Ira is on a train to Moscow - Interview next Monday

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

When I first knew what she did, I was a little apprehensive...and she promisded that she would know me better than I know myself....a promise she is making good on...

and I have to say....

That may be fun now, but it could play havoc later on when you want to give her the run around on something as simple as wanting to watch a game instead of going shopping with her or telling her dinner tasted great when you are choking to death on salted meat. Chicks are experts on figuring guys out and it sounds like your wife has a major head start on the usual gal in that regard.

Have you checked int what she will need to do to practice here? Please tell her to bring ANY and ALL educational transcripts and diplomas, certifications, lisences, etc. You can have them translated here and evaluated so she can use them to qualify for positions here. It is often difficult for profesionals to get their credentials recognized, so check into that. Highly educated professional people are not going to be satisfied or happy doing work that does not use their training and education and that is understandable. Alla would love to be a teacher and will probably be one someday, for now she is quite happy doing her interpretation business as it does use what she has been taught and keeps her working with other professionals, she gets to wear nice clothes, etc.

Good luck

Kira spent weeks taking train rides to all the universities she attended and getting all her transcripts together. Like you pointed out, it's a biggy to have that paper work with you when you get here. That and it's a lot easier to get it while your there then to try and get that stuff once your already here.

[Misha & Ira 113]

Yep....we have already been checking into that. It seems that she will have to take some classes and work under the supervision of an already licensed pyschologist before she can start practicing here. We already have a five year plan in place

SHe is under the impression that it will take her a few years to get everything done on that front based on what she has heard and read from other psychologists that have come here from Russia...but I still want to research into a bit more...not everyone's journey is the quickest or a straight line. That's definitely good advice on the bringing of credentials...we will definitely be doing that. She thinks her biggest hurdle is learning the english terminology that goes along with her profession...but from what I have aeen of ability to soak up knowledge...I think this will be shortly overcome.

I am in no hurry for her to start working...but she has other plans She has an entrepeneurial spirit and has already been floating a few ideas of what to do in the meantime.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Yep....we have already been checking into that. It seems that she will have to take some classes and work under the supervision of an already licensed pyschologist before she can start practicing here. We already have a five year plan in place

SHe is under the impression that it will take her a few years to get everything done on that front based on what she has heard and read from other psychologists that have come here from Russia...but I still want to research into a bit more...not everyone's journey is the quickest or a straight line. That's definitely good advice on the bringing of credentials...we will definitely be doing that. She thinks her biggest hurdle is learning the english terminology that goes along with her profession...but from what I have aeen of ability to soak up knowledge...I think this will be shortly overcome.

I am in no hurry for her to start working...but she has other plans She has an entrepeneurial spirit and has already been floating a few ideas of what to do in the meantime.

http://www.ets.org/toefl <---- This will be the biggy ...that and having all her transcripts evaluated here to see how much credit she gets for US schools in regards to her education.

My wife is in the same boat with her veterinary degree. Doctors, dentist, shrinks, vets, etc... have to have that TOEFL English exam as far as I know. Kira started out with a few easy English classes at the university here...grammar, spelling, writing, etc.. and then did her English 111 and will shortly do her English 212 for Technical Writing all in preparation for that TOEFL

There's a few threads here in the RUB forum about where to send those transcripts to have them checked out...I'l see if I can dig one out. There's some good info on those thread with links, etc...

Edited November 28, 2011 by Why_Me

[Misha & Ira 113]

That may be fun now, but it could play havoc later on when you want to give her the run around on something as simple as wanting to watch a game instead of going shopping with her or telling her dinner tasted great when you are choking to death on salted meat. Chicks are experts on figuring guys out and it sounds like your wife has a major head start on the usual gal in that regard.

I think giving her the run around is already a lost cause On the other hand...the shoe is right now on the other foot. "Meesh, I cannot sit on Skype all day....I want to read for a while....go watch football, play games with the kids, read a book or something.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I think giving her the run around is already a lost cause On the other hand...the shoe is right now on the other foot. "Meesh, I cannot sit on Skype all day....I want to read for a while....go watch football, play games with the kids, read a book or something.

That's an easy one to beat. You just tell her you think your computer has a virus, that it keeps freezing and you don't have an OS to reformat with...then you reboot your PC while she's on Skype to make it like your trying to fix it. It works like a charm and they can't prove anything when their thousands of miles away.

[Misha & Ira 113]

I have used http://www.wes.org/ in the past with pretty favorable results.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I have used http://www.wes.org/ in the past with pretty favorable results.

Iv'e seen that one recommended on here more than a few times and it's gotten good reviews on here. Also though check and see if she's going to need that TOEFL exam ...which I do believe she will for her profession.

[Misha & Ira 113]

That's an easy one to beat. You just tell her you think your computer has a virus, that it keeps freezing and you don't have an OS to reformat with...then you reboot your PC while she's on Skype to make it like your trying to fix it. It works like a charm and they can't prove anything when their thousands of miles away.

I think you misread....she is the one telling me to go while she reads or watches a movie

Iv'e seen that one recommended on here more than a few times and it's gotten good reviews on here. Also though check and see if she's going to need that TOEFL exam ...which I do believe she will for her profession.

Roger that

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yep....we have already been checking into that. It seems that she will have to take some classes and work under the supervision of an already licensed pyschologist before she can start practicing here. We already have a five year plan in place

SHe is under the impression that it will take her a few years to get everything done on that front based on what she has heard and read from other psychologists that have come here from Russia...but I still want to research into a bit more...not everyone's journey is the quickest or a straight line. That's definitely good advice on the bringing of credentials...we will definitely be doing that. She thinks her biggest hurdle is learning the english terminology that goes along with her profession...but from what I have aeen of ability to soak up knowledge...I think this will be shortly overcome.

I am in no hurry for her to start working...but she has other plans She has an entrepeneurial spirit and has already been floating a few ideas of what to do in the meantime.

I am not familiar with her profession so you guys will have to work on that. I can tell you that what you read in terms of "requirements" is not always "the rest of the story" Alla qualified for a Teaching Certificate here in Vermont very easily and quickly...to teach Russian. Not in high demand as you may imagine. The universities have great Russian programs, especially Middlebury College, but it is not like they need a lot of teachers as they tend to stay until they retire or die.

In this country one needs to be a native English speaker to teach English OR have a degree from a college in an English speaking country, which she has now. The requirements don't say this, but try to get a job without it!

The good news for Ira is that there are always lots of Psychological services in communties and they ALWAYS need volunteers to help with their programs and she can probably get something in her field to make contacts and keep herself fulfilled.

She may not plan to work right now, but it is quite natural for a highly educated woman to really want to use her abilities. The best you can do is help her when she needs it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Iv'e seen that one recommended on here more than a few times and it's gotten good reviews on here. Also though check and see if she's going to need that TOEFL exam ...which I do believe she will for her profession.

TOEFL and/or GRE are required for educational institutions (most) if your education was not in English. She will probably need it if she attends any education here above community college level. There will be some local place which gives the exam. Google "TOEFL" You may also find some local TOEFL preparation classes, these are usually not cheap.

FYI Alla has been taking a few other classes after getting her MA here and she no longer needs the TOEFL scores since she now has a US degree which is now her "qualification"

[Misha & Ira 113]

Thanks guys....good stuff all!

[daryl&lada 8]

Congratulations!!!

[psychasthenia 9]

Yep....we have already been checking into that. It seems that she will have to take some classes and work under the supervision of an already licensed pyschologist before she can start practicing here. We already have a five year plan in place

SHe is under the impression that it will take her a few years to get everything done on that front based on what she has heard and read from other psychologists that have come here from Russia...but I still want to research into a bit more...not everyone's journey is the quickest or a straight line. That's definitely good advice on the bringing of credentials...we will definitely be doing that. She thinks her biggest hurdle is learning the english terminology that goes along with her profession...but from what I have aeen of ability to soak up knowledge...I think this will be shortly overcome.

Congratulations on the visa! The process of becoming licensed as a (clinical) psychologist is going to be a very arduous process. In the US, a psychologist holds a Ph.D./Psy.D./ E.D. degree. The term psychologist is legally regulated and only doctoral level professionals can legally use it. ( I hear there are some states where master's levels call themselves psychologists in a school, which is a problem.) A clinical/counseling psychologist has to complete a predoctoral internship program at the end of graduate school. Usually they defend their dissertation and meet all their degree requirements before leaving for internship.

Does she have a Ph.D. in Psychology? In addition to pursuing additional classes to obtain her Ph.D., she will probably need to complete the internship program. I doubt that this requirement will be waived for her, and she may not want it to be waived because it will jeopardize future employment opportunities. The internship process is extremely stressful and competitive. Here is an article that describes the problem: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/health/views/internship-shortage-frustrates-psychology-students.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1322530393-RiEHA2SOxK9+JDoLM3Q+dw

It holds some inaccurate information over how the Match process actually works, but you can get a sense of the nature of the problem. Also know that if she wants to be competitive and be employed, she will need to complete a program accredited by the American Psychological Association. These are the competitive programs. There are some that are accredited by other institutions, but she will probably encounter problems when seeking employment. Most sites specifically require an APA-approved internship.

In addition to the internship, she will need to complete a postdoctoral year of training. This is probably what you were thinking about when you mentioned that she needs to be supervised by a licensed psychologist. She would need to be supervised during internship as well, but she will also be required to participate in classes while on internship. During postdoc, she has the option of pursuing formal or informal opportunities. She would be taking classes in a formal postdoc. No classes in an informal program. Only after she has accumulated between 1500-1750 clinical hours will she be eligible for the license. She will then need to pass an exam, Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology that covers 11 content areas in psychology (all the specializations in psych). A lot of the content areas that are tested are not even relevant to a clinical psychologist, but she will need to know about them. After she passes this exam and accrues her hours, she will be licensed and able to practice independently. Here is another article about what can happen when one does not properly transfer their license across states (http://online.wsj.com/article/AP5a1163e607c44f639a2e22b1d26b4179.html)

I would be happy to answer any questions you have about this process. There are other options that she could consider that would allow her to eventually conduct therapy and also make money. A clinical psychologist does not usually make a lot of money... Good luck!

Edited November 29, 2011 by psychasthenia

[slim 1,530]

Way to go!

[Misha & Ira 113]

Tonight while on Skype, Pony-Express delivered her visa package...we are go for launch