Psychological services in rehabilitation

Abstract

This paper examines the role of the psychologist in rehabilitation settings. The results are reported of a survey of III health professionals employed in Victorian rehabilitation settings. Information was collected concerning the perceived appropriateness of psychologists taking primary responsibility for twenty key rehabilitation activities as well as data concerning which professional group(s) were actually responsible for performing these activities in the respondents' work places. In addition, projections were elicited for staffing requirements and involvement in the future provision of psychological services over a five-year period.

The major findings of the survey were: (1) Psychologists were perceived by other rehabilitation professionals as legitimate members of the rehabilitation team; (2) Most respondents predicted an increase in the requirement for and involvement of staff in providing psychological services; (3) Despite the positive tenor of these attitudes, many services of a psychological nature are currently provided by other health professionals, notably doctors and occupational therapists; and (4) The traditional areas of psychologist' involvement in rehabilitation, namely I.Q. and personality assessment, were viewed as the most appropriate activities for psychologists to undertake. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for Australian psychologists.