College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Full Name: Scott York
Major: Doctor of Psychology in Applied Psychology
What year are you in the program? Fifth Year (third literal year)
Hometown: Murray, KY 

Why did you choose WKU’s PsyD in Applied Psychology program?

One of the primary reasons for choosing WKU was the ability to work full-time while completing my course work. That flexibility allowed me to continue to develop my therapeutic skills in ways that other programs were not going to be able to provide. Because my career goals are so focused on therapy, this made WKU’s PsyD program an exceptionally good fit for me.

How have you already applied what you are learning? 

Because I work full-time as a therapist while attending classes, I am able to apply my learning directly to my clients in real time. This has been one of the most rewarding parts of the program for me in that I am not having to imagine how these principles apply to real world clients; I get to put them in to practice immediately.

What do you hope to do after graduation? 

After graduation, the ultimate goal is private practice. I am also considering pursuing neuropsychology which would require an additional two-year fellowship after graduation. 

What experience(s) have you had during your years as a WKU student that have helped or is helping you prepare for a career after graduation?

I think the class that has most prepared me for my post WKU career has been Dr. Grieve’s ACT class taken last spring. This class provided a detailed description of a therapeutic theory and allowed the students an opportunity to put that theory into practice with their own clients. Each week, we would bring those client experiences to class to discuss and review which only enhanced the experience as we got to hear from our peers and learn from them; again, taking that information and bringing it back to our clients. 

What has been the best part of your WKU experience? Why?

The best part of the WKU experience for me has been the connections made with faculty, staff, and students. These people provide both great knowledge that is necessary for a career in psychology but also a terrific support system when life’s stresses appear. 

What advice do you have for future PsyD students?

The biggest piece of advice I have for future students is to maintain a healthy work/school-life balance. Doctoral programs are challenging and require a large investment of time. It can become easy to get bogged down by the workload so take time for yourself to relax and enjoy going to a ballgame or participating in your favorite hobby/activity.