Envisioning and accessing new roles for professional psychology.

Abstract

To support psychology's continued evolution as a profession, it is important to conceptualize roles that psychologists can play in the future and create pathways for developing and accessing them. This article considers a variety of roles that may become central to professional psychology in the future. Important opportunities appear to exist in the areas of psychological management of health and disease, serious mental illness, and public policy. Psychology faces both internal and external barriers to accessing these roles in larger numbers. Strategies related to public education, policy and advocacy, marketing, and training are recommended for overcoming them. RONALD F. LEVANT received his EdD in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard University in 1973. He has been a clinician in independent practice, a clinical supervisor in hospital settings, a clinical and academic administrator, and an academic faculty member. He is currently dean and professor at the Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, and recording secretary of the American Psychological Association (APA). GEOFFREY M. REED received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1989. He is currently assistant executive director for professional development in the APA Practice Directorate, where his work focuses on the development and implementation of programs related to expanding opportunities for professional psychology. STEPHEN A. RAGUSEA received his PsyD in clinical psychology from Baylor University in 1980. He has taught family psychology at Pennsylvania State University and Harvard Medical School. He currently works as a clinical psychologist at the Child, Adult and Family Psychological Center in State College, PA. MARIE DlCowDEN received her PhD in clinical psychology from George Washington University in 1981. She is past president of Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) of APA.

The Pennsylvania Practice Research Network and future possibilities for clinically meaningful and scientifically rigorous psychotherapy effectiveness research.

“…APA could provide leadership in helping state PRNs to organize, facilitating meetings among state PRNs, providing consultations for assessment and design issues, and contributing to the organization and management of a national database. It is noteworthy that the final report of an APA task force (Levant et al, 1999) on envisioning, identifying, and accessing new professional roles specifically recommended that “we seek ways to encourage scientists to work with practitioners to improve the documentation of long‐term effectiveness of our interventions across the range of practice settings… . One model for this may be the practice research network, such as the one that has been launched by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association” (p. 18).…”

Overcoming Barriers to Increase the Contribution of Clinical Psychologists to Work With Persons With Severe Mental Illness.

“…These include developing and conducting functional assessments; studying the reliability and validity of diagnostic categories; developing illness management and behavioral techniques to reduce stress and increase medication adherence, coping and educational programs; and developing, implementing, and evaluating EBPs (many of these contributions are summarized in Smith et al, 1993). Despite these important achievements and the fact that several single psychologists have made major contributions to this emerging field (often referred to as psychiatric rehabilitation), most agree that only a small proportion of clinical psychologists choose and work with persons with SMI (Levant et al, 2001; Rollins & Bond, 2001). Supporting this view are national survey findings.…”

Public psychology: A competency model for professional psychologists in community mental health.

“…In 1960, approximately half of all psychologists worked in CMH clinics and hospitals (Norcross, Karpiak, & Santoro, 2005). In contrast, current data indicate that professional psychologists are underrepresented in the public sector (Levant et al, 2001;Reddy et al, 2010;Roe et al, 2006;Shore, 1992). APA's, 2010 demographics showed that only .3% of Division 12 (clinical psychology), .7% of Division 17 (counseling psychology), and .1% of Division 16 (school psychologists) associates, members, and fellows identified as community psychologists (APA Center for Workforce Studies, 2010).…”