How do I...

The world needs more really smart PsyDs and many fewer really dumb PhD. I am tired of defending my education as equal to or greater than a PhD program. I am tired of not being taken at my word, based on my program. I am sick of PhD program people spouting the U of M crap, but being unable to justify it, being unwilling to consider alternatives, and lost in the sea of that’s the way Dr. So-and-so said it should be done.

Case in point: I was just talking about a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. I was challenged on every point and with every criterion, with the rationale that some U of M Doctor of Psychology teaches that this is a bogus diagnosis and the condition does not really exist. Well then – who the f-ing hell are we locking in all of our prisons? Additionally, none of these bone-heads could remember the lecture on why ASPD is a bogus diagnosis, thus none could offer serious criticism. Thus, it became a “you can’t give that diagnosis because I was in a lecture once where the professor said he didn’t believe in ASPD.”

Smoke and mirrors people - you have been deceived!

And my education is a problem?

How do I get to lecture in front of these buffoons, for I really wish to tell them that I am rich beyond the dreams of avarice and should I ever drive anything but the finest of the world’s automobiles an insidious black hole will open in Illinois and destroy every last kernel of wheat for 1000 miles, resulting in a beer shortage!

Can you imagine the panic of all the faithful Psychology Grad students running to stock pile malted beverages?

Finals are DONE!

I'm done, I'm DONE, I'm DONE!!!!!

Finals are done.

I can't really say how the Statistics and Research final went. It was quite a bit different than the mid-term and was all essay. I found it difficult, knowing that the grading was based on the use of specific words or phrases that are integrated into concepts. The problem I have with this, is that my language use is somewhat non-traditional, and perhaps (JUST PERHAPS) over complicated (and definitely complex). This has been a problem in the past.

Of course I still can't spell!

What can you expect from a FLAKE?

I just received my first formal evaluation. It was straight meets expectations in all the check boxes, but did have a comment!!! Although somewhat illegible it had to do with regular attendance to group supervision. This is obviously wrong, as I have made every group supervision since starting. There is another student with my first name, who is frequently missing from these meetings. If I got his comment on my form, I wonder what he got on his? It also said that I have great interactions with clients and parents. So for that one a$$hole who wrote me up for something relating to interpersonal style, go jump in a lake – a lake of fire!

Things that make me (just a little) crazy - Feedback

Below are two instances of feedback on my professional work. Although I am able to deal with this, I have been exposed to so much of it over the years that I can't help but be irritated.

First feedback:
Big red writing, “You need to indicate if XXX took his/her medication on the day of testing!” which was located right next to the text “XXX and his/her parents indicated that he/she took all of his/her medications on the day of testing. It should be noted that a second medication (Adderall) for ADHD was added the previous week, and this was taken at a lower dose than perscribed as it is being tapered up to efficacy to observe for potential sideffects.”

Also given to me as feedback:
Clipped together was a copy of my report indicating that the CBCL was outstanding at the time of the report. At the top of that page was a big red note, “Where is the CBCL?” What makes this so much better is that clipped to this whole mess are the three CBCLs that were sent out!