Counseling PsychologyCounseling Psychology

An IntroductionAn Introduction

Welcome to Psych 540Welcome to Psych 540

Archival Description of Counseling Archival Description of Counseling Psychology APA (TCP, 1999) Psychology APA (TCP, 1999)

Within the focus of lifespan development, we focus on:Within the focus of lifespan development, we focus on:– Healthy aspects and strengths of the client (individual, couple, Healthy aspects and strengths of the client (individual, couple,

family, group, system, organization), environmental/situational family, group, system, organization), environmental/situational influences (context of culture, gender, and lifestyle issues), and the influences (context of culture, gender, and lifestyle issues), and the role of career and vocation on individual development and role of career and vocation on individual development and functioning. functioning.

We help people with:We help people with:– Physical, emotional, and mental disorders improve well-being, Physical, emotional, and mental disorders improve well-being,

alleviate distress and maladjustment, and resolve crises alleviate distress and maladjustment, and resolve crises Intervene in emotions, behaviors, cognitions Intervene in emotions, behaviors, cognitions Interventions may be preventative, skill-enhancing, or Interventions may be preventative, skill-enhancing, or

remedial; short-term or longer-term remedial; short-term or longer-term Base our core knowledge on general psychology; doctoral Base our core knowledge on general psychology; doctoral

or postdoctoral training requiredor postdoctoral training required

Three Central RolesThree Central Roles Remedial Remedial

Preventative Preventative

Educative-Developmental Educative-Developmental

Most activities of counseling Most activities of counseling psychologists combine all three.psychologists combine all three.

UNIFYING THEMES UNIFYING THEMES of Counseling Psychologyof Counseling Psychology

Focus on intact personalitiesFocus on intact personalities Focus on people’s strengths, assets, and Focus on people’s strengths, assets, and

positive mental healthpositive mental health Relatively brief interventionsRelatively brief interventions Emphasis on person-environment Emphasis on person-environment

interactionsinteractions Emphasis on educational & career Emphasis on educational & career

developmentdevelopment

Intact PersonalitiesIntact Personalities – Closer to continuum of higher functioning-Closer to continuum of higher functioning-

neurotic than psychotic.neurotic than psychotic. However, increase in working with clients with more However, increase in working with clients with more

severe mental illness.severe mental illness.

Focus on StrengthsFocus on Strengths– Emphasis on HYGIOLOGY rather than Emphasis on HYGIOLOGY rather than

PSYCHOPATHOLOGYPSYCHOPATHOLOGY– Regardless of degree of disturbanceRegardless of degree of disturbance– Emphasis on optimism, assets, positive mental Emphasis on optimism, assets, positive mental

health, coping mechanisms, and belief in health, coping mechanisms, and belief in positive change.positive change.

Brief InterventionsBrief Interventions – 12 – 15 sessions is considered brief12 – 15 sessions is considered brief– Counseling and psychotherapy exist on a Counseling and psychotherapy exist on a

continuum:continuum: Counseling end: Educative, addresses situational Counseling end: Educative, addresses situational

problems, problem-solving at a conscious level.problems, problem-solving at a conscious level. Psychotherapy end: Personality reconstruction, Psychotherapy end: Personality reconstruction,

subconscious processessubconscious processes

Person-Environment InteractionsPerson-Environment Interactions– Considers the role of context on people’s lives.Considers the role of context on people’s lives.– Important in considering multicultural and Important in considering multicultural and

diversity issues with clients.diversity issues with clients.

Educational and Career DevelopmentEducational and Career Development– For some, this is the heart of counseling For some, this is the heart of counseling

psychology, and one of its foundations.psychology, and one of its foundations.– Training in career counseling and vocational Training in career counseling and vocational

psychology is part of graduate programs in psychology is part of graduate programs in counseling psychology.counseling psychology.

Counseling Psychology IdentityCounseling Psychology Identity

Has been “plagued or blessed” by reoccurring Has been “plagued or blessed” by reoccurring identity crises (Richardson & Patton, 1992):identity crises (Richardson & Patton, 1992):– Considered plagued by those who wish the field had a Considered plagued by those who wish the field had a

more fixed or immutable identitymore fixed or immutable identity– Considered blessed by those that are appreciative of Considered blessed by those that are appreciative of

the enormous changes that have occurred in the history the enormous changes that have occurred in the history of counseling psychology.of counseling psychology.

Roles and themes of Counseling Psychology are Roles and themes of Counseling Psychology are central tendencies, but there is great variability.central tendencies, but there is great variability.

Training in Counseling PsychologyTraining in Counseling Psychology

5-6 years graduate study (Master’s & Ph.D.)5-6 years graduate study (Master’s & Ph.D.) Full-time, one-year internship in practiceFull-time, one-year internship in practice Doctoral dissertationDoctoral dissertation Programs located in Colleges of Education Programs located in Colleges of Education

and Departments of Psychologyand Departments of Psychology Scientist-practitioner model of trainingScientist-practitioner model of training Best to seek APA-accredited programsBest to seek APA-accredited programs

Why APA-Accredited Programs?Why APA-Accredited Programs?

Easier to become licensed as a Easier to become licensed as a psychologist.psychologist.

Increase range of eligible employment Increase range of eligible employment opportunities.opportunities.

Determines membership in some Determines membership in some professional organizations.professional organizations.

May determine if clients’ insurance company May determine if clients’ insurance company will reimburse for services.will reimburse for services.

Council of Counseling Psychology Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs Survey (CCPTP; 2002):Training Programs Survey (CCPTP; 2002):

Site: Site: http://http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/ccptpwww.psychology.iastate.edu/ccptp//

Internship Placements for 2001-2002:Internship Placements for 2001-2002:– College Counseling CentersCollege Counseling Centers 54%54%– Veteran’s Administration Veteran’s Administration

Medical Centers (VAMC)Medical Centers (VAMC) 13%13%– General HospitalsGeneral Hospitals 11%11%– Community Mental Health CentersCommunity Mental Health Centers 10%10%

Employment Settings of Recent Employment Settings of Recent GraduatesGraduates

Educational Settings:Educational Settings:– University Counseling CentersUniversity Counseling Centers 29%29%– University Psychology Dept.University Psychology Dept. 11%11%– University Education Dept.University Education Dept. 4%4%– Medical SchoolMedical School 4%4%– University AdministrationUniversity Administration 2%2%

Human Service Settings:Human Service Settings:– Group Medical/Psychiatric PracticeGroup Medical/Psychiatric Practice 9%9%– VAMCVAMC 6%6%– Psychiatric HospitalPsychiatric Hospital 5%5%– Private PracticePrivate Practice 3%3%– General HospitalGeneral Hospital 3%3%

Other Settings:Other Settings:– MilitaryMilitary 3%3%– Private Research OrganizationPrivate Research Organization 2%2%– Consulting FirmConsulting Firm 1%1%– Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice 1%1%

Changes in Employment PatternsChanges in Employment Patterns

Steady decline in percentage of CP’s in VA Steady decline in percentage of CP’s in VA medical centers, which had historically been a medical centers, which had historically been a major employer.major employer.

Increase in CP’s in independent practiceIncrease in CP’s in independent practice Greater percentage in variety of counseling Greater percentage in variety of counseling

internventionsinternventions Substantial increase of CP’s calling their work Substantial increase of CP’s calling their work

“psychotherapy.”“psychotherapy.” Centrality of vocational/career counseling has Centrality of vocational/career counseling has

come into question.come into question. Research is as strong as ever.Research is as strong as ever.

Distinctiveness and OverlapDistinctiveness and Overlap

Applied PsychologyApplied Psychology: Counseling, Clinical, : Counseling, Clinical, Industrial/Organizational, School, & Industrial/Organizational, School, & CommunityCommunity

Each seeks to “apply” principles of Each seeks to “apply” principles of psychology to human behavior.psychology to human behavior.

Rely on similar training and educationRely on similar training and education Use similar assessments and interventionsUse similar assessments and interventions Have distinctive emphases or fociHave distinctive emphases or foci

Counseling Psychology

Industrial/ Organizational

School

Clinical

Community

Areas of Overlap with Counseling Areas of Overlap with Counseling PsychologyPsychology

ClinicalClinical: Counseling and therapy: Counseling and therapy CommunityCommunity: Person-environment : Person-environment

interactionsinteractions SchoolSchool: Occurs if counseling psychologists : Occurs if counseling psychologists

work in school settingswork in school settings I/OI/O:: Area of career and vocational Area of career and vocational

development.development.

Other Related Fields Outside of Other Related Fields Outside of PsychologyPsychology

All can conduct counseling or therapyAll can conduct counseling or therapy Psychiatric Social WorkersPsychiatric Social Workers

– MSW: 2 year Master’s degreeMSW: 2 year Master’s degree

PsychiatristsPsychiatrists– MD’s; medical school, prescribe medicationMD’s; medical school, prescribe medication

Counseling ProfessionalsCounseling Professionals– 2 year Master’s degree to become licensed2 year Master’s degree to become licensed– Very similar in values to counseling psychologyVery similar in values to counseling psychology

Resources for More Career Information Resources for More Career Information about Counseling Psychologyabout Counseling Psychology

Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) of Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) of APA:APA:– http://www.div17.org/http://www.div17.org/

Student Affiliate Group (SAG) of Div. 17Student Affiliate Group (SAG) of Div. 17– http://www3.uakron.edu/sagweb/http://www3.uakron.edu/sagweb/

Accredited Programs in Counseling Psychology:Accredited Programs in Counseling Psychology:– http://http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/doctoral.htmlwww.apa.org/ed/accreditation/doctoral.html

The Counseling PsychologistThe Counseling Psychologist journal: journal:– http://www.div17.org/tcp/http://www.div17.org/tcp/