Can I Call Myself a "Dr." with my PhD?
    I hold a DMA, Doctorate in Music from a Boston university, and am a Church Music Director. Please could you advise me as to whether it is acceptable for the church where I work to list me in the service bulletins as: Dr. (first name) + (last name) ? 
                    -- CJ a Music Director at Church
 
Dear CJ:
    Academic doctorates are frequently used professionally: Faculty members with a PhD are usually "Dr. (name)" at the university or when speaking in the context of their degree. Scientists with a PhD are typically "Dr. (name)" at the research lab and at professional conferences.
    Socially? Usually academics and researchers use "Dr." socially. But ultimately whether a particular PhD holder is "Dr." socially ... especially outside of academia or research ... is at the preference of the bearer.
    List yourself in the bulletin using the professional form ... which is "(First name) + (Last name), DMA"  It specifically acknowledges your academic credential in your professional domain.
     It however doesn't specify if you prefer to be addressed orally as "Dr. (name)" or "Ms. (name)."  In my book (page 160) I show that outside academia or research in oral address "Ms. (name)" would be the default, but advises one check preference of the person you are addressing.
                       -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Know if a PhD Should Be Addressed as "Dr."?
   May I ask question regarding those with PhDs?  Would you please clarify for me -  if a person holds a PhD -  should Doctor be used in front of his name? I apologize if these questions are answered in your book! I'll try to get it.
     -- Mac Bozman, Council Bluffs

Dear Mr. Bozman:
    This 'doctor' question comes up often.
    Holders of medical doctorates (medical, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrist, vets...) use Dr. (Name) professionally and socially.
    Holders of academic doctorates in academia and research usually do too.
    Holders of academic doctorates outside of academia and research ... in corporate and business ... usually don't. E.g., every lawyer now-a-days is a JD ... doctor of jurisprudence, but none use Dr. ... and a holder of a doctorate in finance at a bank probably doesn't either.
    So the good news is that if it's a doctor and if he works at a college or in scientific research ... you can address  him as Dr. (Name) safely.
    And the bad news is with PhD's outside those arenas ... you will need to call to see what his or her preference is.
    The key is "the preference of the bearer" .... it's not up to me or you to decide when or if someone with a PhD is addressed as Dr.   If that's what he or she want's I will go along with it. A person's name belongs to them.
                     -- Robert Hickey

May I Use Dr. if my PhD is Not in the Field
In Which I Am Offering Professional Service?
     Please help me. I have a PhD. I have also a license in counseling.  Recently I sent out an announcement for a yoga class I will be teaching.  The state of Colorado says I should not be using my name -- Dr. Kevin Schoffner. 
     They cannot see that someone does more then one thing. I have worked in clinical behavioral counseling/integrative health counseling. I've worked at a hospital have many articles and PR on my work and it would be hard to change the fact that people call me Dr. Kevin though I am not presenting myself as a clinical psychologist. When I have looked up the legality of this they say that any advanced degree can say PhD. I need to address this situation immediately.  I greatly appreciate your help.
        -- Kevin Schoffner, PhD, LPC, CMT, IKYTA
           Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Integrative Health & Healing

Dear Dr. Schoffner,
    Interesting question! You mention a lot of things in your note, but let's focus on the yoga class for the moment.
    So you have a PhD, but it's not in something related to yoga?
    A couple of typical practices I observe in the USA come to mind:
    1) An academic on a scholarly paper might list every degree and certification ... e.g., ....  (Full Name), PhD, MBA, RN, BFA, Professional Certifications & Memberships, etc.
    2) Outside academia professionals use just the degrees pertinent to their professional practice ... to let the public evaluate their credentials to practice. I doubt a pastor would use The Reverend if he or she were teaching a course in income tax preparation (unless the class was just for pastors -- in which case it just might be pertinent.). That he or she is a pastor might be mentioned in a complete biography ... but probably not as a part of his or her name in the course description.
    So, I can see if you are using Dr. when offering a class in yoga, and your doctorate is not directly to the service you are offering, say a doctorate physical therapy or kinesthetics ... it would be confusing to me ... and the state official must think it is misleading to the public.
         -- Robert Hickey

How to Use “Dr.” or "PhD" on an Invitation?
      Would you please clarify for me, if a person holds a PhD, should his or her name be Doctor (name) a wedding invitation? Or (Name), PhD ?  Is this true for the father of the bride? The groom? Is the rule for names on wedding invitations and wedding envelopes different that the guidelines for social correspondence?
     -- Beverly Russell, Winchester, Virginia

Dear Ms. Russell:
     Wedding invitations and their envelopes are social correspondence, and follow the standard rules for social correspondence. One rule is ... post-nominals aren't used on social correspondence.
    Holders of academic doctorates working in academia and research usually prefer to be addressed as Dr. (name) socially.
    Holders of academic doctorates working outside of academia and research ... in corporate and business ... usually don't. E.g., holder of a doctorate in finance who works at a bank probably doesn't request to be addressed Dr. (name).  An attorney with a doctor in jurisprudence won’t insist on being addressed as Dr. (name).
    But guessing won’t get you the right answer.
    The key for PhD’s is to find the the preference of the bearer. It's not up to either of us to decide if someone with a PhD is or is not addressed as Dr. (name). If that's what he or she prefers I will go along with it. A person's name belongs to them.
                     -- Robert Hickey