Name

Jeannette Pettiford

School

National University

Degree Program

Graduate of Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, 1998

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Union Institute & University, 1992

Research Interests

Energy psychology; Co-dependency issues; Post-traumatic stress

Hobbies

Writing, researching

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I decided to enroll in the counseling psychology masters program at National University because I wanted to further my education and increase my earning potential and job prospects in the psychology field. At the time, I was stuck in a low-paying job as a social worker.

In addition, I decided to attend National University because it offered the exact program I was looking for. It was also conveniently located in San Diego, which is where I live.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

I prepared myself for graduate school by gaining professional experience in the psychology field. Prior to applying, I held several jobs in mental health and social work. I felt like I had gained the necessary life experience to succeed in a graduate program.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I discussed how my work and life experiences influenced my decision to attend graduate school in counseling psychology. I also talked about why I wanted to get my masters degree in counseling psychology and what I planned on doing with it.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my letters of recommendation, I chose people who could talk about my capacity to finish a graduate program as well as my ability to succeed in the counseling psychology field. For example, I obtained letters from my former bosses, my support group counselor, my undergraduate advisor and colleagues in the social work and mental health fields.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in counseling psychology?

I would tell a student who is considering applying to graduate school in counseling psychology to become familiar with the requirements to become a licensed therapist. In addition to earning a masters degree, students need to complete 500 internship hours in school as well as an additional 2,500 internship hours after graduation. After completing their hours and receiving supervisor approval, they can take the test to get licensed. However, about 70% of students fail the test the first time, so students should anticipate studying very hard or having to take the test over again.

I would also remind a student to determine whether or not they can afford to pay for their education. Students should expect to accumulate a significant amount of loans.

The last thing I would tell students is to consider exploring pursuing a masters degree and a PhD at the same time. This option potentially only takes 3 years.

Graduate School – The Program

How long was your program and how was the curriculum distributed?

My 2-year program was divided into 1-month classes. Each class covered a different topic such as ethics, children, adults, group therapy and family therapy. Coursework usually culminated with exams and 10- to 20-page research papers. At the end of the program, students were required to take a 3- to 6-month long internship class in order to gain clinical hours.

Because my program was designed for working students, classes usually ran on weeknights and weekends. I would sometimes take a month off from the program every 3 or 4 months in order to stay fresh.

Did your program have an internship component?

Yes, my program had an internship component. Toward the end of the program, I was required to find a pre-approved agency that would hire psychology interns. Once I secured an internship, I started gaining clinical hours under the guidance and mentorship of a supervisor. In my case, I worked with young drug-addicted mothers who were working on gaining custody of their children. I facilitated 2-3 groups and met individually with 2 clients per week for a total of about 10 clinical hours.

Did your masters program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

No, my masters program did not require comprehensive exams prior to graduation.

How did a masters program differ from undergraduate study?

The main difference between a masters program in counseling psychology and my bachelors program in social work was the curriculum. While bachelors students have to take classes in English and science, masters students are able to focus exclusively on classes in psychology. As a result, masters students gain much more knowledge on a specific topic.

The other main difference was the faculty expertise. In a masters program at National University, professors are usually licensed therapists in the field, which gives students a unique perspective.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much did your masters program cost?

Although I don’t remember exactly, I think my masters program cost about $40,000 total.

How did you fund your education?

I funded my education through my job at a dorm as well as student loans to cover my tuition and book costs. Eventually, I had to leave my job because of the demands of school, so I filed for unemployment, which helped too.

Graduate School – Living Life

What were the time commitments for a masters degree in counseling psychology?

The time commitments for my masters program entailed about 12 hours of class time per week. I attended a 4-hour class 2 times each week, as well as every other Saturday for 4 or 5 hours. In addition, I spent about 10 hours each week studying and writing.

How did graduate school affect your personal life?

Graduate school definitely affected my personal life. It was a lot of pressure attending school, working and being a single mom. On the other hand, graduate school did offer me a few social outlets. For example, I often met with my study group to eat breakfast and then study. All in all, the education I gained in graduate school was well worth the long hours.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In the next 5 years, I hope to get my license or start my own practice. In order to be eligible for my license, I still have to acquire 250 more clinical hours and pass a test. In addition, I would like to continue writing books and maintaining my website. In general, I would like to continue helping people in a variety of capacities.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a masters degree in counseling psychology?

I would tell a prospective masters student in counseling psychology to research the difference between a masters and a PhD program. A PhD is beneficial if students plan on going into the academic or research field, but the cost and career benefits of both types of degrees should be weighed carefully.

I would also suggest that students figure out what they want to do with a masters degree in counseling psychology and then research the potential jobs available. If a student wants to eventually become a therapist, they should find a masters program that will make them eligible to gain licensure.