Ep. 209: Dr. Ayanna Abrams on Finding Security In a Doctoral Program and Prioritizing Mental Health
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology The Chicago School of Professional PsychologyDr. Ayanna Abrams
Completing your educational journey without a break — from undergrad to earning a doctoral degree — is no easy feat. And it’s not uncommon to find that these candidates often have specific ideas on what they would have done differently after spending time working in their field and getting some distance from their studies. Such is the case with today’s guest, Dr. Ayanna Abrams, a licensed clinical psychologist, Founder of Ascension Behavioral Health, and Co-Founder of NotSoStrong, a platform that aims to improve the mental health and relational functioning of Black women. We talked with Dr. Abrams about completing her Psy.D, why she chose it over a Ph.D., and the difference between the two. She then reflects on what she might have done differently during her studies, like possibly choosing a different degree and what she could have done to avoid predatory student loans. We discuss how academic degrees rarely prepare students for the business side of their specialty, and why this is particularly harmful to those pursuing a Psy.D, specifically geared toward serving your community through therapy. We also spend some time exploring her fascinating dissertation topic, the research she conducted for it, and how she would approach it differently today. Dr. Abrams closes off by sharing her advice for students on how to find safety within overwhelmingly white institutions and why prioritizing your mental health during your studies is vital. To learn more about Dr. Abrams and her journey, be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
● An introduction to today’s guest, Dr. Ayanna Abrams.
● How Dr. Abrams started her practice in Atlanta, Georgia, immediately after her degree.
● Why it’s such an oversight that doctoral degrees don’t prepare you for the business side of running a practice.
● The differences between a Psy.D. and a Ph.D.
● Distinguishing between the terms ‘privilege’ and ‘access’.
● Dr. Abrams’s Guyanese heritage and how it influenced her educational journey.
● Some of the stigma within the Caribbean community around pursuing an advanced degree in psychology, rather than other hard sciences.
● The lack of support Dr. Abrams received from her family and institutions.
● Dr. Abrams’s first experience with a Black, female mentor.
● Why Dr. Abrams chose to pursue a Psy.D instead of a Ph.D.
● Dr. Abrams’s advice to anyone who is struggling to choose between a Psy.D and a Ph.D.
● What Dr. Abrams has learned about predatory loans since completing her studies.
● The other degree options Dr. Abrams may have pursued, since becoming more informed about the costs and skills involved.
● Dr. Abrams’s dissertation project on Black women and how the consumption of erotic literature by African American authors impacts their relationship-seeking behaviors.
● The interviews that Dr. Abrams conducted with Black women on their experiences with erotic literature while growing up.
● How to find safety while pursuing your degree at an overwhelmingly white institution.
● Learn about the NotSoStrong organization and how Dr. Abrams co-founded it.
● Dr. Abrams's key piece of advice for doctoral students: it is okay to prioritize your mental
health.
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The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women and femmes with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. If you are a Black woman or non-binary scholar looking for resources, mentorship, and support along your doctoral journey, join the Cohort Sistas community. If you are looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our partnerships page. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow The Cohort Sistas Podcast, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.
