Current issues in counseling psychology: Entitlement, education, and identity confusion.

Abstract

Counseling psychology is identified as being in its adolescence and as suffering the typical adolescent malaise of identity confusion. Four main components are identified as contributing to this confusion. First, the settings in which counseling psychologists are employed and the clientele that they serve have greatly expanded during the past 20 years. Second, a number of philosophical identity preferences may be determined, with some writers favoring a merger into a general field of "professional psychology." Third, a variety of education and training dilemmas are apparent, including extent of training (master's vs. doctoral) and type of degree attained (PsyD vs. PhD). Finally, the battle for credentialing and reimbursement is discussed, with reference to licensure, National Register listing, and third-party reimbursement. Suggestions for the resolution of the identity conflict are outlined.

Contemporary issues in counseling psychology: A selected review.

“…In accordance with counseling psychology's efforts to struggle with contemporary issues, I provide an overview of the identity issue and related issues now affecting the specialty. This overview complements and updates previous issue papers (Domke, 1982; Mills, 1984; Schmidt & Meara, 1984) by drawing on a number of pertinent materials that have appeared in the last few years. This overview, which is based on my examinations and readings of the literature in counseling psychology, also provides a personal perspective on several issues that still confront counseling psychology.…”

“…On Changes in Employment Setting/Clientele Human services and counseling center settings. As Domke (1982) noted, "one factor that reflects the current adolescent confusion of counseling psychology relates to the expanding employment marketplace and the concomitant clientele served by psychologists" (p. 859). Traditionally, from 50% to 70% of counseling psychologists have been employed in higher education settings (Gates, 1970;Cates & Dawson, 1971;Goldschmitt, Tipton, & Wiggins, 1981;Krauskopf, Thoreson, & McAleer, 1973;Samler, 1964).…”

“…Moreover, numerous doctoral programs in counseling and guidance have been modified to render them counseling psychology programs. The departments in which these programs are housed have changed their names to include the word psychology (Domke, 1982).…”

“…Such questions as “Who are we?” “Where do we work?” and “What do we do?” have been asked now for almost three decades (Fitzgerald & Osipow, 1986; Samler, 1964; Yamamoto, 1963). Because of this concern over identity, counseling psychology has been characterized as struggling with the Sturm und Drang of adolescence (Domke, 1982; Larson, 1982). Such adolescent struggle seems to be further reflected in dialogues appearing in recent counseling psychology materials (Lent, 1986; Sprinthall, 1986).…”

Required skills and training needs of recent counseling psychology graduates.

“…Comparisons between selected subgroups of the sample revealed few significant differences. Although overall discrepancies between job needs and training needs were moderate, several recommendations were derived from the data.Counseling psychologists have recently been giving notable attention to issues of identity, entitlement, and future directions (Domke, 1982;Fretz, 1977;Kagan, 1982;King & Seymour, 1982). Central to the discussions of identity and future directions is the area of training.…”