Counseling psychology from 1971 to 1986: Perspective on and appraisal of current training emphases.

Abstract

Observers have speculated about changes in counseling psychology over the past decade. In this investigation we compared the perspectives of 1971 and 1986 directors of American Psychological Association-approved counseling programs on emphases given to various components of training and found no changes over the 15-year interval. The 1986 directors perceived current training as emphasizing applied and theoretical aspects of social-emotional and educational-vocational counseling, group work, and research skills. Although 1986 directors felt that their training programs' strengths rested on more traditional aspects of the counseling specialty, they perceived counseling students' interests as focused on other areas (e.g., marriage counseling). Implications for the identity of counseling psychology and training in the specialty are discussed.

What Have Surveys Taught Us About the Teaching and Practice of Psychological Assessment?

“…Clinical and counseling psychologists generally appear satisfied with the intellectual, objective personality, and projective assessment training they received during graduate school (Birk & Brooks, 1986;Walfish, Kaufrnan, 6r Kinder, 1980). Counseling psychology graduate students, however, seemingly want to receive even more preparation in projective techniques (Schneider et al, 1988). 7. Academic clinical psychologists believe projectives are on the decline, are not as important in psychological practice as they once used to be, and are not supported by research.…”

“…Regardless of specialty type (counseling or clinical) or level of degree (master's or doctoral), assessment is a critical component of the psychology training curriculum, and students receive exposure to various assessment methods during their programs (May & Scott, 1989;Piotrowski & Keller, 1983, 1984b, 1984cSchneider, Watkins, & Gelso, 1988;Shemberg & Keeley, 1970;Watkins & Campbell, 1989a;Watkins, Campbell, & Manus, 1990;Watkins, Schneider, Manus, & Hunton-Shoup, 1990).…”

The anticipated future of counselling psychology in the United States: A Delphi poll

“…Watkins (1993) noted, for example, that while the majority of counselling psychology programmes continue to offer coursework in vocational assessment, this 'curricular emphasis . seems to far outweigh students' interests in the area' (p. 110), a conclusion documented elsewhere in the literature as well (Fitzgerald and Osipow, 1986;Schneider et al, 1988). .…”

Trainee Multicultural Case Conceptualization Ability and Couples Therapy

“…The inclusion of CP trainees was carried out for two reasons. First, both training directors and students in American Psychological Association‐accredited (APA) CP programs had noted CP students’ extremely high interest in learning about and conducting marital and family counseling (Fitzgerald & Osipow, 1988; Schneider, Watkins, & Gelso, 1988). Second, approximately one‐quarter of all APA‐accredited CP programs offer some type of training in MFT, ranging from course work all the way through specialty practicum training in marriage and family therapy (Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs listserv communication, 2007).…”