Doctor of Psychology degree: From hibernation to reality.

Since the beginning of the American Psychological Association (APA), there have been 3 explicit models of psychologists: scientist, scientist–professional, and professional. In the late 1940's, there was a need for a model of clinical training that the Boulder scientist-professional model fulfilled. However, the emphasis on training in the science of psychology seemed to increase at the expense of training in the applied aspects of psychology. The need was increasingly voiced for a service-oriented training program with a clear professional identity. These pressures culminated in the most recent training conference convened by APA at Vail, Colorado in 1973. The Vail conferees asserted that the development of psychological science had sufficiently matured to justify creation of explicit professional programs. The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) model and rationale are explained, and essential ingredients of currently operating PsyD programs are discussed. Future developments in professional programs, credentialing and designation, and the critical interface with societal needs are also examined. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Historically grounding the practice of psychology: Implications for professional training.

The author explores 3 ways the history of psychology can be made relevant to professional training in clinical psychology. Focusing on the practitioner-scholar model of clinical professional training, he argues that 3 central facets of historical understanding can be wedded to existing goals of professional training: (a) providing an interdisciplinary context for psychology, (b) addressing concerns about humans in the field, and (c) mediating theory-practice tensions that often exist in professional training. Suggestions are also made for encouraging historical understanding as essential to fostering critical self-reflection among students preparing for careers in professional psychology. (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)     

The education and training of clinical psychologists in the Netherlands.

With the reduction of the doctorandus program in the Netherlands to 4 yrs, a graduate program has been created that is significant to clinical psychology because it separates the research and applied orientations. The research orientation leads to the PhD, the applied orientation to a certificate of professional registration. This distinction has effectively ended the scientist–practitioner model underlying the training of clinical psychologists. In moving clinical psychology from its scientific research base, psychology has become more fragmented, and in a way that has far-reaching implications for the discipline and the profession in the Netherlands. These developments are of interest due to the debate in the US and elsewhere on training and licensure of clinical psychologists and concern about the unity of psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In favor of separation of academic and professional training.

"Academic or basic psychology and applied or professional psychology… have different goals and are appropriately judged by different criteria. Much confusion and pointless heat has resulted from judging applied activities by academic criteria and academic activities by applied criteria. Such confusion has been potentiated by failure to separate professional training from academic programs, a separation that would result in more efficient and competent training of both the professional and the basic research person. Rather than impoverishing psychology, separation of professional from academic training so that each group could focus sufficiently and in terms of its own criteria of excellence on its own goals should result in more rapid progress of both areas and a more productive, less conflictual, amount of cross-fertilization." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A few not-so-final comments.

Responds to comments and criticisms of the present author's (see record 1985-10567-001) account of the history and current status of clinical psychology in Canada. The need for the clinical psychology community to tolerate a variety of perspectives on such issues as accreditation, the scientist–professional model, and the validity of various training models is emphasized. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An examination of training model outcomes in clinical psychology programs.

Are the outcomes of clinical psychology training related to training model affiliation, and, if so, how? An examination of 134 accredited clinical psychology programs, espousing a clinical scientist, scientist–practitioner, or practitioner–scholar training philosophy as defined by training group membership, uncovered significant differences among training models across student and faculty activities as well as across employment setting and weekly employment activity outcomes. Suggestions for educators and consumers in their analyses of programs' training activities and outcomes are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA-approved internships for doctoral training in clinical and counseling psychology: 1973.

Presents a list of agencies offering internships approved for doctoral training in professional psychology by the American Psychological Association's Committee on Accreditation. The current criteria for accreditation of internship training programs no longer make the distinction between clinical and counseling internship programs; therefore, the separate listing of approved programs by professional specialty has been dropped. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contemporary issues in clinical training.

66 directors of clinical training and 118 randomly selected clinicians responded to a questionnaire concerning issues in clinical training. Directors of training were more favorably inclined toward the scientist–professional model than were random clinicians. Random clinicians were more favorably inclined toward alternative, professional models of training than were directors of training. A factor analysis revealed that endorsement of either a scientist–professional model or a professional model and a rejection of the alternative model accounted for 45% of the variance of responses to the questionnaire. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Workshop.

If the article by Kahn and Santostefano in the April issue of the American Psychologist (1962, 17, 185-189) can be taken as an indication, clinical psychologists are still very much interested and concerned with their professional role image or images. Discussions of this topic invariably get around to a discussion of training programs for clinical students and the pros and cons of various types of curricula and educational experience. Partially because of the lack of agreement among faculty and practicum personnel, discussions of professional identity by clinical graduate students are filled with uncertainty, confusion, and conflict surpassing even that which is evident in the discussions of their professional fathers. Questions concerning "professionalism," academic versus clinical training, and the relationships of clinical psychology to other professions are representative of the omnipresent topics of conservation. As a matter of fact, the workshop was so well received that we plan to hold a second workshop next year. But we thought that those individuals who live too far from us to be easily able to attend our meeting might want to try something similar in their areas. We are preparing a more thorough summary and commentary concerning the recent meeting and would be glad to forward a copy to interested individuals. A group of graduate students in the clinical program at the University of Oklahoma decided that it might, be quite worthwhile if they could assemble a number of students from other training settings and attempt to exchange ideas concerning their future roles as professional people. It was the contention of these students that graduate students in psychology, and particularly clinical students, seldom have an opportunity to freely exchange ideas about these problems in an atmosphere which is specifically designed for this purpose. Thus, what we think is quite a unique idea was born: that we might be able to provide graduate students from various training programs in clinical psychology with the opportunity to get together to discuss training, role conflicts, identity, and other professional problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rotational Versus Nonrotational Internships: Let's Look at Reality.

Comments on the original article by Robert Langston that focuses on the value of a nonrotational clinical psychology internship (see record 1987-98336-047). The current authors suggest that, while making the case for a nonrotational internship, Langston has presented an inaccurate picture of the current state of internship training, and they seek to point out three fallacies inherent in Langston's view of the current training. As they do so, they assert that the many issues regarding professional training in psychology are hardly settled. They do suggest, though, that it is essential to relate their own ideas to existing criteria and evidence of current training practice, in order to effectively make decisions regarding necessary changes. (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)     

Obituary: David Shakow (1901-1981).

This article describes the career and scientific achievements of David Shakow, PhD. Shakow was a major figure of 20th-century American psychology, one of only two persons honored by the American Psychological Association with two of its most prestigious awards: the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award and the Distinguished Professional Contribution Award. These two honors embodied the essence of Shakow's career. The award for scientific activity was given for basic contributions that enlarged our understanding of the processes underlying the psychological deficit manifested by schizophrenic patients. These studies spanned half a century, beginning in 1932 and concluding 50 years later, when his final publication on this subject appeared a year after his death. The award for professional achievement recognized his role as the father of contemporary clinical psychology. Shakow, by precept and example, gave meaning to the Boulder model for training clinical psychologists. He provided leadership in espousing the view that the clinical psychologist's role is that of both scientist and practitioner in the mental health field. He deeply respected both activities but gave primacy to the clinical psychologist as research scientist. His credo was one that, on reflection, was as applicable to the practitioner as it was to the researcher. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the expansion of professional psychology.

"My aim has been to discuss some of the effects which present-day training in clinical psychology may have upon the role and identity of professional psychologists; how the consequences of professional expansion and the interaction with other groups affect training programs in psychology; and how in turn the circumstances of the latter, by determining the range and quality of experiences, may affect the intellectual and professional orientation of clinical psychologists." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primary care health psychology training: A collaborative model with family practice.

Are you planning a new postdoctoral training program in health psychology? Are your students seeking postdoctoral training in health psychology? Are you looking for a good formal postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology to continue your training? This article describes in detail the philosophy, educational objectives, and learning activities that make up a 13-year-old fellowship approved by the American Psychological Association in clinical health psychology, a model for clinical training in this specialty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a clinical child psychology training program.

Growing interest in clinical child psychology has led to concern for appropriate training for the field. An example is presented of a graduate-level specialty training program that is heavily based on a scientist–practitioner model, that integrates clinical and developmental psychology perspectives, and that responds to expanded roles for clinical child psychologists. Issues to be considered in the development of such a program are noted. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identifying, obtaining, and completing a predoctoral psychology internship: Research considerations.

The quality of clinical training is a critical factor to consider when selecting a psychology predoctoral internship placement. Yet, research activities are also an integral part of a scientist-practitioner training model. Pursuit of ongoing research training during an internship can impact an individual's professional development and productivity, both during the internship year and beyond. Although many published resources have outlined the steps to obtaining a predoctoral internship, few sources have offered adequate consideration of research goals and training. To address this gap in the existing literature, the present article offers a discussion of research issues relevant to the process of identifying, securing, and completing a predoctoral internship in applied psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA-approved internships for doctoral training in clinical and counseling psychology: 1972.

The Committee on Accreditation has approved for doctoral training in professional psychology the internships offered by the agencies listed below. The criteria for evaluating these programs can be obtained from the Educational Affairs Office. The current criteria for accreditation of internship training programs no longer make the distinction between clinical and counseling internship programs; therefore, the separate listing of approved programs by professional specialty has been dropped. Readers desiring information on training goals offered at specific agencies are encouraged to write directly to the agencies. Each of the agencies listed has met the same qualitative standards with respect to adequacy of training. The list is alphabetical by states and agencies within states. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guiding principles and recommendations for the assessment of competence.

This article presents guiding principles for the assessment of competence developed by the members of the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Assessment of Competence in Professional Psychology. These principles are applicable to the education, training, and credentialing of professional psychologists, and to practicing psychologists across the professional life span. The principles are built upon a review of competency assessment models, including practices in both psychology and other professions. These principles will help to ensure that psychologists reinforce the importance of a culture of competence. The implications of the principles for professional psychology also are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA-approved predoctoral internships for doctoral training in clinical and counseling psychology: 1978.

The American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation has approved for doctoral training in professional psychology the predoctoral internships offered by the agencies listed below. The criteria for evaluating these programs can be obtained from the Accreditation Office. The current criteria for accreditation of predoctoral internship training programs no longer make the distinction between clinical and counseling internship programs; therefore, the separate listing of approved programs by professional specialty has been dropped. Readers desiring information on training goals offered at specific agencies are encouraged to write directly to the agencies. Each of the agencies listed has met the same qualitative standards with respect to adequacy of training. The enclosed list is alphabetical by agencies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)