Training of Psychologists.

Suggests that psychologists concerned about the training of psychologists generate some testable hypotheses about the effects of different kinds of training, match or otherwise control variation in graduate departments at student and staff levels, and start treating each graduate school as the experimental group it should be in the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists as psychotherapists.

Comments on K. Humphreys's paper (see record 83-28417) on clinical psychologists as psychotherapists. L. R. Lieberman agrees with Humphreys that psychiatrists have abandoned doing psychotherapy but contends that it is not a good idea for psychologists to turn the practice of therapy over to those without the breadth of training implied by the Boulder model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Note on Training Psychologists for Careers in Behavioral Medicine.

Discusses the training of psychologists for careers in behavioral medicine, a rapidly growing new field that is becoming increasingly attractive to psychologists and other behavioral and biomedical scientists. The author suggests that the optimum training setting in which to educate the PhD would be in an academic psychology department of a university that also had a medical school. His suggestions also include having a practicum that requires dealing both with emotionally and mentally disturbed patients and with psychosomatic patients, and requiring an additional postdoctoral year that would be used to specialize in cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, or other problems. The recommendations have nothing to say about other disciplines in the behavioral and biomedical sciences but are meant to describe a model for the training of psychologists to participate in this growing and exciting enterprise. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors That Influence Fee Setting by Male and Female Psychologists.

What factors influence how psychologists in private practice set fees for self-pay clients? An anonymous survey in one county showed that male and female clinical psychologists did not differ in fees requested for services to self-pay clients, indicating that they equally value their time and work effort. They felt that their fees were strongly influenced by personal and local factors (i.e., education/qualifications, business experience, and local competition). Female psychologists indicated that local competition had a significantly greater influence on fee setting than did male psychologists. This perception among female psychologists might arise from competition with the larger number of nondoctoral therapists, who are predominately female, or from higher awareness through more active networking. The usefulness of this model for studies of self-employment is highlighted. (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)     

Clinical Psychologists as Psychotherapists: History, Future, and Alternatives.

As managed care and other cost-containment strategies become centralfeatures of the American health care system, doctoral-level clinical psychologists will be increasingly supplanted in the role of psychotherapist by lower cost providers such as social workers, marriage and family counselors, and masters-level psychologists. To provide one basis for clinical psychologists to make judgments about their role in psychotherapy, this article describes what the field was like before psychotherapy became a core activity and then compares the present transition with its historical counterpart: the opening up of the psychotherapy profession to doctoral-level clinical psychologists after World War II. History suggests that efforts to resist the current changes will be unsuccessful and that the most adaptive coping strategy for clinical psychologists is to take advantage of the transition by re-envisioning training and practice of clinical psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Flying Psychologists.

Asks whether there might be a group of flying psychologists that would be interested in forming an association, formal or informal, and whether the APA has a list of psychologists who are pilots. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists’ sexual education and training in graduate school.

The current study explored the sex education and training that clinical and counselling psychologists receive during graduate school, practicum placements and internship. There were 162 psychologists who completed an Internet survey. Although nearly all participants had received some form of education related to sexuality during their graduate training, the depth and breadth of training was limited and was not related to how long clinicians had been practising. Modelling and feedback appeared to be underutilized as training methods. Participants reported more training related to sexual problems (e.g., sexual violence, sexual disorders) than healthy sexuality (e.g., contraception, STIs/STDs). Sexuality-specific training experiences but not participant characteristics (e.g., gender, religiosity) or cognitive-affective factors predicted the amount of sex therapy experience gained during graduate school. This suggests that training programs may be largely responsible for the (limited) amount of sex education and training received by students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists and Governmental Affairs.

Discusses the problem of why economists and political scientists are frequently called to high-level administrative posts in government while psychologists are not. Several suggestions are made, including the following: (1) An APA Central Office sponsored research program consisting of personal interviews with major and key personnel in various federal departments, beginning with the President, with the goal of preparing a program for the federal government on the employment of psychologists as consultants and advisers or as full-time employees. (2) A communication from the APA Central Office to all members of the APA or to a selected group of prominent psychologists indicating to them the desirability of establishing and maintaining liaison with local and state political party organizations for promoting psychology and psychologists. (3) The inclusion of federal nonpsychologist major party officials in convention programs as invited speakers on appropriate topics that link psychology with national affairs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Productivity of American Psychologists Born Prior to 1879.

Author comments on the article by Wayne Dennis on the Productivity of American Psychologists in the American Psychologist (May, 1954), reveals the names of the 16 psychologists, born prior to 1879, who occupy the top decile of productivity based on the biblographies contained in Carl Murchison's Psychological Register, III, 1932, and who contributed 47 per cent of the total output. He lists the psychologists and tabulates the total number of publications for each. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postdoctoral Training in Psychotherapy.

During the past year, a number of articles have appeared in the American Psychologist on the general issue of whether psychologists should or should not do psychotherapy. While it is indisputable that a problem of this kind deserves attention as long as enough people are concerned to give it substance, we confess to a sense of bewilderment: Is not a long dead horse receiving a rather severe whipping? In settings ranging from hospitals and clinics to private practice, psychologists are doing psychotherapy, have been doing it for some time, and are likely to continue doing it as long as there is a social need for this kind of service. This fact has been clearly acknowledged by such national organizations as the VA and the USPHS and, through ABEPP and the Education and Training Board, by the APA itself. Much more central questions, it seems to us, are those of whether psychologists are being adequately trained for their therapeutic function and of what can be done to make training opportunities more available. First, we recommend that a comprehensive survey be made, through the Education and Training Board or other appropriate agency, of precisely what postdoctoral training resources are available in the nation for psychologists. Second, we urge that the APA investigate the possibility of establishing postdoctoral training programs in strategically located universities. Third, suspecting that one or another of the major foundations would be interested in this kind of venture into professional training at postdoctoral levels, we suggest that the APA take responsibility for investigating potential sources of financial support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social Work Courses for Psychologists.

Andriola has stated (American Psychologist, December, 1951) that he was desirous of seeing an increase in the interchange of information between social workers and psychologists. He was critical of psychology in that he felt that psychologists had little or no knowledge of the field of social work. Singer replied (American Psychologist, December, 1952) that psychologists are hindered from gaining a knowledge of social work by virtue of the admission policies of certain schools of social work. Furthermore, he contended that the schools of social work had raised a barrier to cross communication with psychology. Singer poses some questions that he would like to have answered regarding psychologists and social work schools and it is the purpose of this communication to offer partial answers. It is my feeling that clinical and educational psychologists could profit immeasurably from courses offered in a social work curriculum. I found that such courses as Community Organization, Public Welfare, Case Work Techniques, Administration and Supervision and particularly Legal Aspects added much to my professional competence and academic stature. Psychology as it manifests itself in an applied sense could well take cognizance of the thorough and effective techniques developed by the social work profession in the area of supervision and on-the-job training. I am in complete agreement with Singer's contention that "An important outcome of a graduate training program which would require students in psychology and social work to take courses in each department would probably be a more effective team approach to the common problems to be solved by both groups, viz., to enable the client to live a happy and satisfactory life." My experience may not be representative of the general attitude of schools of social work. Nevertheless, my own enrollment has added to my feelings of respect and admiration for the social work profession. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age Restrictions in the Employment of Psychologists.

Reports that a tabulation of all the job openings listed in the APA Employment Bulletin for the period October 19S7 to May 1958 inclusive shows that approximately 26% have maximum age restrictions of some sort or another placed on them. Considering the efforts made by the APA to raise the standards of education and training of psychologists and its insistence on well supervised and varied experience, there should be some concern expressed over this increase in age restrictions in the employment of psychologists. No psychologist will deny the value of experience, and all will agree that education and practicum training are no substitute therefor, although a necessary foundation. One way to forcibly bring this to the attention of employers would be for the Employment Bulletin to refuse to accept any listings which put any age restrictions thereon. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinically and Statistically Oriented Psychologists Split Our Profession.

Year after year articles appear presenting evidence that the well-known tools of the clinical psychologist fail to measure up to the statistical respectability which rigorous science demands. What is their impact on our profession? The data offered in these articles are viewed by the psychologist steeped in diagnosis and therapy with an indifference that borders on disdain. These same articles elicit a quite different reaction from the statistically oriented psychologist. He is furious that people who are called "psychologists" are discrediting his profession by their complacent indifference to objective evidence. To understand these reactions, factors are examined that include the personalities of the psychologists and the nature of evidence itself. However, the author notes that the time has come for psychologists to realize that they cannot forever remain a divided profession. Perhaps it would help if psychologists could admit that "truth has many faces." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists and psychological services in urban police departments--A national survey.

The purpose of the present study was to survey urban police departments and determine the amount and type of psychologist involvement. The major aims of the study were to ascertain the number of psychologists employed, the characteristics of these psychologists, and the services they provided. One hundred seventy-four copies of a questionnaire were sent to cities throughout the nation. The survey assessed, in broad terms, the role that psychologists and psychological services have in police departments today. A 74% return (N = 130) of the questionnaires was obtained within 3 months of the initial mailing. Results show that the more populated an area, the more psychologists employed: Only 11% and 10%, respectively, for the two smaller urban groups, but 18% and 39% for the two larger groups (in ascending order). Full-time and part-time psychologists are employed in approximately equal numbers, but, on a national scale and for all population groups, neither is used as frequently as consultants. The majority (74%) of psychologists employed are at the PhD level. Most have a clinical background, though training in counseling or industrial psychology was significantly involved. Two points represent major findings of the study: the use of consultants rather than full-time employees, and the relatively great amount of time spent in applicant screening. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Michigan Certification of School Psychologists.

The letter entitled "A Correction and an Addition" appearing on page 84 of the February 1961 American Psychologist refers to an article appearing in the June 1960 American Psychologist entitled "State Certification of School Psychologists" (see record 1961-02947-001). It is suggested that "for the University of Michigan" Table 1 on page 347 of the article should be corrected. There are no entries in the table mentioned which refer to the University of Michigan. The data to which reference is made were obtained through correspondence with the officer responsible for certification in the Michigan State Department of Public Instruction and were certified to be correct by said officer as late as January 1960. The article clearly stated these facts. The fact that school psychologists trained at the University of Michigan are approved by the State Department of Public Instruction is perhaps indicative of the University of Michigan's leadership role in providing new approaches to the training of these professionals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Let's Be Psychologists.

In the February, 1956 "American Psychologist" three viewpoints were expressed concerning the relationships between psychology and psychiatry. That something should be done is well agreed upon by most psychologists; however, I have the uneasy feeling that there is a lack of agreement as to how we should bear arms for the common cause. The psychologist prides himself in being able to observe events in an objective fashion. My proposition is this: let's be psychologists. Instead of talking about the hypothesized issues, let us investigate (observe, measure, test) the issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)