Introduction to a special issue on clinician–researchers: a career engaged in both therapy research and practice¹

¹While there are clinician–researchers outside of psychology (e.g. social workers, counselors, physicians) the emphasis of this special issue is on applied psychologists because: (1) applied psychologists are professionals specifically trained in both the provision of clinical services and the production of research, (2) it is the model of training with which I am most familiar, and (3) it is the focus of this journal.

Abstract

This special issue is devoted to understanding the experiences of professionals who both conduct therapy research and provide psychotherapy. To introduce this special issue, I first provide a brief overview of the potential significance of this topic, including my personal interest in this type of career, and the genesis of this special issue. Next, I address the prevalence of this kind of career among psychologists. I then discuss each of the six papers presented in this special issue, including salient themes connecting these authors’ works. Finally, informed by this scholarship and the research of others, I present a model for helping to conceptualize the various ways of being a clinician–researcher and conclude with a list of key points of learning, including recommendations for future inquiry.

Keywords:

• Psychotherapy
• process and outcome
• career
• clinician
• research
• therapist

Notes

¹ While there are clinician–researchers outside of psychology (e.g. social workers, counselors, physicians) the emphasis of this special issue is on applied psychologists because: (1) applied psychologists are professionals specifically trained in both the provision of clinical services and the production of research, (2) it is the model of training with which I am most familiar, and (3) it is the focus of this journal.