Evidence-Based Mentoring Across the Educational Spectrum: Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

Mentoring across educational and training programs that prepare behavioral health care providers and related professionals is a critical topic and one that has been relatively neglected empirically. Articles in this special issue summarize extant literature on mentoring across several levels and contexts: undergraduate education, master’s level training, doctoral training (both PhD and PsyD), and internship and postdoctoral training. This introductory paper provides an overview of each contribution to the special issue, discusses the intended audience, and presents the issue as part of what should be an ongoing dialogue about best practices in mentoring. Overall, the special issue aims to raise and begin to address a number of significant questions related to where we are going as a field, who is equipped to move us in that direction, and how to mentor the next generations of those who will serve a variety of “clients.”