Why I Chose to Pursue a PhD in Counseling & Psychology

About 18 months ago, I set out to learn more about doctoral programs. I had no idea how I would make it happen, but after a few fated interactions with colleagues who also had their PhDs, the fire was lit. I started researching schools, from UNH down to several programs around Boston. I needed to find something that would be the perfect fit for me. I already have a significant amount of experience both clinically and otherwise, and I had no interest in starting from scratch or going backward in my training. After many conversations and information sessions, I found Lesley University. I’ve known Lesley for a long time – if you’re from Massachusetts, chances are you’ve heard of this little gem in the heart of Cambridge. Originally founded as a school to train teachers, it has since expanded to include programs in psychology and counseling, expressive arts & design, and liberal arts in business.

Lesley’s mission is to train holistic practitioners - with special emphasis on self-reflective practice. Which I LOVE. I truly believe you can only take people as far as you’ve gone yourself. There are plenty of therapists out there who haven’t done the deeper work really needed to support their client in a relational context. That’s why many are ineffective, and why therapy often gets a bad rep. I could easily go off on a whole rant about this, but I’ll spare you the soapbox for now – maybe I’ll save that for my dissertation. ;)

Lesley’s curriculum focuses on treating the whole person (mind, body, context), rather than just symptoms. In addition. the university explicitly incorporates a trauma-informed perspective, which is so, so, SO important to mental health counseling. Long story short, their program was exactly what I was looking for - hell, we even share the same name! Talk about a perfect fit. So, in April 2025, after all the conversations and research I’d done, I committed to the application process. That included putting together a scholarly writing sample that had to have been written within the last 5 years – which given I’d been out of school for over a decade, felt both daunting and like the perfect test for how much I actually wanted this. If I didn’t enjoy the process, then what was the point?

Spoiler alert: I did. And I set my sights on applying to Lesley’s fall 2026 cohort. In March 2026, I was invited to interview and the rest is history!

So, with all of that in mind – I thought I’d answer some questions I’ve been asked since sharing this exciting news.

Why go back to school now?

Why not?

Half of me is being facetious here and the other half is completely serious. Why not continue to learn – to evolve? If there is one thing I’ve been put on this earth to do, it’s just that.

More importantly, I’ve wanted to pursue a doctoral degree ever since graduating college. At the time, however, life circumstances and financial constraints made that path feel out of reach.

I ended up going on to pursue a master’s degree in clinical social work at Boston University, which aligned well with what I was seeking professionally. The fields broad scope within healthcare offered opportunities to work across diverse settings, including practicing therapy in private practice, and to develop a highly transferable skill set. Furthermore, at its core, social work emphasizes the dynamic relationship between individuals and their environments – including family, community, and larger systems – which drives my philosophy as a clinician today.

Ultimately, the part in me that still yearned to pursue a doctorate never left. It only grew louder as I launched my private practice five years ago part-time, and as I returned to psychotherapy full time in 2024. There’s a funny memory from about 3 years ago of me racing into my driveway after a work trip, slamming on the breaks, and yelling to my husband who was working in the garage – “Chris! I’m getting my PhD!” At the time, it felt kind of like a pipe dream, but I knew I was set and determined to figure it out.

Today, the work I’ve done with my clients has only deepened my desire to anchor what I do in something larger than my individual practice and contribute more broadly to the field. Over the course of my career, I’ve witnessed significant gaps in care - and living in a rural area has made those gaps even more apparent.

I now have an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way - bringing my experience, expertise, and insight into the conversation. I want to teach, mentor, and help create change so that people have access to the highest quality care - especially here on the seacoast. No one should have to compromise when it comes to their care.

I’ve now reached a point in my life where I’m ready to turn this vision into reality.

Do I need this to do the work that I do?

Short answer: no.

I could continue doing the work I do now for many years without a doctorate – that is the gift of having found the right master’s program when I did. It provided exactly what I needed at the time: an entry point into the work I practice today.

Importantly, this PhD program is specifically designed for working professionals – people who already hold a masters, are licensed, and bring substantial real-world experience (a minimum of 5 years is also required for admission). That is what drew me in – experience matters. I also wanted a program that was additive to the work I do now - one that builds on my existing work rather than replacing the therapeutic approach, philosophy and perspective I’ve developed over many years of training and study.

There is also nothing I love more than to ideate and I’m a life-long learner. I am a deeply contemplative person, and I wanted a structured space that would refine and deepen my thinking, ultimately shaping my work with clients, and more clearly articulate gaps and opportunities I see in the field.

Will I have to give up my clients?

Short answer: no!

And that is the best part! I get to continue my clinical work with clients while enrolled at Lesley. Another reason why it was the perfect fit. I had no interest in giving up the practice that I’ve poured so much into building. My clients are the reason I’m here and for my continued dedication to the field and this work.

What purpose will this degree have?

Plenty!

This program is for mental health professionals who want to deepen their expertise in a particular area and influence broader systems, such as schools, health care organizations or higher education. I will receive training in advanced psychological and counseling theories, research methods and applied inquiry, leadership in mental health and educational settings, as well as teaching and program development.

Additionally, I get to build my own research agenda and dissertation around my current work and areas of interests – while being mentored by established scholars and practitioners within the field of mental health. This means, my research will have direct, meaningful impact on my clients and the broader community I work within.

Unlike many traditional doctoral programs, which often require students to align with a faculty members research and contribute to existing lab-based projects, this program supports inquiry driven by the practitioner’s own questions and context. I can’t think of anything more motivating than the opportunity to respond directly to the needs I’m seeing in my work.

What are my areas of interest?

My main area of practice is working with people who have experienced trauma, with a specific focus on attachment – or how early relationships shape our emotional regulation, identity, and relational patterns over time, including intergenerationally. Not everyone who comes to see me has a significant trauma history, but we all have an attachment system and relational patterns that influence how we show up in our everyday lives.

I am particularly interested in how our emotional history shows up in our bodies through repeated and sustained the activation of the nervous system, affect, posture, and/or somatic symptoms.

My work is informed by ongoing study of trauma theory and recovery, attachment theory, somatic psychology, and polyvagal theory.  

How long will this take?

This program will take four years to complete. The first three years are dedicated to coursework, with monthly weekend intensive classes held in Cambridge. Between classes, I will be completing lots of reading and written assignments which are due at start of each class weekend.

The first year will be the most demanding as it requires the greatest number of hours of coursework. I will also be beginning to draft my thesis and refine my research focus. After a successfully completing the third year, I will transition to working exclusively on my dissertation, which is expected to take about at least a year to complete. I hope to finish and graduate with the class of 2030…2030?! That year feels like something out of the Jetsons.

If you made it this far, I applaud you. Thank you for taking the time to learn a bit more about my journey. I truly appreciate you. I am so excited to be able to begin this next chapter and continue evolving into the best practitioner I can be!