A survey of the practices and activities of Canadian clinical psychologists.

Abstract

To document the nature of clinical psychology in Canada, a national survey was conducted to collect data on clinical psychologists' demographic characteristics, professional affiliations, professional identities, therapeutic orientations and activities, and publications. Eightyeight members of the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology returned questionnaires designed to assess these areas. Survey results are presented in detail, including the findings that most clinical psychologists surveyed: (a) are engaged in private practice to some extent, (b) conduct psychotherapy, and (c) can be characterized as eclectic in orientation. Limits to the generalizability of these results are discussed.

Professional psychology in Canada: A survey of demographic and practice characteristics.

“…As has been found in previous Canadian (e.g., Hunsley & Lefebvre, 1990) and American (e.g., Norcross & Karpiak, 2012) surveys, respondents reported spending most of their professional time providing intervention and assessment services. Substantial numbers of practitioners reported providing services to each client age groups, suggesting that services are potentially available for clients across the life span.…”

“…In developing the survey instrument, a range of sources were consulted, including the American Psychological Association's PracticeNet (http://www.apapracticenet .net/introduction.asp) and previous surveys of the characteristics of professional psychologists in Canada and in the United States (e.g., Hunsley & Lefebvre, 1990;Norcross et al, 2005). Following pilot testing with eight psychologists, minor modifications were made to the instrument to ensure clarity of content in both English and French language versions of the survey instrument.…”

“…The purpose of the survey was to obtain information on the demographics (age, gender, highest degree, area of specialization associated with the highest degree) and the practice characteristics (practice setting, types of services provided, client age groups, theoretical orientation) of professional psychologists and psychological associates in Canada. In developing the survey instrument, a range of sources were consulted, including the American Psychological Association's PracticeNet (http://www.apapracticenet .net/introduction.asp) and previous surveys of the characteristics of professional psychologists in Canada and in the United States (e.g., Hunsley & Lefebvre, 1990;Norcross et al, 2005). Following pilot testing with eight psychologists, minor modifications were made to the instrument to ensure clarity of content in both English and French language versions of the survey instrument.…”

“…However, the most recent surveys documenting the general state of professional psychology in Canada were published more than 20 years ago (Hunsley & Lefebvre, 1990;Wamer, 1991). As a result, no current information is available on the personal and professional characteristics of those who provide psychological services in Canada, nor on the nature of the services they provide.…”

Clinical psychologists' views of the acceptability of paradoxical techniques.

“…By April 1989, 88 questionnaires had been returned, a response rate of 29.3%. Although this response rate is somewhat lower than that reported in other studies using vignettes (e.g., Haas, Malouf & Mayerson, 1988) this may have been due to the length of the questionnaire, which included many items necessary to the related survey of the practices of Canadian clinical psychologists (Hunsley & Lefebvre, 1990).…”