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Answer: ADAA member Dominique Apollon, MA, LPC, NCC

When it comes to medication, people usually feel one of two ways about it. There are those who are “anti-medication” and would rather do just about anything to get better without the need for a prescription and then there are those who want medication because they see it as the “magic pill” that will take care of all their problems.  Before jumping to medication, I would suggest seeking a medical professional to answer any questions you may have about the process. Ideally, consulting with a mental health therapist to identify what symptoms you are presenting with can help make sense of the process ahead. The mental health professional will explore the wide range of anxiety disorders or depression severities so that you are able to better understand your symptoms and how to overcome them. ADAA also has a lot of resources that you can go through to learn more facts about anxiety and depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been an effective component in treating anxiety disorders. Behavioral activation along with CBT can be helpful in the treatment of depression.

So, when is the right time to consider medication? I would say when you find that the anxiety or depression has become debilitating and starts to affect your ability to function. Do you find that anxiety or depression is causing strain in your relationships, or is it hard to maintain your focus at work because you are too in your head? These symptoms can affect your overall well-being, so you want to take action. Your therapist can help you find a psychiatrist, or you can contact your primary care provider to discuss medication options. Research has shown that a combination of both CBT and medication has been the most effective treatment intervention. With that being said, do note that medication is just one of the many available tools in the “anxiety toolbox.” Once you learn the skills to cope, start practicing what you have learned and implement these techniques into your daily routine you will begin to see positive changes.

Want to take the first step? Check out ADAA’s Find A Therapist tool to find a therapist near you.

About Dominique

What is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)?

First, there are numerous PhD (academic) programs that focus on mental and behavioral health. Some programs emphasize understanding, assessing, and treating mental health through scientist-practitioner or clinical scientist training models (e.g. Clinical, Counseling, or Educational Psychology), and some emphasize understanding biological or societal aspects of mental health that can inform assessment and intervention (e.g., Neuroscience or Public Health). PhD programs will inherently emphasize skills in conducting research, student mentorship, and teaching.  

PsyD (professional) programs were developed to train students under a scholar-practitioner model, as an alternative to scientist-practitioner PhD programs. PsyD programs are an excellent option for  students who aspire to primarily practice as licensed clinical psychologists. 

Why did you decide to pursue your degree? Why did you choose this degree over the other available pathways?  

Individuals choose a doctoral program for a variety of reasons, including a passion for highly specialized research, teaching, and/or practice.  

“I felt that a doctorate in clinical psychology provided me with an advanced training in assessment, treatment, and research of mental health disorders.” - Jesse Spiegel, PsyD, Private Practice

“[I chose a PhD program] because I wanted to pursue a career that allows me to mainly conduct my research and mentor students, as well as provide therapy to patients.” - Cope Feurer, PhD, Researcher at a College or University

“I quickly realized I wasn't interested in how bones nor other body parts work, so I became disenchanted with the idea of spending 4 years in medical school to become a psychiatrist. At the same time, [...] I loved learning and uncovering new understandings about how the brain works and operates, and could see myself pursuing a career that blended both clinical and research expertise.” - Katie Bessette, PhD, Researcher at a College or University

“I enjoy working with children and families, really enjoy brain science, like the real-life application of clinical work, and wanted to have the option to do it all (practice, research, teach, train)”  - Elle Brennan, PhD, Clinical Psychologist a Children’s Hospital

“I wanted to lead scientific studies that help answer the most pressing questions in the field of neuroscience and mental health. Therefore, I chose a degree that completely immersed me in the research process and allowed me to focus all of my time on science.” - Lana Ruvolo Grasser, PhD, Researcher at a Federal Agency

What, from your perspective, differentiates your degree from other mental health degrees?

A mental health-oriented doctoral program encourages specialization in certain mental health concerns. PhD programs, specifically, are unique in that they emphasize skills in conducting clinical research. APA-accredited, licensure-eligible doctoral programs emphasize specialized coursework and training in neuropsychiatric assessment, therapy fundamentals as well as specific treatment protocols for certain disorders or concerns, and biopsychosocial approaches to understanding and treating mental health disorders. Years of working with an expert mentor further enables topic specialization. Clinical/Counseling/School psychology PhD/PsyD students complete part-time clinical practica throughout graduate training and a full-time internship in a clinical setting (i.e., a year-long predoctoral residency placement). Postgraduate training may also be required for licensure (varies by state).

“The emphasis on research is the main difference [...] Other [mental health] degrees can provide training in clinical practice without such a large emphasis on the research piece.” - Cope Feurer, PhD    

“[A PsyD] provides more nuanced [and specialized clinical] training than [some Master’s degrees that are shorter in duration] .”  - Jesse Spiegel, PsyD

“My degree is different from many other mental health degrees because it does not have a clinical component [...]this means that my time, training, and expertise is entirely focused on research." - Lana Ruvolo Grasser, PhD (Neuroscientist)  

What are the various mental health roles you can perform with your degree (e.g., professor, individual provider etc.)?

In summary, with a doctoral degree in mental health, individuals can pursue many roles in their career. This may include, but are not limited to: professor/instructor, provider at a hospital, community center, or group practice, , psychological testing, business owner, clinical supervisor,, private practice, consultant, program developer, researcher, social justice advocate, institutional administrator, industry employee, AI consultant.  

What advice do you wish you had when choosing which degree to pursue? and/or What advice would you like to give to individuals who are trying to choose a career path in mental health?

“First determine the type of job or career you'd like to have [...]and from there, determine how others in that position got the training needed and which degrees they pursued. A PhD takes a lot of time, money, and energy, and is not needed for most mental health careers”. - Katie Bessette, PhD

“Advice for a degree: Be sure you are ready for the significant amount of training and studying that is needed.  The educational background can be costly. [However,] if you are looking to help people with mental health difficulties then [you are on the right] path!” - Jesse Spiegel, PsyD

“I do wish that I had known about other degrees that merged both research and clinical work, like clinical psychology. Talk to a lot of different people who have different degrees and expertise to find out what really interests you and what the best fit is. {...} Be very specific in your goals and align your time towards those goals through the degree that you choose. There is something for everyone and every career!” - Lana Ruvolo Grasser, PhD        

“PhDs in clinical psychology prepare one to enter the field through many paths (e.g., clinical, clinical supervision, teaching, research, administrative, industry, etc.) but take a long time and much dedicated work. I would not encourage someone just interested in clinical work to pursue this degree, but rather to start with a master's level degree.” - Elle Brennan, PhD 

The following webinars and blogs are available to the public and discuss a wide range of health-related topics specifically for diverse communities. These webinars and blogs are exclusively written and hosted by ADAA professional members.  

Blogs

BIPOC  

• Antiracist Parenting is a Journey Not a Destination -  Katherine Martinez, PsyD  
• BIPOC Mental Health Trends and Disparities - Susan K. Gurley, Executive Director
• BIPOC/Minority Mental Health Needs More Diverse Care Professionals - How ADAA is Helping to Create Equality - Bernadine Waller, PhD, LMHC, Ceci Hinojosa, PhD, and Darius B. Dawson, Ph.D.
• The Black Church: Our Refuge, Our Mental Health - Kimberly T. Arnold, PhD, MPH, Bernadine Waller, PhD, LMHC, and Atasha Jordan, MD, MBA
• Celebrating BIPOC Mental Health Trailblazers - Susan K. Gurley, Executive Director
• Hidden Inequalities: COVID-19’s Impact on our Mental Health Workforce - Soo Jeong Youn, PhD, Torrey A. Creed, PhD, Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, PhD, and Luana Marques, PhD
• Redefine and Unlearn: BIPOC Youth Destigmatize Mental Health in their Community - Susan K. Gurley, Executive Director
• Responding to Racism During the COVID-19 Outbreak  -  Bryan Balvaneda, M.A, Lizabeth Roemer, PhD., Sarah Hayes-Skelton, PhD., Amelia Yang, B.S., and Anna Ying, M.A.  
• Understanding the Cracks: What COVID-19 Means for the Mental Health of the Marginalized in the United States and Opportunities for Response  - Anna Bartuska, BS/BA, Derri Shtasel, MD, MPH, and Luana Marques, PhD  
• What Now? Dealing with the Emotional Aftermath of the Verdict - Kathariya Mokrue, PhD  

LGBTQ+  

• An Update on LGBTQ Youth’s Mental Health -  Lauren Latella, PhD  
• Anxiety and Depression in Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals - Sarah Hayes Skelton, PhD, and David Pantalone, PhD 
• Understanding Anxiety and Depression for LGBTQ People -  Brad Brenner, PhD
• 7 Tips on Showing Up When a Loved One is Undergoing Gender Transition -  Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW

Webinars 

BIPOC  

• Addressing Systemic Racism: A Call to Action for Allies - Kimberlye Dean, PhD  
• Managing Anxiety During Turbulent Times - Ken Goodman, LCSW, Debra Kissen, PhD, and David H. Rosmarin, PhD, ABPP  
• Mental health in the Black Community - Atasha Jordan, MD, MBA
• Persistent Trauma of Systemic Racial Inequities and the Perils of COVID-19 -  Kathariya Mokrue, PhD and Mbemba Jabbi, PhD  

LGBTQ+  

• Anxiety and Depression in LGBTQ Youth: What do We Know and How Can We Help? - Alexandra Hamlet, PhD 
• Anxiety, Depression, and the LGBTQ Community: Thriving Through the Challenges - Debra Hope, PhD  
• Celebrating Pride & LGBTQ+ Resilience - Jeff Cohen, PsyD and Colleen A. Sloan, PhD
• The Effects of Racism on Mental Health: How to Cope - Karen G. Martínez, MD, MSc, and Jessica Graham-LoPresti, PhD  

2017-2019 Blogs/Webinars 

• African Americans with Anxiety: How to Overcome Unique Obstacles  - Angela Neal-Barnett, PhD
• Diverse Women in Clinical Trials: Making a Difference  -  Marsha B. Henderson   
• The Link Between Experiences of Racism and Stress and Anxiety for Black Americans  -  Tahirah Abdullah, PhD, and Jess Graham, PhD 
• To Be Female, Anxious and Black  - Angela Neal-Barnett, PhD 

Our passion is helping people understand the disorders, find treatment, and recover. ADAA's website offers expert reviewed content highlighting how to recognize signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression as well as treatment options and access to a Find-a-Therapist platform.  ADAA encourages people living with anxiety, depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders to share their stories about their struggles, how they cope and triumph. This helps decrease stigma, and makes one feel less alone. ADAA embraces diversity and inclusiveness as a core value. We make a difference in the lives of people with anxiety disorders and depression through the alignment of science, treatment, and education.