Sharing wisdom: Challenges, benefits, and developmental path to becoming a successful therapist-researcher

Abstract

The scientist-practitioner model encourages counseling psychologists to integrate research and psychotherapy practice professional roles, but knowledge about how professionals integrate clinical and research roles is limited. In addition, we know little about how counseling psychologists specifically integrate these roles. The current study utilizes a consensual qualitative research approach to analyze a discussion among prominent counseling psychologist therapist-researchers about how they have integrated these roles within their careers. Results revealed benefits and challenges faced by therapist-researchers. In addition, domains identified included the process and development of becoming a therapist-researcher, comparisons among each professional skill, and beliefs about being a therapist-researcher. General and typical themes articulated by the sample included: the idea that doing research iteratively informs clinical work and vice versa, that institutions can and should support integrating research and practice, and that doing research and being a clinician positively affect each other. Future directions for research and limitations of the data are included.

Keywords:

• Scientist-practitioners
• therapist-researchers
• consensual qualitative research
• career integration
• counseling psychology careers

Acknowledgements

The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.