How special are the specialties? Workplace settings in counseling and clinical psychology in the United States

Abstract

How special are the specialties? Although clinical and counseling psychology each have distinctive origins, past research suggests their potential convergence across time. In a survey of 5666 clinical and counseling psychologists, the similarities and differences between their workplace settings were examined during early-, mid-, and late-career phases to explore the distinctiveness of the two specialties. Overall, clinical and counseling psychologists reported markedly similar workplace settings. However, some significant differences remained; a greater proportion of counseling psychologists reported working in counseling centers, while a greater proportion of clinical psychologists reported working in medical settings. In addition, during late-career, substantially more counseling and clinical psychologists worked in independent practice contexts than in community mental health centers, medical settings, academia, or university counseling centers. Findings are discussed in relation to the ongoing distinctiveness of the two specialties and the implications of this for training and service in the field of professional psychology. IntroductionRecognized as distinct specialties by the American Psychological Association, clinical and counseling psychology each have distinct histories, intersecting applications, and longstanding concerns regarding their continuing, or diminishing, differences. This article explores these issues and examines the contemporary similarities and differences between these two specialties as reflected in their workplace settings. Workplace settings are examined at early, mid, and late career in order to determine whether differences vary by cohort in a way that might reflect either on their enduring or diminishing differences over time.

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