Dr. Jenny Long is one of the few psychologists in the Springfield, MO area. In this podcast interview, she reveals why she chose to stay in the area during her academic career and why she chose to earn a Psy.D. instead of a Ph.D.. Throughout the interview she also provides copious advice to those who are interested in a graduate degree in psychology and possibly opening their own business. In addition, Dr. Long explains the advantages and disadvantages of owning a mental health practice in a small town. Dr. Long shares why she chose a career in psychology and what she looked for in her graduate programs and schools. She reminds students that you don’t need to have your whole life mapped out in terms of your academic career but there are things you can do to cover all bases. For example, if you are not sure if you want to work in the academic field or work for the government or own your own private practice, try to find a school that offers both a terminal master’s and a doctorate and that is APA accredited as this will allow you the option to leave after receiving your master’s and work in a variety of settings. With this said, she also suggests that you try to figure out what you want to do with your degree(s) and in what state as different states have different requirements. She also emphasized the importance of getting experience and education outside of the classroom “because what you learn in grad school is very different from the world as a clinician.” Midwest Counseling & Assessment (MCA) offers many clinical and counseling services to assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues. They use a variety of techniques, approaches and therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy. Dr. Long briefly explains some of the approaches and admits that many people can benefit from using EMDR to help overcome their trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, and other issues. Dr. Long discusses the challenges associated with running a business and practicing as a psychologist. She and her staff at MCA firmly believe that “your emotional health is as important as your physical health.” For those dealing with weight loss issues, Dr. Long shares her own journey to weight loss on her website to offer hope, educate, and destigmatize WLS (a.k.a., bariatric surgery or metabolic surgery) and address several misconceptions associated with it. Near the end of the interview, she reminds us of the importance of priorities and values in your life by asking yourself if your time reflects your values. In other words, examine how much time you spend on an activity and ask yourself if this reflects my priorities and values. If it doesn’t, make a change. Connect with Dr. Jenny Long: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | WebsiteConnect with the Show: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter https://vimeo.com/596943776 Interests and Specializations Dr. Jenny Long is a licensed psychologist specializing in treating chronic pain and illness, OCD, trauma and PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, weight loss surgery (pre- and post-op issues), and evaluations for surgical clearance and adoption. She uses multiple therapy types and approaches including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Education B.A., Psychology (2001); Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.M.S., Counseling Psychology (2005); Evangel University, Springfield, MO.Psy.D., Clinical Psychology (2010); School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute. Other Sources and Links of Interest Dr. Jenny Long at Psychology Today Podcast Transcription 00:00:14 BradleyWelcome to the Master’s in Psychology podcast where psychology students can learn from psychologists, educators, and practitioners to better understand what they do,