Theoretical Orientations and Work Settings of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: A Current Perspective

Questionnaires returned by 387 American Psychological Association Division 12 (Clinical) and Division 17 (Counseling) members were analyzed in terms of the theoretical orientations and work settings of the respondents. Comparisons by division affiliation and age were made. Overall, more than three fourths of the sample drew from at least two theoretical orientations, and more than half of the respondents reported at least two work settings. Clinical psychologists seem to be undergoing a shift in terms of preferred theoretical orientation; younger members heavily preferred behavioral approaches, whereas older members preferred psychodynamic approaches. Younger counseling psychologists, meanwhile, appeared to be more interested in private practice than did their older colleagues, who tended to prefer academic and agency settings. These findings suggest that clinical and counseling psychology are dissimilar enough to argue against merger.