Psychologists' roles and opportunities in rehabilitation and recovery for serious mental illness: A survey of Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) clinical psychology training and doctoral education.

Abstract

The emergence of psychiatric rehabilitation and the recovery movement generate new and expanded roles for psychologists in services for people with serious mental illness (SMI). However, the proportion of psychologists working in SMI services today is substantially less than previous decades. This article reviews the roles of psychologists in various mental health systems and outlines the contributions that psychologists can make in implementing evidence based approaches for people with SMI. A survey of American Psychology Association (APA)-accredited Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) Clinical Psychology doctoral programs was conducted. The results of the survey indicate an increase, since the early 1990s, in clinical faculty with SMI interests, and suggest that many graduate programs provide opportunities for SMI-relevant research and practicum training. However, the survey also indicates a lack of coursework on topics relevant to SMI and a lack of coursework relevant to assuming administrative and leadership roles in the mental health system. Despite training opportunities in graduate school, production of new PhDs who choose the SMI field is unlikely to meet the demand. According to the present study, the limiting factor is not availability of training, but student career choice. The opportunities and challenges that psychologists face in SMI recovery-oriented service delivery are discussed.

Public psychology: A competency model for professional psychologists in community mental health.

“…In 1960, approximately half of all psychologists worked in CMH clinics and hospitals (Norcross, Karpiak, & Santoro, 2005). In contrast, current data indicate that professional psychologists are underrepresented in the public sector (Levant et al, 2001;Reddy et al, 2010;Roe et al, 2006;Shore, 1992). APA's, 2010 demographics showed that only .3% of Division 12 (clinical psychology), .7% of Division 17 (counseling psychology), and .1% of Division 16 (school psychologists) associates, members, and fellows identified as community psychologists (APA Center for Workforce Studies, 2010).…”

Enhancing graduate student training through collaborative research: Working and learning together in response to the gulf oil spill.

“…There is also a lack of course work in psychology training programs related to leadership roles within the mental health system (Reddy, Spaulding, Jansen, Menditto, & Pickett, 2010). Unfortunately, community mental health agencies continue to struggle with the provision of evidence-based services to diverse populations, which many believe highlights the need for psychologists to take on positions of leadership within these organizations (Chu et al, 2012a).…”

“…Finally, public health agencies can use collaborations with psychology graduate students as a tool for recruiting and training the next generation of public health workers (Chu et al, 2012a). These sorts of recruiting tools will likely be needed to meet the growing demand for psychologists in the mental health system (Reddy et al, 2010).…”

Emerging opportunities for psychologists: Joining consumers in the recovery-oriented care movement.

“…The field of psychology can take a leadership role in providing doctoral and postdoctoral education and training in recovery principles and practices. A recent survey suggests that in some doctoral training programs, students are already exposed to psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles (Reddy, Spaulding, Jansen, Menditto, & Pickett, 2010). Broad training in psychology (e.g., research methods, biological, cognitive, affective basis of behavior) as well as in core professional psychology skills (e.g., critical thinking, interviewing, evaluation) is fundamental to being an effective psychologist in a recovery-oriented environment of care.…”