Defining Unique Competencies in Counseling Health Psychology

ICPCWorking Group

March 7 & 8, 2008

Working Group Members

• Task Group Leaders– Donald R. Nicholas• Ball State University

– Sara Maltzman• San Diego County Child Welfare Services

– Nicole Borges• Wright State Univ., School of Medicine

– Cynthia McRae• University of Denver

Task Group #1 - Populations Served

• Nazar Seyala

• Eric Lester

• Sharalyn Jordan

• Nora Keenan

• Tamara Ulysse

Task Group #2 - Problems Addressed

• Natalie Hansen

• Annette Cluck

• Meris Williams

• Matt Graham

• Sarah Jenkins

Task Group #3 - Procedures or Theories Used

• Larra Petersen• Timothy Richel• Christa Schmidt• Donell Barnett

Task Group #4 - Settings-Systems-Contexts

• John Meteer• Deb Bonitz• Stephanie Bauman

Major Issues Discussed

• Unique competencies of Counseling Health Psychologists as guided by the Competency Cube Model for professional psychology (Rodolfa, et al., 2005)– Manner in which core counseling psychology competencies can

be represented in health psychology– Parameters of practice (settings, populations served,

procedures utilized, problems addressed) unique to the Counseling Health Psychologist were used to guide the work of 4 task groups

Major Issues Discussed

• Task groups were asked to– discuss– identify– define . . . .unique competencies of a counseling

health psychologist

• Consider these competencies in relation to the Foundational and Functional Competencies of the Competency Cube

Goals/Outcomes for Future

• Each of the 4 task groups wrote preliminary drafts of – knowledge competencies– functional competencies unique to the counseling health

psychologist

• Competencies incorporated unique emphases of counseling psychology such as– normative, strength-based approaches– multiculturalism– role of work/vocation– developmental context

Next Steps & Opportunities for Involvement

• Synthesis of 4 task groups identified competencies

• Editing and Clarification of competencies• Distribution of initial drafts to other key

potential contributors

Next Steps & Opportunities for Involvement

• Incorporation of these competencies within the deliberations of CCHPTP - Counsel of Clinical Health Psychology Training Programs

• Consider development of competency benchmarks and training models

Contact Information for Getting Involved

• Donald R. Nicholas– Ball State University– dnichola@bsu.edu

• Sara Maltzman– San Diego County Child Welfare Services– smaltzman@cox.net– Nicole Borges

• Wright State– Cynthia McRae

• University of Denver