Integrating Internationalization in Counseling Psychology Training Programs

Abstract

Previous scholars have made specific suggestions regarding what counseling psychology training programs can do to help future psychologists become more cross-culturally aware. This article addresses the questions of whether and how U.S. counseling psychology training programs are currently employing these suggestions. Forty-seven American Psychological Associationaccredited counseling psychology programs responded (67% response rate) to a survey designed to assess the availability of international training opportunities to graduate students in counseling psychology. In-depth interviews were also conducted with faculty members from 10 programs. Several ideas emerged from the data, including the role of students and the most common obstacles for developing an international perspective. Specific examples of programs' international activities are provided, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

An overview of internationalization and its relevance for school and educational psychology

“…and the role of globalization in cross‐cultural exchanges of ideas and information (e.g., how is psychological theory and scholarship developed, disseminated, and/or adapted in cross‐cultural contexts?). However, like other disciplines in the social sciences, concepts and theories of internationalization within psychology extend well beyond globalization (Begeny, ; Leung et al., ); and the scholarship on this topic, especially over the past 5–10 years, has offered many valuable perspectives (e.g., Arfken, ; Gerstein, Heppner, Ægisdóttir, Leung, & Norsworthy, ; Spilka & Dobson, ; van de Vijver, ), a small but increasing number of empirical studies (e.g., Aleksandrova‐Howell, Abramson, & Craig, ; Arnett, ; Begeny, Levy, Hida, & Norwalk, ; Lo Bianco, Almeida, Koller, & Paiva, ; Pieterse, Fang, & Evans, ; Turner‐Essel & Waehler, ), and a range of descriptions and definitions (Gerstein, Heppner, Ægisdóttir, Leung, & Norsworthy, ).…”

“…To further describe some of the core features of internationalization that have been discussed within psychology, it is important to highlight the scholarship coming from the subdiscipline that, at least among the applied fields of psychology, has arguably produced the most literature on the topic. Specifically, professionals in counseling psychology have been regularly publishing scholarship about internationalization within their subdiscipline for at least 15 years (e.g., Consoli, Bullock, & Consoli, ; Gerstein et al., ; Leong & Ponterotto, ; Marsella & Pedersen, ; Turner‐Essel & Waehler, ). Although descriptions and definitions of internationalization within counseling psychology still differ, some overlap exists and each work has helped to enhance understanding about the topic.…”

“…Of course, this same benefit applies to developing and evaluating other evidence‐based tools and practices that psychology researchers and practitioners need, such as psychological or educational assessments (e.g., Dang, Weiss, Trung, & Ho, ). Many have also described how internationalization strengthens researchers’ and practitioners’ professional development in locations around the globe, including but not limited to their university training (e.g., Turner‐Essel & Waehler, ). This arguably helps to enhance professionals’ intercultural competence—or critical consciousness—so they are better able to meet challenges (domestically or internationally) that arise within a globalized society (Lanfranchi, ; Ng, Choudhuri, Noonan, & Ceballos, ).…”

Experiences of Asian psychologists and counselors trained in the USA: an exploratory study

“…Because of this situation, it is uncertain how effective current counseling curricula are in preparing international students for practice in their home countries. In response, there have been calls to internationalize counseling psychology (Hurley et al 2013;Leong and Ponterotto 2003;Leong and Blustein 2000;Turner-Essel and Waehler 2009) and for psychology to attain global relevance (Kogan 2000;Marsella 1998). The special edition of The Counseling Psychologist (volume 31, number 4, 2003) is one example of increasing attention to the relevance of counseling psychology, as it is researched and practiced in the USA, to other global contexts.…”

International Education and Service Learning

“…The counseling psychology literature offers a number of suggestions regarding how to incorporate training opportunities for internationalizing programs, including international training experiences domestically and abroad, opportunities to travel to international conferences and engage in international research, inviting international guest speakers to their institution, and incorporating reading materials from other countries (Leong & Ponterotto, 2003;Turner-Essel & Waehler, 2009). In the United States, multicultural and social justice approaches to mental health services are grounded in the ideals of democracy, equity, and self-determination (Graham, 1999).…”