Passages: Career ladders for college counseling center psychologists.

Uses the stages of adult development set forth by G. Sheehy (1976) as a model for analyzing the careers of counseling psychologists. The careers of counseling center personnel are traced from graduate school days to the period Sheehy refers to as resignation or renewal, and the following conclusions are made: (a) The counseling center career ladder is short, forcing many psychologists in their early 30's into other job avenues; (b) the flexibility provided by counseling center positions is a 2-edged sword, producing disadvantages in later career stages; (c) reward systems should be developed to keep competent therapists in the counseling center; (d) administrative training should be provided during graduate school for future counseling psychologists; and (e) renewal alternatives need to be developed for burned-out counselors and counseling center directors in the midlife transition. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists in college counseling centers: A survey of directors.

Results of a survey of 74 college counseling center directors suggest that the centers are generally staffed by younger counseling psychologists who were attracted by the opportunity to counsel, the flexibility of activities afforded, and the chance to stay in an academic setting. More money, greater opportunity for advancement, and more desirable job activities are major reasons for leaving counseling center work. Full-time academic positions, for those at large centers, and private practice, for those at small centers, predominate as alternatives chosen. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential importance faculty and students' place on counseling and psychological services.

179 university faculty were surveyed about how they would judge the importance of various counseling and psychological services, and 1,078 undergraduate students were surveyed to determine the differential importance faculty and students place on such services. Faculty interest in personal counseling, psychotherapy, drug counseling, and marital counseling was congruent with the traditional expertise and interests of psychologists practicing on college campuses. Students placed more emphasis on information-giving activities, such as educational counseling and academic advising, activities psychologists usually do not see as being in their domain. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Career patterns in counseling centers: Counseling psychologists review their past, present, and future.

Surveyed 381 psychologists working in college or university counseling centers to gain insight into career patterns of counseling center psychologists. Included were reasons for seeking, staying with, or leaving a particular position; satisfaction with past and current work activities; and future career planning. An analysis of the survey responses led to identification of distinct career patterns for counseling center psychologists as well as unique drawbacks and advantages associated with counseling center work, including flexibility of job functions, the opportunity to work with students in an academic setting and the low pay scale. Results suggest that the college counseling center is a satisfying employment setting characterized by early entry and a minimal number of job changes over the span of a career. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)