Growing up in rural Minnesota inspired Dr. Trey Jensen to return to his roots after earning a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Walden University.
“In these smaller communities, there are many mental health issues—most prominently substance abuse, depression, and anxiety—that go untreated,” Dr. Jensen, a clinical psychologist, said. “My anecdotal experience was that families kept these issues to themselves; certainly a ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ mentality inhibited people to seek out help. I think another part of that reason is that it is harder to access care in rural communities due to distance to the provider.”
Psychologists and other healthcare professionals are in demand across the United States1 and the need is especially acute in rural areas.2 Dr. Jensen is helping to meet that demand in his practice in Elk River, Minnesota, a community he describes as “large but rural.” He serves clients who primarily live outside the metro area.
“I hoped to be able to work in a rural community after finishing my degree, which I think I’ve accomplished. There are always ‘more rural’ places someone could practice, but I’m pretty happy with where I’m at currently,” Dr. Jensen said.
Building a Varied Practice With a PHD
Earning a PhD helped prepare Dr. Jensen to be able to offer his rural clients a broader range of services—“definitely a variety,” he said. He took the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) test in the summer of 2022, passed, and was licensed in September 2022.
“Practically speaking, the PhD allowed me to be a licensed psychologist in Minnesota (Minnesota and most states now require a doctoral degree). I could have practiced at the master’s level, but I would not have been able to do psychological evaluations, which have been very needed in smaller communities,” he said.
As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Jensen provides individual, family, and couples’ psychotherapy for people eight and older who are experiencing depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, family conflict, and other issues.
Dr. Jensen said he is booked about one month out for therapy patients, while people needing evaluations may have to wait up to four months. “A large portion of those assessments are to determine the presence of ADHD and autism spectrum in children and adults,” he said.
The Walden PhD grad, who has been working in the mental health field since 2006, has developed specialties in anger management and video game and social media overuse.
“In general, I think completing the PhD has made me a better clinician by being able to parse through research to determine credibility and applicability. In the age of social media, it has been absolutely essential to recognize information/research that is credible,” he said.
Dissertation Inspires Consulting Role
Dr. Jensen is also available as a consultant to help mental health practices retain clients and improve attendance.
He gained this interest and expertise through the research for his dissertation, Impact of Distance, Diagnosis, and Demographics on Attendance for Rural Outpatient Treatment. After assessing age, gender, distance to treatment, and diagnosis categories, Dr. Jensen concluded that while distance may play a role, diagnoses like bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety appear to be major risk factors for poor attendance. And he has seen how poor attendance can hurt or close a business, impacting an entire rural community.
“Implementing proposed client retention methods will not only help them improve their bottom line, but also the mental health of those in critical need,” he said.
COVID-19 and the Rise of Telehealth
The coronavirus pandemic prompted an almost overnight shift from in-person therapy to video and telephone sessions. Telehealth continues to be a viable option for many practitioners and clients, and Walden’s PhD in Clinical Psychology program includes a relevant focus on psychotherapeutic telehealth services.
The need for transportation is a major issue that affects access to care in rural communities. “I found that people were initially OK with switching to doing telehealth appointments. Eventually people became used to it and, for many, it allowed them better access to therapy,” Dr. Jensen said. Post-pandemic, the clinical psychologist estimates that about 50% of his caseload is virtual: “I should note that some of that is because I moved 45 minutes away to Elk River, so some of the people I saw in person switched to virtual. If I was to adjust for that change, I’m guessing my virtual caseload would be around 25%.”
Like many things, telehealth is not a one-size-fits-all option: “Telehealth is certainly a challenge, but mostly due to having to recognize when someone will do better meeting in person,” Dr. Jensen said.
“On the plus side, with telehealth and more modern modalities of communicating, therapists have a lot more access to training opportunities due to many being offered online vs. previously having to attend in person. I have done all 40 hours of my continuing education units (every two years) from online CEU opportunities, which saves time and associated costs of physically attending.”
Advice From the PhD in Clinical Psychology Grad
If you’re considering enrolling in a psychology PhD program, Dr. Jensen recommends carefully considering how the education, research, and training you will receive meshes with your psychology career goals.
“It certainly opens opportunities for clinical practice including conducting assessments, training, and teaching. But if the interest is solely in doing therapy, for example, there is a lot of coursework that would not be necessarily relevant to doing that job well,” he said.
“I would also recommend they conceptualize this endeavor as something that has to happen while still living life, vs. putting life on hold. I will say that Walden was very good about allowing me to take a quarter off a couple of times when life was too busy.”
As you embark on an online PhD in psychology degree program, Dr. Jensen suggests you let your family know how they can best support you. Here’s what he did: “I told them I wanted them to ask me about it once in a while—but not to push—because it meant a lot to know they cared about what I was doing. The family support is so important to power through this effort.”
And because earning a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint, Dr. Jensen advises that you pace yourself and punctuate your journey with self-care.
“Just like you would schedule a client’s appointment or a doctor visit, make sure your calendar has some relaxation included,” Dr. Jensen said. “You think it seems like this time may slow you down. It actually helps you become more efficient. Avoid burning out and make time for yourself and your family to keep you in the game.”
Earn Your PhD in Clinical Psychology
When you’re ready to take your psychology practice to the next level, you may want to consider earning Walden’s PhD in Clinical Psychology degree.
The accredited university’s online PhD program can academically prepare you to sit for psychology licensing exams. People who earn PhDs in Clinical Psychology also choose careers in fields like research, consulting, teaching, or administration.
Earning a terminal degree is an investment in your future, and a commitment. That’s why Walden designs its PhD programs with features that help support working professionals throughout their academic journeys. The accredited university’s comprehensive student support services include the Doctoral Degree Coach™, an interactive planning and progress-tracking tool that can help you stay on track.
Other features of Walden’s online clinical psychology PhD degree program include:
- Research skills labs
- Learning and mentoring opportunities
- Experiential learning
Walden offers other PhD psych degrees that may mesh with your career goals. You can choose online PhD in Psychology, PhD in Developmental Psychology, PhD in Forensic Psychology, or PhD in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology degree programs.
Earning a psychology PhD may help you prepare to advance your career in a field that’s growing at a faster-than-average pace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects there will be a need for more clinical, counseling, and school psychologists through 2032.1
You can find out more about Walden’s PhD degree program by requesting information online or calling 855-646-5286. Build the foundation for the career you want in an online program focused on clinical practice and research. Then find your place in the field of clinical psychology where you can make a difference in the lives of others, wherever you choose to practice.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online PhD in Clinical Psychology degree program. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-6
2Source: www.apa.org/practice/programs/rural/committee
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
Note on Licensure: The PhD in Clinical Psychology program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for psychology licensing exams. This program is designed to meet the academic licensure requirements of some state psychology boards. However, Walden University’s PhD in Clinical Psychology program is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and has not received designation by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register (ASPPB/NR), which are requirements for licensure in some states. Learn more about professional licensure.