Can I be a psychologist in rural Maine?
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Question:
Dear Psychologist,
I have a bachelor’s degree in social work and I am considering getting a graduate degree in psychology, either a master’s degree or a doctorate. I know that eventually I want to move with my husband to Maine, which will probably be pretty rural. What are my chances of getting work as a psychologist there? Thank you, Margaret
Answer:
Dear Margaret,
I lived in central Maine before I began my career as a psychologist. It was an excellent chance to gain some good experience in the field because I worked for a mental health clinic as a case manager to clients with major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. In fact, it was this work experience that helped me to get into graduate school in psychology. Maine is actually a great place to get jobs in the mental health field with a bachelor’s degree– work that would require a master’s degree elsewhere (such as being on staff at a crisis clinic) is sometimes available for the aspiring clinician.
Working in Maine as a psychologist
Getting a master’s degree or doctoral degree in psychology will certainly expand your career options as well as income potential. And yes, it is certainly possible to work in Maine, even the rural parts, as a psychologist. Your best bet will be to consider private practice options. A doctoral degree in psychology opens the most possibilities for insurance reimbursement and career movement. As a licensed doctoral level psychologist, you can also supervise other clinicians.
There are some potential downsides to working as a clinician in private practice in a rural area. You are more likely to have dual relationships with clients if you live in a small town, and so it might be more challenging to stay true to the psychological ethics code. However, ethics are an important part of being a psychologist; you will have to set good boundaries and have clear communication.
Another barrier might be that many people who live in rural Maine cannot afford therapy which is expensive. You will probably be more successful in getting clients if you can accept Medicaid and Medicare for payment, as well as insurance companies.
Other options
Other options might include working in an outpatient mental health clinic and working on an inpatient unit. There will be fewer of these kinds of facilities in the country so you may have to travel a bit. In addition, look for crisis management centers, specialized treatment centers, group practices, and college counseling centers. Any of these sites might want to hire a licensed and qualified psychologist.
Next steps
The advent of online education has made it easier than ever to pursue an advanced degree from afar. If you and your husband want to move to Maine more quickly, you might want to look at online graduate programs. Just make sure that any program you sign up for is accredited and gives you the opportunity to get the supervised clinical training that you need. In addition, the program should give you all the credentials to sit for the Maine licensing exam.
Good luck with becoming a psychologist in Maine!
Tags: doctorate, graduate degree, masters, psychology
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