Factors influencing the theoretical orientations of early career psychologists

ABSTRACT

Objective

The theoretical orientation/s adopted by psychologists is the informing framework for understanding from which their practice is grounded. How early-career psychologists come to adopt the theoretical orientation/s they utilise in their applied therapeutic practice is unclear. This qualitative study explored the key influences on Australian early-career psychologists’ choice of theoretical orientations including the role of psychology higher education.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Australian early-career psychologists. Interviews focused on the broad influences of theoretical orientations and the impact of postgraduate education, with transcripts analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Participants discussed the importance of personal factors, training factors, clinical practice and professional factors, factors related to the stage in professional development, and limiting factors.

Conclusions

This study has described the key influences on Australian early-career psychologists’ choice of theoretical orientations. Findings highlight the need for psychology education programmes to increase the diversity in training on theoretical orientations.

Key Points

What is already known about this topic:

1. Theoretical orientations serve as the foundation to psychotherapeutic practice, through which psychologists come to understand and provide the interventions necessary to address the difficulties of their clients.

2. Consistent with the rest of the western world, eclecticism appears to be the most prevalent approach in Australia clinical practice, although the endorsement of cognitive-behavioural theoretical orientations also appears to be popular.

3. Early-career psychologists represent a unique demographic within the psychology profession, however limited research has examined the influences on their choice of theoretical orientations.

What this topic adds:

1. Participants reported that they were drawn to theoretical orientations which resonated with their personal experience, worldview and personality. The needs of their clients was also a fundamental influence.

2. Participants acknowledged the crucial role of postgraduate training, however many expressed that Australian psychology training programmes would benefit from diversifying training exposing them to different theoretical orientations.

3. Participants reported that their perceptions of theoretical orientations were particularly susceptible to the influence of external factors (i.e., supervisors, peers, colleagues and workplace) during the early-career phase.

KEYWORDS:

• Theoretical orientations
• early career
• psychologists
• postgraduate education
• clinical practice

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, EQ. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).