There are Ph.D.'s... and there are Ph.D.'s. Oh, and then there are other types of doctorates.
Most of us who have earned them... almost any of them... are a bit hesitant to use the title "Doctor" (though we have a right to it) in deference to the Medical Doctorate. It is not that we think doctors are better than we, but we understand the need to keep our medical professionals distinct and the urgency of their actions understood.
Some people try to blur this line, as does Dr. Laura Schlessinger, whose Ph.D. is in Physiology. In Psychology, there are two types of "doctors." One is, in fact, an M.D. (a psychiatrist). The other is not (the other can be either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D.). updated to clarify
Dr. Marcus Bachmann, husband to Michele? Though his "practice" might lead one to believe he has an M.D., has a Ph.D. He could, of course, be a psychologist of the second sort.
Or not.
According to his bio on his website, Dr. Bachmann earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from "Union Graduate School, OH." He also claims he has practiced for 23 years, which would put his degree as earlier than 1988.
There are a number of problems with this.
Mike Signorile, on his blog The Gist, details them. Personally, I have long been aware of the weakness of "doctorates" earned through the Union Graduate School or, as it later became, the Union Institute and University, as it is now known. Though it is certainly possible to learn as much through Union as anywhere, its requirements (especially its residency requirements--it is really a "distance education" or "online" university) don't necessarily match those of most residential Ph.D. programs.
Certainly, Dr. Bachmann could have learned as much about clinical psychology there (or, actually, at home while enrolled there) as elsewhere, were he self-motivated enough, but one can learn as much as almost any Ph.D. on one's own, if one works hard enough. But one has not put in the same work under the same direct supervision that is required for most doctorates.
Having a degree from Union does not mean Dr. Bachmann does not have a legitimate degree... but it does raise questions.
But that's not where it gets interesting.
According to another blogger, JARS (and I have checked, and agree), who sparked Signorile's post:
If Dr. Bachmann’s Ph.D. was completed prior to this date [1988], he might have graduated from The Union Graduate School which offered ONLY a Ph.D. in Arts and Sciences. If he graduated later than 1986, then he would have graduated from The Union Institute (1986), or The Union Institute and University (2001) and his Ph.D. would have been in Interdisciplinary Studies.
In other words, Union has
never offered a degree in Clinical Psychology.
Hmmmm....