Volunteer Profile: Tim Shea, M.S.

Posted on September 29, 2007
Filed Under Psychology (PsyD, PhD), Volunteer Profiles

by Sean Parrish
SDN Staff Writer

SDN contributor Tim Shea (Therapist4Chnge) is currently in his fourth year of a PsyD in Clinical Psychology and his second year of a MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Tim received a BA in Psychology from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD and an MS in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. When not dividing his time between his studies, providing mentoring to the SDN community or indulging in his love of piano and photography, Tim also hosts a website - Struggling With Food (www.strugglingwithfood.com) - that provides information about eating disorders.

In a recent interview, Tim spoke about his life, the challenges of clinical psychology, and the need for education about eating disorders.

Please tell us a little about your background—family, educational, professional?
I grew up in New Jersey. Whether academic, athletic, or recreational, my folks really supported me in all of my endeavors. I’m a classically trained pianist—I have been playing for the last 20 years or so. Music, along with athletics, has been a consistent outlet for me. I played football, lacrosse, and track and field during high school, and I was recruited to play lacrosse in college. As for music, I still compose for the piano, though most of my spare time is spent behind my camera’s lens (www.tsphotogallery.com). I shoot mostly nature, but I dabble in landscape and sports photography as well.

Do you feel that there is a specific experience from your past that had a major impact on who you are today?
My undergraduate experience at Goucher College certainly shaped the person I am today because it provided me an enriching environment and encouraged personal and academic exploration. They found me, and I fell in love with the academic energy when I stepped foot on campus. They encourage all students to take classes in a wide range of disciplines, so in addition to my psychology classes, I was able to take classes in the hard sciences, sociology, feminist studies, and philosophy. My undergraduate experience, coupled with my mentor, were a large influence on my career.

Did anyone inspire your career choices?
I was lucky enough to work with a great mentor in Dr. Rick Pringle, and also study under Dr. Norm Bradford and Dr. Brian Patrick. Dr. Pringle encouraged me inside of the classroom and outside in the world while providing me with sound guidance that really helped shape my current career path. He was the person who first got me involved with body image and trauma work, which eventually expanded to include eating disorders. Dr. Bradford and Dr Patrick provided a solid grounding in theory, while also providing the space and opportunity to explore psychology at a much deeper level than I expected during my undergraduate training.

What strengths do you have that have allowed you to be successful?
I think the most important think is to know what you are good at and focus on that. Flexibility and determination are definitely two qualities that have served me well. I have also been told that I am personable, and I think no matter what you do in life, it helps if you can get along with most of the people you encounter.

What led you to choose a career in clinical psychology? In what field did you obtain your M.S.?
I have always been interested in the field, though it took a detour for me to fully realize that it was a career option—not just a hobby. Previously, I ran a chapter of a non-profit organization, took a chance on two start-up firms, and then worked at a Fortune 50 company. Each experience contributed greatly to my learning, and I am thankful for the crash courses in business, consulting, and management I picked up along the way. Yet, each job fell short in being able to provide the balance and enjoyment that I require from a career. Even though I worked 70-90+ hours weeks, I still found time to read my psychology journals and research; it just took me some time to realize that is what I really wanted.

I obtained my MS in Clinical Psychology while pursuing my PsyD at Nova Southeastern University, where I am currently a 4th year student. I am also pursuing an MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology.

What specialties are you interested in pursuing and why?
My clinical interests involve both eating disorders (specifically low-weight anorexics) and trauma. The complexity and depth of both are what first piqued my interest, though the clinical work and research is what pulled me in further. I think there is an opportunity to make some significant contributions to the field in this area, and I would like to be a part of that.

You’ve put together a website called Struggling with Food—tell us about that. What motivated you to create it?
Struggling With Food was an idea I have been kicking around since 2004. I wanted to have a place for people to come together to talk, support, and learn about eating EDs. Issues with eating disorders and nutrition have been interests of mine for a number of years, and they have become a focus of my research.

My ultimate goal is to reach globally and act locally. I think eating disorders are often misunderstood, both by society and within the healthcare field. I would like to get to a point where I can go into communities and help educate them, as well as help educate professionals who want to learn more about working within the ED population.

Do you feel that work on the website has influenced your career path? How?
I think it has provided me an opportunity to connect with other organizations that are doing great work to help in this enormous area of need. Unfortunately, I have not had as much time to dedicate to my website lately, but I hope to develop it as I become established. I am always open to anyone want to contribute articles, information, resources, and/or research to the website.

For others who might be considering a career in psychology, how would you characterize your experience as a student?
It has been challenging, but incredibly rewarding. Graduate school pushes you academically, but I think the real challenge is finding balance in the work. I think the people who are most successful are the ones who can balance their academic, research, and personal goals. Overall, I have enjoyed my training, though it definitely has been a grind at times. I am especially thankful to be surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about the field.

Where do you see yourself practicing once you have completed school? Have you found that that ambition has changed over time?
I would like to settle in or around a place like Nashville, TN or Charleston, SC. My goal has always been to open up a consulting practice and combine my clinical and business training. As for clinical work, my focus will be in eating disorders, and I would like to start with an intensive outpatient practice and eventually fund my own boutique transitional program for people in eating disorder recovery.

Can you explain what a clinical psychologist is and what they do?
A clinical psychologist is trained in research, assessment, and psychotherapy at the doctoral level. They are the highest trained professionals in their field, and they use research to inform their clinical work. Clinical psychologists can work in a range of areas: teaching, research, consultation, administration, assessment, psychotherapy, etc.

What kind of training is required for someone to pursue this discipline?
A PsyD/PhD is required to become a Clinical Psychologist. Typically, a person will graduate with a bachelors in psychology or a related field, gain additional research and/or clinical experience, and then look towards graduate school to further their training. It takes at least 4 years of full-time graduate education, a 1 year internship, and a 1-2 year post-doc before you are license eligible. It is a long road, but it allows for a great deal of professional flexibility in regard to career choices.

What trait or special skills would you describe as being important for someone considering becoming a clinical psychologist?
Whether you are primarily a researcher/academic or clinician in private practice, a clinical psychologist needs to have excellent communication skills. Clinical psychology is unique in that there are many intangibles that contribute to a personal ability to be successful. Book knowledge is merely one part. Analytical skills are also vital: being able to process large amounts of information is important, but equally important is the ability to synthesize your learning and apply it clinically.

I am curious about the kind of lifestyle one might expect from practicing as a clinical psychologist—what kind of hours do you think it will require? How busy do you expect it will keep you?
There is a wide range in salary for clinical psychologists because of the plethora of career opportunities, so it is hard to put a number on that. I think one consideration is the type of work you would like to do, and work/life balance you want to achieve. I know many professionals have hybrid careers where they may teach or conduct research and then carry a private practice on the side. Others choose to focus primarily on assessments, while some take their training to the corporate world.

Starting up a practice will definitely take more hours, but if you can get a sustainable practice, many clinicians can design a very flexible work schedule. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to define what kind of lifestyle they want to live. Clinical psychology allows for non-traditional hours, as well as working in a number of different arenas.

What’s the most important or rewarding thing that you feel you have done at this point in your career?
I decided to do what I love, even if that meant up and leaving a stable and successful career. Too many people end up in a career that is either not fulfilling or a compromise. I want to get up in the morning and love what I do, and try and make a difference in some people’s lives.

We often expect in interviews to hear only about the positives of a chosen field, but some may be curious about whether there is a flip side to that question. Are there downsides that you can see to being a clinical psychologist? If so, what might they be?
I think the biggest challenge is the increased competition from other professionals. Clinical psychologists are the highest trained professionals in their field, though with the squeeze of managed care, it has become more competitive for general private practice. Specialization has become more popular, and allows clinical psychologists to differentiate themselves from other professionals doing therapy.

What do you think perspective students ought to look for in a program when considering clinical psychology as a career?
I believe a program needs to provide an even balance between clinical and research training. Each inform each other and though a person may prefer one area to another, I believe solid training in both is necessary to be an effective professional. Whether you are looking to do primarily research, clinical practice, or some combination, it is important to have a mentor or mentors that match your interests and needs.

If you had an opportunity to speak to your younger self when first starting out, what kind of advice might you offer?
I would probably tell myself not to stress as much and to take everything as it comes. I think this field self-selects people who have always been very successful (myself included), though at various times it will challenge you, and you will feel as if you are in over your head. I think it is important to understand that part of the training is to be overwhelmed and then learn how to work through it. I look at the people coming in now and I try to pass this on, but part of the process is going through that struggle.

What issues do you see as particularly important within psychology at the moment? Where do you stand on those issues?
I think clinical psychologists are woefully under-represented at the legislative level, and we need to do more as a profession to protect our interests and the interests of our clients/patients. It seems that most clinical psychologists are not as active as they should be, and the general public, as well as legislature, really fails to understand what we do as a profession, why it is important. I wish the [American Psychological Association] did more to be pro-active in this area. The [National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers] has recently taken a larger role, and I am hoping they can work together in support of our profession.

Do you see any changes or movements happening within your field in the near future?
The prescription privileges movement has been an ongoing hot-button topic. I believe it can be beneficial for many of the under-served areas, but I think ultimately it will be a niche area within clinical psychology. I think the most eminent change is the push towards universal healthcare, which in its current proposal is scary for everyone in the field. I believe the mental health/health/medical communities need to band together and ensure that this push is not going to further erode services to patients and reimbursements for professionals.

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