Training for the practice of clinical psychology

Abstract

Clinical psychologists' views on which skills are important for professional practice and where these skills should receive emphasis in training were investigated. One hundred and forty-five members of the college of clinical psychology returned the questionnaire, which requested participants to rate the importance to clinical practice of skills in the domains of research, assessment, clinical intervention, interpersonal communication, and professional practice. All the skills were generally rated as important, and the majority of participants indicated that primary emphasis should occur in postgraduate level formal training. Clinical orientation was found to have some systematic influence on the importance ratings of skills within the intervention domain. The practice and training implications of these findings are discussed.