Current Trends in Theoretical Orientation of Psychologists: The Case of Quebec Clinicians

Abstract

Findings underline trends in Quebec clinical practice characterized by an increase in the number of psychologists identifying cognitive-behavioral approach as their primary self-reported theoretical orientation.

Conceptualizing Service-Related Trauma: Controversies, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Canadian Context

“…To a large extent, psychology training and practice have allied themselves with the medical-psychiatric paradigm, which in turn influences how professional psychologists understand, talk about, and relate to human suffering (Prilleltensky & Nelson, 2002). Although the medical-psychiatric paradigm has held a dominant position in professional psychology, alternative frameworks and orientations toward human suffering have been taken up within the field (Jaimes et al, 2015). Hence, a review of the range of perspectives among professional psychologists and among counselling psychology professionals specifically is warranted.…”

“…Several studies have revealed that Canadian counselling psychologists tend to identify with either one or an integration of the following orientations: psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural, existential-humanistic, feminist, postmodern, multicultural, and social justice (Gazzola et al, 2010;Jaimes et al, 2015;Ogunfowora & Drapeau, 2008;Sinacore et al, 2011). These differences may be attributed to multiple factors, including differences in graduate training and supervision, differences in workplace settings, and differences in context-bound views on psychological distress (Gazzola et al, 2010;Ogunfowora & Drapeau, 2008).…”

“…In addition to the controversies mentioned above surrounding the conceptualization of psychological trauma in professional psychology, counselling psychologists' responses to service-related trauma are also subject to external forces that may dictate the orientation they take toward treating trauma (Gazzola et al, 2010). For example, the Canadian military system and its intersection with the public mental health system are influenced primarily by insurance companies and by third-party payer requisites for professional practice, which stipulates that a provider must make a formal diagnosis of the client's concern, usually consistent with the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), and deliver empirically supported therapies (ESTs) to address said concerns (Jaimes et al, 2015). Consequently, there is an increasing demand for service providers who adhere to diagnostic models and provide ESTs (Ogunfowora & Drapeau, 2008).…”

The practice of psychotherapy in Quebec: What have we learned from clinicians, and where should we take it from here.

“…Further investigations into the practice of psychotherapy in the broader Canadian context are needed as the present data is focused on Quebec and may be difficult to translate to other settings. Quebec has a unique social and clinical context, with the most licensed psychologists in any province in Canada, a larger representation of those espousing a psychodynamic orientation (Jaimes, Larose-Hébert, & Moreau, 2015), lower psychotherapy fees compared with other provinces, and the requirement of functional bilingualism to become licensed. To gain a better understanding of independent practice across Canada, and attitudes toward favour-able models of government-funded mental health care, as well as any differences based on regional jurisdictions, further research is needed.…”