Master’s-level psychology training in substance use disorder treatment: One model for expanding the workforce.

Abstract

Terminal master's programs in health service psychology may provide targeted, and relative to doctoral study, briefer training to equip graduates to fill critical gaps in the substance use treatment workforce. Currently, other master's-level professionals (counselors, social workers) populate the field but typically lack advanced education in assessment and diagnosis of co-occurring disorders, scientific grounding in evidence-based practices and research, and psychopharmacology. We present a model for master's-level training in psychology with a substance use focus. Our program has operated for 24 years and makes graduates eligible for dual licensure to practice psychology at the master's level (licensed psychological associate) and to practice as a licensed clinical addictions specialist in the state. We provide an overview of the curriculum and data from 91 graduates, most of whom reported that they are licensed;, serving substance use populations; and employed in a wide variety of settings and roles, including supervisory ones. We present their views of the unique contributions made by master's-level trained psychologists in the substance use field in contrast to those of other master's-prepared providers. Although the program has helped to address critical psychology and substance use workforce needs regionally, rapid changes in licensing and availability of practice options for master's-level psychology graduates nationally present challenges. Widespread adoption and sustainability of this model would require advocacy and cooperation among American Psychological Association (APA) and other stakeholders who want to expand psychology's role in addressing this health care crisis. APA's accreditation of master's programs, if enacted, could help or detract from these efforts. Public Significance StatementMaster's-level programs in health service psychology and substance use treatment have the potential to address acute workforce needs in substance use treatment. This article describes the curriculum of one program and presents results of a survey of graduates, most of whom are working in the field. The rapidly changing face of master's-level training, licensing, titling, insurance reimbursement, and accreditation present challenges and opportunities for increasing psychology's presence in the addictions field.

The future of education and practice in health service psychology: A Delphi study.

“…), followed by schools and hospitals (APA, 2018). The convergence of these data suggests that a significant percentage of the predicted increase in the demand for psychologists may occur within settings that support integrated care (Eisman et al, 2018), though a range of other workplace forces is in play (MacKain & Noel, 2020).…”

“…The emphasis placed on the doctoral degree as definitional to the field, however, soon came to serve as the foreground against which subdoctoral training and practice became background issues. The definitional dilemma involved in the distinction between doctoral and subdoctoral contributors has continued to haunt the field for decades, and has remained a matter of unresolved urgency across the intervening years between then and now (Belar, 2006; MacKain & Noel, 2020). For decades, HSP has been referred to as a “doctoral profession”; a profession dedicated to its core moorings in science with its tandem commitments to the generation and translation of new knowledge into a broad range of potential applications (Bray, 2011).…”

Education and training in substance use disorders: A roadmap to move forward.

“…Burrow-Sánchez, Martin, and Taylor (2020) describe how this persistent gap between health service psychologists with training in addiction and individuals in need of SUD treatment is only likely to worsen through 2025 as rates of addiction increase. MacKain and Noel (2020) articulate that one way to make up the shortage in addiction-trained therapists is to have an addiction track for master’s-level providers. We find this idea an exciting possibility.…”

“…In turn, the number of university faculty who feel competent to supervise cases where SUD is a focus (or in which substance use is problematic but not the primary focus of treatment) is limited, and as a result, such cases may often be referred to other specialty clinics. Of importance, nearly all of the supervisors at the training sites in the model program described in MacKain and Noel (2020) are licensed clinical addictions specialists. Currently this is far from reality for most training programs.…”

Moving the needle to promote education and training in substance use disorders and addictions: Special issue introduction.

“…Throughout the issue, authors provide compelling arguments and illuminating summaries of the need for HSP involvement in SUD training and the consistency of HSP goals, values, and competencies with more traditional SUD treatment approaches, including addictions counseling, master’s-level training, and 12-step approaches (Breuninger et al, 2020; Burrow-Sánchez, Martin, & Taylor, 2020; MacKain & Noel, 2020; Martin, Cimini, Longo, Sawyer, & Ertl, 2020). Several articles describe model programs and outcome data supporting training in service delivery and research across doctoral and internship levels, often alongside other professions (Davis, 2020; Martin et al, 2020; McCarty, McDowell, Sher, & McCarthy, 2020; McCrady, Witkiewitz, Venner, & Fokas, 2020; Schumacher, Coffey, Williams, Madson, & McAfee, 2020).…”