Navigating Graduate School in Counseling: Faith, Internships, and Choosing a Master’s or a PhD with Bailey Mcfadden

In this episode, Dustin Oliver sits down with counseling graduate student Bailey McFadden to talk about the real-life journey through psychology education—from undergrad to grad school and beyond. They discuss why they both chose to pursue master’s degrees over PhDs, how to evaluate faith-integrated counseling programs, and what it’s really like working in internship settings. Bailey shares her experiences navigating clinical training, community support, and the pressure to “do it all” in grad school. Whether you're exploring mental health careers, considering a graduate degree, or already deep in your training, this candid conversation offers insight, encouragement, and practical advice.

Connect with Bailey McFadden:

Instagram: ⁠@genzcounselorb⁠

TikTok: ⁠@genzcounselorb⁠

Connect with boy meets therapy:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@boymeetstherapy⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@boymeetstherapy⁠⁠

Website with Free Resources: boymeetstherapy.com

Episode Guide & Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:07 Undergraduate Experience in Psychology

06:04 Transitioning to Graduate School

09:01 Working in a Psychiatric Unit

12:09 Advice for Aspiring Psychologists

15:11 Study Abroad Experiences

17:47 Choosing a Graduate Program

20:51 Faith Integration in Counseling

24:05 The Role of Spirituality in Therapy

28:00 Navigating Faith Integration in Counseling Programs

29:51 The PhD Dilemma: To Pursue or Not?

35:48 Internship Insights: What to Expect

43:55 Finding Support and Community in Grad School

 

Created and Produced by Dustin Oliver.