Some alligators in the room.

Abstract

Significant economic and interprofessional competitive challenges confront psychology's professional associations. In meeting these challenges effectively, it is argued that the profession must first insure that it is not hampering itself from within its own structures by internal and external insularity, unadaptive training models producing an inadequate supply of comprehensively trained graduates, and noninclusive entry to practice standards. Advocacy goals to increase access to psychological services are critically examined, and inclusion in public health programs such as Medicare considered. It is also suggested that for advocacy for increased access to psychology to have tangible results, structural changes to psychology's training models, consistent with supply needs and entry to practice requirements, are urgently required. Professional associations, which are the embodiment of our collective disciplinary consciousness, are the appropriate place to debate the structural foundation for psychology's future.

Canadian models of professional training: Past and future.

“…This form of a divided model of training, which arises from our profession's academic roots, is not seen in other professions that train at universities. As such, those working in these psychology departments must work within that faculty's culture and according to its requirements (Sexton, 2014). For example, the funding to support their students is often linked to the research funding of the faculty, understandably making the research productivity of their graduate students a priority.…”

“…This concern continues in Canadian Psychology a half-century later, as noted bySexton's (2014) question as to why it takes longer to train a professional psychologist than a family doctor or a dentist.…”