Challenge of human service programs for psychologists.

The rationale for, and the manner in which, mental health services are provided in 1971 differs significantly from the patterns of a decade ago. The perspective and activities have expanded from the isolated clinic to the more encompassing community mental health program. During the 1970's psychologists will be challenged to evolve the scope even further by designing far-flung human service systems which seek to provide comprehensive and coordinated assistance to clients. 4 prominent alternative program structures are arising at the community level: information and referral centers, diagnostic centers, multiservice centers, and human services networks. It is predicted that psychologists may well be required to redesign their (a) practice, by developing job roles in nonpsychiatric settings; (b) research, by increased use of the ecological model for the resolution of pressing social problems; and (c) training, by expanded use of multidisciplinary settings offering broadly defined rather than narrowly circumscribed work experiences. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preventing Role Slippage During Work in the Community: Guidelines for New Psychologists and Supervisees.

Psychologists are increasingly delivering or supervising services in their clients' homes or community. However, because of the looser emotional and temporal boundaries associated with these settings, they may enter problematic roles that place them at risk of boundary crossings or boundary violations. Supervisees and inexperienced psychologists may be unprepared for these opportunities and challenges. The author reviews problematic roles that are somewhat unique to these settings (guest, parent, and buddy-friend) and makes recommendations to ensure the quality of psychological services delivered there. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling psychology, health psychology, and beyond: A reply to Klippel and DeJoy.

J. A. Klippel and D. M. DeJoy (see record 1984-20998-001) identified 3 areas of health psychology in which counseling psychology can make a contribution: communication-skills training, community health care, and consultation services. Using their proposal as a basis, the present author examines each of the areas in terms of several potential pitfalls that counseling psychologists may want to avoid. Three reminders for counseling psychologists desiring to work in this setting are to move beyond (1) process to define measurable outcomes, (2) subjective reports and focus on actual behavior change, and (3) catchphrases and focus on their roles as members of health-services teams. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Roles for psychologists in emerging models of school-related health and mental health services.

Describes contributions of school, clinical, community, and health psychology to emerging school-based and school-linked health and mental health service delivery models. The author contends that these 4 areas integrate well to inform the development and targets of health service delivery approaches in and linked to the schools and to set the stage for defining the emerging and future roles of psychologists providing health and mental health care in these contexts. Emerging and future roles of psychologists as health care providers through schools include roles in development, implementation, and administration of these models, direct and indirect service provision, interfacing of health and educational outcomes, and applied research and evaluation activities. Implications for the education and training of current and future psychologists are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

La pratique de la psychologie communautaire.

The aim of this article is to highlight the value of community psychology practice. There is a growing consensus in the field that community psychologists should focus more attention on describing and communicating the nature and contributions of their practice. To further this goal, we identify five typical change strategies (applied research, consultation, training, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder participation) that community psychology practitioners might apply in six different domains (program evaluation, program development, problem/setting analysis, organisational capacity building, policy development, community organising, and social action). We provide definitions for each domain as well as examples of typical interventions. Challenges in the field of community psychology practice are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hurricane Katrina: Experiences of psychologists and implications for future disaster response.

The landfall of Hurricane Katrina marked not only one of the most significant and destructive natural disasters for the United States in recent history, but also a new benchmark in challenges faced by psychologists providing services. The authors explain their roles following the hurricane, describing not only local activities for recovery but efforts conducted in the Gulf Coast as well. Experiences and perceptions of the first author, who was deployed to the Gulf Coast on numerous occasions, are highlighted. In addition, psychological assessments were carried out with a small number of displaced Katrina survivors who were relocated to the authors' local community. The authors document many of the challenges faced by psychologists and other mental health workers during relief efforts in the Gulf Coast, concluding with a set of recommendations for future disaster-relief initiatives regarding such issues as ways in which psychologists can participate in disaster-relief efforts, challenges faced when implementing interventions, cultural competency, community preparedness, and scientific research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A literary guide for psychologists.

Recently, while visiting another science laboratory the author was given a glossary of phrases commonly used in scientific reports. Sure that all psychologists who read and write research reports are interested in maximizing "communication," the author cheerfully offers an abridged guide for use with psychological literature. Perhaps other psychologists can suggest additional definitions which will increase enlightenment. An example: What he said: "It has long been known that . . ." and what he meant: "I haven't bothered to look up the original reference but . . .." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scientific issues: Section introduction.

One of the major roles that psychologists play in addressing the AIDS epidemic is maintaining vigorous research programs that focus on attitudinal and behavioral factors in the transmission of the virus and on individual, community, and national responses to persons who are infected with the virus or who have symptoms of the disease. This section addresses selected aspects of the research agenda for psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The New Federalism and state mental health agencies: Roles for psychologists.

As state governments expand and become more influential and as universities constrict employment opportunities for psychologists, psychologists should consider career possibilities in state mental health systems. Four key functions in the state mental health agency are described: administration, training, research, and evaluation. Changes in professional training that are needed to adequately prepare psychologists for these nontraditional career roles are discussed. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring Unique Roles for Psychologists.

Presents a comment on "Psychological Treatments" (see record 2004-21168-001) by D. H. Barlow. Barlow highlighted unique roles that psychologists can play in mental health service delivery by providing psychological treatments--treatments that psychologists would be uniquely qualified to design and deliver. In support of Barlow's position, the authors draw from their own clinical practice with special psychiatric populations, such as adults with severe and persistent mental illness and behaviorally disordered youths, to illustrate some potential unique roles for psychologists. The authors believe psychologists are uniquely trained to design such individualized functional behavioral analysis protocols because of their training in research design, behavior analysis, learning theory, and behavior change. Psychologists may also be uniquely qualified to design, implement, and evaluate many specialized therapy techniques, as Barlow has outlined and suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beyond the mental health clinic: New settings and activities for clinical psychology internships.

Is the current internship system sufficiently diverse to prepare psychologists for the many professional roles they will take on in the post-managed care future? Creating internships in new settings may help clinical psychology become a stronger presence in diverse areas of intervention and expand work with populations less commonly reached in the clinical psychotherapy model. The author presents initial suggestions for creating training programs in which interns could develop and apply their knowledge in prevention, public policy, and community action. The potential benefits and challenges of such innovative internships are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology's role in statewide education reform: Kentucky as an example.

Education reform initiatives are being widely debated at national, state, and local levels. In response to both legislative initiatives and public opinion, our nation's schools are trying to change from old patterns of operation, which for many students have proven unsuccessful, to emerging paradigms that promote learning and human development in integrated school–community environments. Professionals concerned with the development of emerging educational paradigms are challenged to reconsider their roles in light of research findings and increased demands for accountability. In this article, new opportunities for psychologists to work with children and youth are highlighted. Particular focus is placed on psychologists engaged in education reform efforts in Kentucky, which passed sweeping statewide education reform legislation in 1990 (Kentucky Education Reform Act, 1990). Consideration is given to emerging models for psychological service delivery, and implications for psychologists trained in various specialities to contribute to national school reform efforts are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling psychology in Veterans Affairs medical centers: Perceptions of chiefs of psychology.

Counseling psychology (CP) has attempted to define itself in ways that accurately reflect the specialty, that do not limit its practitioners from working in their domains of competence, and that set it apart from clinical psychology. S. Cleveland (1980) considered the success of this self-definition in a survey on the perception of counseling psychologists by chiefs of psychology services in the Veterans Administration medical centers (VAMCs). He suggested that counseling psychologists were "defecting" to clinical positions in the VAMCs and that some negative bias existed toward CP by some VAMC chiefs. This survey attempts to determine whether the chiefs' attitudes have shifted as CP redefines itself. Results were similar to those found by Cleveland: Negative bias exists but has decreased. In addition, counseling psychologists in the VAMCs have found a variety of positions, expanding their role beyond previous narrow definitions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An Introduction to International Perspectives in Rehabilitation Psychology Research.

Objective: To provide an introduction to the special section of Rehabilitation Psychology (2004, Vol 49[1]) with an international theme. Specific Aims: Identify factors that have affected the potential of rehabilitation psychologists to consult and interact with their peers internationally, encourage continued exchange of information between rehabilitation psychologists globally by highlighting some of the work in the international community, and provide a vehicle for understanding how diverse cultures can benefit from the work of our peers to improve the lives of people with disabilities or serious illnesses. Conclusion: A total of 5 data-based articles are presented that describe studies conducted by rehabilitation psychologists in a variety of cultural settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Departmental Miniconvention: A Means of Fostering a Psychological Sense of Community.

In recent years there has been increased criticism of national and international conventions. To overcome these drawbacks the present article proposes the psychology department miniconvention, defined here as a professional gathering organized by an academic psychology department primarily for its students and faculty. Three supplemental purposes achievable by the miniconvention involve the additional participation of the lay community and psychologists in the field. These are (a) to enhance the sense of community among academic psychologists and students, psychologists employed in the community, and lay citizens; (b) to help educate the lay community in psychology's aims, methods, and findings, thereby improving the discipline's image; and (c) to prod academic psychologists to examine the real-world ramifications of their research and learn of the public's concerns regarding the behavioral sciences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Women in multiple roles: Implications for school psychologists.

Reviews the literature on some selected aspects of women's lives in order to provide an orientation for school psychologists. Both qualitative and empirical literature in the 3 main areas: the meaning of work, the timing of parenthood, and the integration of multiple roles are discussed. The exploration of work and parenting roles has been chosen because they are 2 major foci around which, it is suggested, most adult women organize their lives. The 3rd area, the integration of multiple roles, is also of immediate relevance in light of the increasing number of women who are combining multiple roles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents: Opportunities and Challenges for Psychologists.

Approximately 4.5 to 6.3 million children and adolescents in the United States have a serious emotional disturbance that undermines their present functioning and imperils their future. However, at least two thirds of young people with a diagnosable mental disorder receive no services at all. Responding to this unmet need, psychologists are assuming new roles in a changing mental health marketplace and are adopting new intervention strategies to work with these children, adolescents, and their families. This article addresses the scope of the problem, opportunities and challenges for practitioners, the larger context of professional practice, future directions, and suggestions for psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Awards for Distinguished Professional Contributions.

Recognizing the diversity of roles and activities in which many professional psychologists are engaged, beginning in 1979, Professional Awards have been presented to individual members of the Association whose distinguished contributions have served to advance psychology as a profession in the areas of knowledge, professional practice, public service, and applied psychology or community service by a graduate student or intern (individual or group). This article provides citations, biographies, and selected bibliographies for all of the awardees for the 1995 awards. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists as managers: Overcoming old guilts and accessing innovative pathways for enhanced skills.

Management roles for psychologists now offer promising career opportunities for using psychological techniques for enhancing the health as well as the productivity of organizations and their employees. Although many psychologists recognize this, they lack more specific information about bridging the gap between the desire to become a manager and the taking of concrete steps to actually become one. Emerging practice arenas, support systems, and training opportunities for psychologists who want to become managers are discussed. Psychologists can learn to be better managers and can benefit by tying into managerially oriented, educational, and professional networks. At the same time, old guilts about being a managerial or entrepreneurial psychologist may linger and need to be overcome. Specific opportunities for psychologists in innovative areas of practice, research, and consultation that require managerial knowledge and skills are identified. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)