What is a Psy.D?

A PsyD is a doctorate in psychology or an alternative to earning a PhD (Doctorate in Philosophy). When choosing a psychologist or psychotherapist it is safe to think of these degrees interchangeably. Each have a significant amount of post graduate coursework, practical experiences, and proof of clinical competence. It is common for individuals who are not interested in pursing a research focus to choose the PsyD route. Compared to a graduate PhD program (which emphasizes research during training), PsyD programs are more applied and focused on clinical practice.