The PsyD: Heterogeneity in Practitioner Training.

The paucity of research on PsyD programs has led to unsubstantiated generalizations and uniformity myths about practitioner training. The authors collected information on the admission rates, financial assistance, theoretical orientations, and selected characteristics of American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited PsyD programs in clinical psychology (89% response rate). Systematic comparisons were made between PsyD programs housed in university departments, university professional schools, and freestanding institutions to describe the differences and commonalities among the heterogeneous PsyD programs. Empirical comparisons were provided among APA-accredited PsyD, practice-oriented PhD, and research-oriented PhD programs in clinical psychology to highlight the distinctive features of PsyD programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Getting in and getting money: A comparative analysis of admission standards, acceptance rates, and financial assistance across the research–practice continuum in clinical psychology programs.

The diversification and proliferation of doctoral programs in clinical psychology call for their periodic comparative analysis to inform prospective applicants, their advisors, and the entire field. The authors surveyed directors of the 232 American Psychological Association (APA)–accredited doctoral programs in clinical psychology (98% response) regarding application numbers, acceptance rates, financial assistance, and credentials of incoming students. Results are summarized for all clinical programs and then separately for 6 types of programs along the practice–research continuum: freestanding PsyD, university professional school PsyD, university department PsyD, practice-oriented PhD, equal-emphasis PhD, and research-oriented PhD. Lower acceptance rates and higher Graduate Record Examination scores were strongly associated with programs oriented toward more research training; for example, research-oriented PhD programs admitted far fewer applicants (7% vs. 50%) than did freestanding PsyD programs. Freestanding PsyD programs awarded significantly less full financial assistance to incoming students (1% vs. 89%) and required 1 less year to complete than did PhD programs. Overall, PhD-level students were more likely to secure an APA or Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers internship than were PsyD students. The authors conclude with observations about the historical changes and heightened differentiation of doctoral training in clinical psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Role of Gender in the Career Aspirations of Professional Psychology Graduates: Are There More Similarities Than Differences?

Although it has been claimed that the increase in the number of females enrolled in graduate programs in professional psychology has implications for the future of research, teaching, and clinical service, more research is needed to evaluate such claims. Canadian graduate students in professional psychology programs were surveyed to examine gender differences in their academic achievements, professional interests, career plans, as well as the reasons for their career choices, expected salaries, and personal opinions regarding affirmative action. Overall, the similarities between genders outweighed the differences. However, women were more likely than men to expect child-rearing to disrupt their careers, to make their career choices based on job flexibility, and to expect lower maximum salaries. Women were also less likely to want to pursue jobs in academia, yet were more likely to advocate for the recruitment of women into academia. The potential implications of the changing gender composition and overall trends in professional psychology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selecting a doctoral program in professional psychology: Some comparisons among PhD counseling, PhD clinical, and PsyD clinical psychology programs.

Directors of American Psychological Association-accredited doctoral programs in counseling psychology (95% response) and clinical psychology (99% response) provided data regarding number of applications, credentials of incoming students, rates of acceptance, and the theoretical orientations and research areas of the faculty. The acceptance rates of PhD clinical and PhD counseling psychology programs were comparable (6% vs. 8%), despite the higher number of applications (270 vs. 130) to clinical programs. Compared with clinical students, counseling students were more likely to represent ethnic minorities and have master's degrees, but were otherwise similar in academic credentials. Clinical faculty were more likely to be involved in research with pathological populations and associated with medical settings, whereas counseling faculty were more involved in research concerning career processes, human diversity, and professional issues. These results should alert applicants and their advisors to robust differences across these specializations and should enhance matching between programs and students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Admission requirements, acceptance rates, and financial assistance in clinical psychology programs: Diversity across the practice-research continuum.

129 directors (80% response) of APA-accredited clinical psychology programs provided information pertaining to admission requirements, acceptance rates, financial assistance, and theoretical orientations. Summary data are presented and comparisons are made among 4 types of clinical programs: PsyD programs, practice-oriented PhD programs, equal-emphasis PhD programs, and research-oriented PhD programs. Clinical doctoral programs held similar expectations for undergraduate preparation in psychology, but robust differences emerged on preferred Graduate Record Examination scores, acceptance rates, and financial assistance. In the most extreme comparison (PsyD vs research-oriented PhD programs), students were 4 times more likely to gain acceptance but 6 times less likely to receive full financial assistance in PsyD programs. Implications of these results for potential graduate students and for the future of applied psychology programs are briefly discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selected outcomes of accredited programs.

For a representative sample of 149 accredited doctoral programs, 3 types of outcomes are reported: activities of students, time to degree, and employment settings of graduates. Comparisons of activities on the basis of program specialty area yielded a difference only for the activity of providing professional services (with clinical?>?counseling?>?school). Comparisons on the basis of degree type (PhD, PsyD) yielded differences for all activities except providing professional services, with PhD students and faculty reporting higher median levels of involvement. Students in PhD programs require significantly longer (approximately 1.5 years) to complete their degrees than do PsyD program students. Graduates' employment settings tend to be consistent with the specialty area of their doctoral programs with interesting shifts from initial to subsequent employment. Recommendations are made for expanding outcome assessment of graduate education and training in professional psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical and counseling psychology: Can differences be gleaned from printed recruiting materials?

Students and professionals alike often ask, "What is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology?" An even more basic question for educators and trainers is, "Are students accurately informed of the differences between the two specialties?" To address this question, we examined recruitment and application materials from 227 APA-accredited doctoral programs in counseling psychology (CoPhD, n = 56), clinical psychology PhD (ClPhD, n = 137), and clinical psychology PsyD (ClPsyD, n = 34). It should be noted that 83% of both clinical and counseling psychology programs, respectively, were represented in the data. An eight-page coding instrument was used to examine similarities and dissimilarities between each discipline. The results of this study suggest few differences in program or faculty characteristics, student and faculty demographics, or admission and training requirements, as advertised in program recruitment materials. Implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Donald R. Peterson (1923-2007).

This obituary is about Donald R. Peterson who was the only psychologist to direct a research-oriented, scientist-practitioner PhD program (University of Illinois, 1964-1972), a professional, PsyD program in an academic department (University of Illinois, 1968-1972), and a professional school of psychology in a major research university (Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, 1975-1989). He was also author, coauthor, or coeditor of several volumes, including The Clinical Study of Social Behavior, Close Relationships, History of Psychotherapy: A Century of Change, and Educating Professional Psychologists: History and Guiding Conception. Although Don was a fine empirical psychologist and stressed the importance of professionals knowing and applying scientific data, he emphasized that professional practice was about the uniqueness of the client--be it an individual, a group, or an organization. He touched all who knew him and left a prodigious legacy for the field of professional psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Career experiences of doctors of psychology.

Surveyed 184 graduates (mean age 37 yrs) of 9 PsyD programs to determine the professional activities in which they were engaged, satisfaction with careers and graduate training in professional psychology, and public acceptance of the PsyD degree and compared the results with similar data on PhD clinicians. Most Ss were primarily engaged in direct professional services in professional settings. They were generally satisfied with their careers in professional psychology and significantly more satisfied with the graduate training they had received than were clinical psychologists trained in traditional PhD programs. More Ss reported that the PsyD degree was an advantage rather than a disadvantage when competing for jobs with candidates who had other degrees. PsyD Ss were found to be active joiners of professional associations. 91% of PsyD Ss who applied for licensure or certification encountered no difficulty due to their degree. Almost no unfavorable attitudes toward the degree were perceived among clients, employers, or colleagues. It is concluded that fears about perception of the PsyD as a second-rate credential are unfounded. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accredited doctoral programs in professional psychology: 2005.

This document provides the official listing of accredited doctoral programs in professional psychology. It reflects all committee decisions through July 17, 2005. The Committee on Accreditation has accredited the doctoral training programs in the traditional substantive areas of clinical, counseling, school, or combined professional-scientific psychology representing two or more of those areas listed alphabetically by their host institutions. All of the programs offer the PhD degree, except when otherwise noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Need for the doctor of psychology degree in professional psychology.

The Vail Conference on professional training in psychology recommended development of explicitly professional programs and use of the PsyD degree to certify competence in professional psychology. Policies governing use of the degree, however, as well as the concepts of professional function which degree titles should symbolize, continue to be controversial. Opponents of the Vail Conference recommendations have argued that professional psychologists are most appropriately regarded as scholar-professionals, and have urged award of the PhD degree upon completion of graduate training in such fields as clinical psychology. As counterargument, a multiple definition of the term scholar-professional is stated, and the surplus meanings implied by scholarship are shown to be either false, misleading, or redundant. The difficulties that arise from using the PhD degree as a credential of professional competence are then discussed, and the advantages of employing the PsyD degree both affirmatively, as a certificate of professional competence in psychology, and restrictively, to exclude inadequately trained people from the practice of professional psychology, are asserted. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teaching history and systems from a clinical perspective.

There is a need to make the teaching of the history and systems of psychology course more relevant for students in professional training programs. Most typical courses and textbooks are oriented around the history of the science of psychology, giving scant and generally passing attention to the development of the profession of psychology. The author draws on his experience teaching a history and systems course in PsyD programs and provides a structure for enhancing the relevancy of such courses in professional training programs. Two frameworks are used. The author develops a conceptualization of 4 archetypes as defining of the range of roles, activities, contexts, and justification of professional psychologists: (a) the shaman/ priest, (b) the physician, (c) the teacher, and (d) the scientist. Stephen Pepper's (1942) world hypothesis theory, which characterizes the epistemic approaches underlying modern science and philosophy, is used to organize the development of the science of psychology. The integration of these 2 frameworks is discussed, and the curricular modifications that flow from it are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teaching of controversial and empirically validated treatments in APA-accredited clinical and counseling psychology programs.

Surveyed the directors of 126 American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical and counseling psychology PhD and PsyD programs to determine whether they teach controversial memory recovery techniques for suspected childhood sexual abuse and the controversial technique, facilitated communication. The authors also asked about training in empirically validated treatments. Results show that counseling psychology programs were more likely than clinical psychology programs to teach memory recovery techniques, and counseling programs were less likely to discourage the use of both memory recovery techniques and facilitated communication. More emphasis on research, less on practice, and a higher percentage of behaviorally-oriented faculty was related to less training of controversial techniques. Empirically validated treatments were reportedly taught more in clinical than in counseling psychology programs and in programs that emphasize research and have a higher percentage of behaviorally-oriented faculty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Survey of current clinical and research trends in clinical psychology.

Surveyed directors of 115 clinical PhD and PsyD psychology programs with accreditation from the American Psychological Association to explore trends in the training of clinical psychologists. The most popular area of clinical research appeared to be behavioral medicine/health psychology. The most popular specialty clinics allowing training in a specific domain of clinical psychology were family therapy, behavioral medicine, neuropsychology/rehabilitation, and couples therapy. Ss in PhD programs were more likely than those in PsyD programs to subscribe to a cognitive-behavioral/social-learning orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Professional role modeling by faculty: The neglected child in doctoral training.

Are faculty members in doctoral training programs in professional psychology expected to model practice? According to the American Psychological Association (APA) Criteria for Accreditation, the answer is yes. According to what actually happens within most doctoral programs, the answer is no. Some of the problems that relate to this discrepancy and some suggested solutions to those problems are discussed in this article. Faculties of professional psychology can make a substantial improvement in how they serve as role models for their doctoral students. First, they can consistently practice what they teach. Second, they can practice exclusively through their own psychological service centers. Third, they can organize their professional work through faculty practice plans. Fourth, they can fully integrate their research, practice, teaching, training, and supervision while increasing the financial support for students. Last, they can routinely model the best of contemporary practice. The broad adoption of these five suggestions would represent a marked departure from what has been modal practice in doctoral programs, but it would greatly strengthen the quality of graduate education and training, improve students' satisfaction with their doctoral training, and advance professional psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Graduate preparation in research methods: The current status of APA-accredited professional programs in psychology.

Graduate preparation in research methods is needed to help ensure that the next generation of psychologists is prepared to consume and engage in research. This study examined the availability of courses in research methods in 192 American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited programs based on reports from program directors in clinical, counseling, school, and combined psychology programs. Results suggest that, although most doctoral-level psychology programs require introductory methods courses, the requirement to take more advanced courses in research methods is less common. Although many programs offer advanced methods courses as electives, fewer than 10% of program directors believe additional courses are needed. Among the areas of specialization, significant differences in required coursework in research methods were found only for factor analysis, which was required most by school psychology programs, followed by clinical psychology and then counseling psychology. In addition, PhD and PsyD programs generally do not differ in requiring coursework in research methods. Data from this study reflect a significant improvement in course offerings in research methods during the last two decades. Implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training for independent practice: A survey of graduate programs in clinical psychology.

Administered a questionnaire to 112 directors of clinical training programs to investigate the types of training opportunities relative to independent practice that doctoral programs in clinical psychology are offering students. Findings indicate that 87% of PsyD programs and 35% of PhD programs offered some training. Results indicate that private practice as a professional activity for psychologists has become more accepted, that increased training is being offered, but that negative attitudes toward private practice still remain in a small sector of academia. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluative comparison of PsyD and PhD students by clinical internship supervisors.

Internship supervisors evaluated the preinternship preparation of 67 PsyD students and 228 PhD students in regard to several core clinical skills and general dimensions of professional competence. In contrast with previous studies that suggested serious dissatisfaction among supervisors with the general quality of preinternship training, most interns evaluated individually in this study were considered at least adequately prepared for most kinds of clinical work. Except for slight superiority of PsyD students in "sensitivity" and of PhD students in "scientific attitude," there were no reliable differences between interns from practitioner programs and those from scientist-practitioner programs. For future evaluation research, the need to move beyond ratings to performance-based measures of competence is imperative. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Supervising International Students: The Role of Acculturation, Role Ambiguity, and Multicultural Discussions.

Little is known about the training needs of international students in professional psychology programs and what supervisors could do to assist these students in their training. This study surveyed 42 international students in programs accredited by the American Psychological Association concerning several training and supervision variables. Results revealed that students who reported being less acculturated also reported less counseling self-efficacy, weaker supervisory working alliances, more role difficulties in supervision, and more discussion of cultural issues in supervision. Implications for supervision and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA-accredited doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology: 1983.

The Committee on Accreditation has accredited the doctoral training programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology that are conducted by the institutions listed below. In the institutions listed, the accredited programs are directed by the department of psychology unless otherwise indicated. All programs, unless otherwise noted, are PhD programs. Programs that have not requested evaluation, and programs that have been evaluated but not accredited, are not included in the list. Readers desiring information on training goals and approaches of specific programs are encouraged to write directly to the departments in which the programs are offered. The criteria for evaluating these programs can be obtained from the Accreditation Office. There are three categories of accreditation. Full accreditation is awarded to any program that, in the professional judgment of the committee, meets the criteria in a satisfactory manner. Provisional accreditation is awarded to programs making initial application that, in the professional judgment of the committee, do not meet all the criteria but for which the committee believes there is a reasonable expectation that they will be met within a foreseeable period of time from the date of the initial site visit. Probation is the category into which a fully accredited program is placed when the committee has evidence that the program is not currently in satisfactory compliance with the criteria. Inclusion of an institution in this list indicates accreditation of doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, school, and combined professional-scientific psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)