A history of Division 13 (Consulting Psychology).

Abstract

This chapter reviews the vicissitudes of the evolution of the Division of Consulting Psychology from the early antecedents in 1915 through 1995.The material reviews a limited and short-lived existence of a division of consulting psychology in the American Psychological Association (APA) in the 1920s, a nearly 20-year period when there was no group called "consulting psychologists" within the APA, and developments since the restructuring of the APA and the establishment of divisions in 1946. Uncertainty and lack of agreement about the definition of consultation is noted, as is the ability of the membership and executive board to tolerate ambiguity in that matter. A provisional definition that probably would be accepted by a majority of the membership is as follows:A consulting psychologist is one who has received recognition as an expert in one or more areas and who provides assistance to individuals Some of the material in this chapter was taken from an earlier history of the division by the author that was printed in the division's journal (Rigby, 1992) and described much earlier in the division's newsletter (Rigby, 1973a(Rigby, , 1973b, 1 9 7 3 ~) .Other information was obtained from division newsletters, correspondence, and other archival materials. Some contributions came from other APA journals and from books, as noted in -the references and the text.

A history of Division 13 initiatives on education and training in consulting psychology.

“…The history of Division 13 (Division of Consulting Psychology) began with a charge from the American Psychological Association (APA) governance and leaders to identify the competencies of consulting psychologists (Rigby, 1996). The construct validity of the quest sustained consulting psychology through several survival struggles, reinforcing the power of Division 13's figure–ground emphasis on so-called process consulting (Harper, 1992).…”

“…Within 2 years, the work of the division bogged down in discussions about certifications at lower levels and about mechanisms for dealing with unprofessional conduct. In 1927, APA deleted Article XI from the bylaws, effecting the abandonment of the Division of Consulting Psychology (Rigby, 1996).…”

“…ACP then joined with the APA Clinical Section to create the American Association of Applied Psychology (AAAP). In a mood that would be replicated in reverse by science-oriented psychologists in the 1980s, clinically oriented psychologists “felt strongly that APA was unwilling to give sufficient recognition and support to applied psychology” (Rigby, 1996, p. 6).…”

“…Also during the mid-1960s, the division merged with—or acquired the members of—a group organized outside of APA called Psychologists in Private Practice (PPP). As it evolved, the cultures, defined by Rigby (1996, p. 8) as “long range perspectives and goals,” of the two groups were incompatible. In 1965, Division 13 membership voted to retain the name Consulting Psychology and to not make changes in division activities.…”

“…The challenge–legacy stands revitalized by latter-day division members. Guidelines for the PhD in consulting psychology, especially if abetted by completion of the division's committee work on the APA CRSPPP proficiency application and ABPP examination program, may mean that in 2020—a year many are enjoying using as a future date for projections—Division 13 leaders will be able to announce that, at last, after a hundred years of refinement, there is a realistic way to certify that consulting psychology is practiced by well-qualified “psychological examiners and other psychological experts” (Rigby, 1996, p. 3).…”