[psychology]

[wispfox]

I am vaguely disturbed by _just_ how much I'm enjoying researching my intention of getting a PhD in Psychology. It's a bit difficult to find a combination of probable concentration interest (cognitive neuropsych) and topic interests (Autism Spectrum, especially NVLD, face blindness, and synesthesia are the main ones), though. ANU looks really promising (and unlike some other schools in AU I might name, are actually _replying_ to my questions), both for much research and for faculty working on potentially interesting topics.

It's somewhat annoying that, because I had insufficient information as an undergrad about the possibilities in Psych, I do not have very much psych class or research experience to draw upon when it comes time to apply. This mostly means that I need to take some classes (next fall, when doing so is less likely to be _stupid_ when combined with working and my damn wrists) between now and when it comes time to stop working, take my year off, and apply to school. Hopefully, doing so will also give me recommendation possibilities which are related to Psych. Because, right now, unless I count my mom (well... no), I don't have any. At all. This makes grad school application difficult.

Amusing, though, to have this research reminding me of such things as many tests being performed on me and my siblings, while my mom was in school for school Psych. Or the fact that I would randomly browse through the DSM-IV, because it intrigued me (some people browse dictionaries. Me? I browsed the DSM-IV). Or the fact that I went to a Psych stats course with my mom as a teen, because she thought I might be interested (I was, and baffled the professor because I was actually keeping up, for the most part).

Also very, _very_ annoying to have to limit my research and such because of my damn hands. But I'm close to being out of flare again! And I intend to remain offline during the long weekend, to get there.

Comments

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

OH! i had no idea you were thinking of doing a PhD.

how very cool :)

i'm all over that at some point in my life :)

n.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I just flashed on a connection that might be good for you. I'm not sure why I just thought of it now. My friend siderea works in software as a project manager and is currently going to school for a degree in psychology, clinical I think, planning on changing careers. Beyond the surface correlation I think the two of you would get along very well.

Likewise with the "Aha!"

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

I was just about to mention the connection to siderea. I'm thinkin the two could probably hit it off and discuss psych stuff...of course, getting their two incredibly dense schedules to line up could also be one of the great wonders of the western world. ;)

Anyway, wispfox, if you want an introduction you're probably connected six ways from Sunday already, but I or Ian can certainly mediate....

[szasz.livejournal.com]

My friend kateorama has a Ph.D. in Psychology, and has a lot of clinical experience with autism-spectrum clients, mostly NVLD adolescents. She's a clinician, moreso than a researcher, but I'm sure she'd be glad to share her experiences with you if you'd like.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Very few were aware of this interest; it's been gradually increasing in strength for about a year or two, but it was only recently that I have seriously been looking into it. And, well, sad wrists mean I don't write about it much. :)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

A brief look at her journal makes me think that yes, I would like to get to know her (and ask many questions). :)

Re: Likewise with the "Aha!"

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

As just said to ian_gunn, reading her journal makes me think that yes, I would like to meet her and pick her brain. So any introductions would be appreciated.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I would, in fact, like to talk to her. Not sure how much I'm going to be able to get from a clinician, but it can't hurt. :)

Re: Likewise with the "Aha!"

[siderea]

Hi there! I'm a Master's student pursuing an M.Ed. and a licence in Mental Health Counseling so that I can grow up to be a psychotherapist. It took me until I was thirty-- um (counts)--two to figure that out, that that's what I wanted to be. Previous/Current career: coder. Occasionally Lead Coder and Architect. Web dev. ColdFusion and PostgreSQL mostly these days, with occasional PHP and perl.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

You do realise that rivka (alt.polycon 12 chair) is a clinical psychologist, yes?

Re: Likewise with the "Aha!"

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Hello! Nice to 'meet' you!

I'm very much in the process of figuring out what precisely I want to be, in psych, at least according to the terminology schools use. I know what I want to _do_, but finding schools doing it has been interesting (research, definitely. In austism spectrum disorders (esp NVLD), face blindness, and synesthesia, specifically. So, PhD, definitely. Probably cognitive neuroscience). Took me a bit less long to figure this out; started realizing that psych was an option (and was not only therapy) within the past two years, and have since been figuring out where I want my research to be.

I'm currently a software quality assurance engineer, and trying to figure out what I need to be doing in order to apply to various schools in a few years. :) (this is made especially interesting considering that I developed wrist tendonitis a bit over two months ago, and am trying to get out of flare, so have to limit wrist use, and therefore computer use)

[kateorama.livejournal.com]

OMG I will *so* ignore that clinician comment. Besides, I did my degree at Univ of Illinois, so I'm really a clinical-science (i.e. research trained) person, I just happen to do clinical work too. SO THERE!! Easiest way to contact me is e-mail -- nucleusxoxo on yahoo.

RE: Autism spectrum and NVLD stuff, you might want to talk to/e-mail with Wendy Heller (a clinical psych prof at UIUC, you can find her via directory search at www.uiuc.edu). She does neuropsychology and emotion stuff, focusing on fMRI work, but has a strong interest in NVLD (and supervised my clinical work with a child/pre-teen with NVLD/Asperger's and various other neuropsych, emotional and cognitive "issues"). She may have some good ideas or names to give you.

[(Anonymous)]

dude, since when am I a clinician more than a researcher? hmph. okay, maybe regarding NVLD and autism stuff, that's true. but overall? hardly. *grump*

[szasz.livejournal.com]

Well, that's what I was specifically thinking of, was your clinical experience with the kid. Didn't mean to imply that you didn't do research on ANY topic.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

clinician: *amused* Ok, perhaps you would be better able to offer advice than I was originally given to understand. :)

Wendy Heller suggestion: Thank you! I will definitely send her email.

Also, thank you for your email address. I won't be able to send much mail right now because of wrist tendonitis, but I'll hang onto it for when my wrists aren't _quite_ so limiting of my hand use.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I think I did realize, yes, but clinicians are generally going to be less helpful for me, since I actively do _not_ want to do clinical work.