational psychology or educational testing) to a variety of additional areas (like public policy, substance abuse, industrial-organizational psychology, and more). Each grad program has a unique combination of concentrations or tracks. As an example, Harvard University offers psychology PhD students a focus in one of four areas: experimental psychotherapy and clinical science; developmental psychology; social psychology; or cognitive, brain, and behavior. At Rutgers University, PsyD students can complete programs in clinical psychology, school psychology, or organizational psychology. At Columbia University, the MSW program has a variety of specific fields of practice for students to choose from, including aging; contemporary social issues; and family, youth, and children’s services. And Pepperdine University’s master’s degree in psychology focuses on marriage and family therapy.

The more clearly students have defined their interest area(s), the better you’ll be able to determine not only which degree makes the most sense for them but also, within that category, which specific programs will be the most fruitful match. These days, it is more effective to build an application list that fits an interest range than to apply to only PhD or only PsyD programs. If, like Thorn or Woods, students are specifically interested in a psychoanalytic lens, that will eliminate far more programs—and result in a list of much more appropriate matches—than choosing one degree type over the other right off the bat. Banko was particularly drawn to Nova Southeastern’s wide variety of specialized tracks. “While choosing a concentration or track, students can see coursework specialized in certain topics,” she says. “In my case, I’m following the child and adolescent track, which so far has been giving me more in-depth knowledge through child-related courses.”

Identify Demographic Populations of Interest. Students may also have a preference for working with certain demographics, such as immigrants or the underserved. As Gayle describes, training at Nova Southeastern allows students to work with clients from across South Florida, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. “We are a destination state, so every kind of mental health condition you can think of, you’ll find it in South Florida,” he says. “If you can be trained in South Florida, you can work anywhere in this country.” For Banko, the diverse demographics in the patient population was an important factor in choosing Nova Southeastern: “Coming from an Hispanic background, for me it’s very rewarding to work with the Hispanic population,” she says. “I want to be able to address the challenges that they have to help them improve their mental health and adjust to life in the US.”

Consider Personal Factors. Beyond the broad and granular outlines of the career students envision for themselves, there are personal factors and preferences to consider that will help them narrow down which schools to apply to and, ultimately, which program to choose. For example, consider geography: is your client committed to moving to or staying in a particular city—or, conversely, unwilling to move to a certain geographic area for school? (Thorn only applied to programs in the tri-state area because, by that point, she had a long-term partner and well-established life in New York.) What size program would help them thrive—a smaller program with more personalized attention or a larger program with more course options? And what are the student’s financial capacities?

The bottom line: spend a lot of time drilling down into students’ interests before you build a psychology graduate school list and prioritize the offerings of individual programs over the degree type. Take a cue from the experiences of Thorn and Woods and do not underestimate the role that emotion and passion should play in this decision. The specifics of what a program offers and requires, and the student’s gut-level pull toward that school, are far more important than the degree or the school’s ranking.

*Student names have been changed by the editor to maintain their privacy.

By Julie Raynor Gross, EdM, MBA, CEP, IECA (NY)

From the  Winter 2023 issue  of IECA’s  Insights magazine

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Department of Psychology

Graduate Program Offerings

We offer an outstanding research-oriented Ph.D. program in the following areas:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Social/Personality Psychology

We also offer specialized training in the following subfields of study:

• Quantitative Psychology
• Health and Well-Being Psychology
• Diversity and Inequality Psychology

Our graduates secure positions in academic institutions, research institutes, government health and social service agencies, and corporate research and consulting companies.

Please note that we do not offer a terminal master’s degree, nor do we provide training in Clinical, Counseling, Educational, or School Psychology. Applicants interested in Educational or School Psychology should consult the  Graduate School of Education .

Please visit our  Graduate Admissions page  and our  Graduate Coursework page  for additional details about our program.