[brucestream]

What points should I consider before pursuing a child psychology degree or certificate program? Suggest me some specialization courses in child psychology.

[medkev13]

Well, there's a lot of ways you could go. You could specialize in specific illnesses. The big ones are Bipolar, AD(H)D, and Autism. You could also specialize in a certain age group. Infancy and pre-adolescence is big if you're looking for helping more family situations and coping with what will be life-long struggles (again, Autism will pop up here a lot...as will the children being in a family where mental illness is prevalent). Adolescence and teenage years are going to be where you will address possible misdiagnoses as well as the "surprise, you're crazy" moments when the first episodes of the bigger illnesses start to show up (i.e. bipolar/schizophrenia/etc). You could also specialize in ethnic or socio-economic groups. This is big on if you're addressing issues that society has had more of a hand in, like PTSD dealing with abuse, or the foster care/adoption system.

[Perna]

It's an advanced degree at the PhD level, don't think there is a "certificate" program unless maybe you already are a clinical psychologist. If you are in the United States, this website is helpful/interesting reading:

http://www.guidetopsychology.com/be_psy.htm

There are many aspects to child psychology, including developmental psychology, testing, etc.

[regretful]

Consider, very seriously, the cost of the degree vesrus the potential payoff. I earned a doctorate in psychology a few years back (about 16 years actually); I'm still finding ways to pay off the student loan. Not sure if that is what you were talking about with the considerations...but if you can find a way to do the work without such a huge investment (scholarships, work study, etc), then do so. Getting the student loans is fairly easy...paying them off is a chore. By the way, I still maintain a license as a clinical psychologist. I am working my way back to that occupation, but am currently somewhat trapped in a business adventure that I thought was going to be profitable enough to allow me to pay off said student loans...

There, now that the tough stuff is out of the way, consider some of the following:

1. Look into the research on child psychology. Find a researcher that you like and then call them or email them. Trust me, they are always flattered that someone has read their stuff. If that person has a faculty appointment, then consider attending the school at which they teach.

2. Consider auditing a class or two at your local university to see if that is what you really want to do. Graduate work in clinical psychology is about a lot more than sitting in clinics providing therapy. There is, at most schools, a TON of data analysis that is required during your course of study.

3. Talk to people who already are in the field and ask them what they have found most useful.

4. Look into other avenues that are not necessarily in psychology graduate work. For example, there are many folks that take the route to clinical work through social work programs. There are many fine clinical social workers practicing as "child psychologists".

Good luck. Feel free to send me a private message if you would like more correspondence.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I've wondered this myself, I believe if you're not looking to go the full PHD that you could also become a social worker and work like a therapist for these children, but I'm not sure. That will probably be my route, when I'm healthy enough to go back to school. Best of luck to you, we need more GOOD mental health providers

[Confusedinomicon]

Originally Posted by Perna

It's an advanced degree at the PhD level, don't think there is a "certificate" program unless maybe you already are a clinical psychologist. If you are in the United States, this website is helpful/interesting reading:

http://www.guidetopsychology.com/be_psy.htm

There are many aspects to child psychology, including developmental psychology, testing, etc.

Thank you for this. I read through it and it helped a lot.