David N. Dixon

Training and Accreditation in Counseling Psychology

The training and accreditation section of the Third National Conference for Counseling Psychology addressed the following issues: (a) models of training and curriculum, (b) context of training, (c) cultural diversity, (d) identity and accreditation, (e) practicum and internship, and (f) career development and employment. This report presents the major components of these discussions and summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of the participants. Many of the principles articulated at the Northwestern and Greyston conferences are reaffirmed. The role, criteria, and purposes of APA accreditation are endorsed. The division leadership is encouraged to promote counseling psychology and the career development of counseling psychologists.

Is Giftedness Socially Stigmatizing? The Impact of High Achievement on Social Interactions

Interpersonal and emotional difficulties of gifted adolescents have been well documented; however, the relational dynamics that lead to such difficulties are less well understood. Following ideas posited by researchers such as Coleman and Cross (1988), the current study attempted to examine the “social stigma of giftedness” and the management of this stigma. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to explore social experiences of students at the Indiana Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Humanities. Perceptions of cliques and how social interactions at the Academy differed from regular high schools were also addressed. Possible hypotheses regarding how these students used information management strategies to deal with the stigma associated with giftedness are explored.

Spirituality and the 12 Steps of Substance Abuse Recovery

Numerous treatment modalities incorporate spirituality as an important part of treatment. The 12-step program is one such program which claims to enhance ones spirituality, yet empirical support is limited. This preliminary study compared clients in 12-step outpatient programs to clients in non-12-step outpatient programs to assess the programs’ impact on spirituality. From scores on the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, no significant differences between 12-step programs and non-12-step programs were found, yet both treatments were found to lead to a significant increase over time of client spirituality. Individuals who prefer programs not based on the 12 steps may still experience an increase in their spirituality. Since participants in both treatment groups experienced a significant increase in spirituality, further support is found for the presence of spirituality in all clients. This finding supports the appropriateness of addressing spirituality openly in treatment.

... until careers do us part: Vocational and marital satisfaction in the dual-career commuter marriage

The first purpose of this study was to identify significant differences between the dual-career couple whose work requires a geographic separation and the dual-career couple whose work allows them to maintain one residence. Specific comparisons included general marital satisfaction, use of parallel communication, attributional patterns, and general vocational satisfaction. The second purpose of this study was to identify variables that predict vocational and marital satisfaction for the commuting and non-commuting couples. The sample consisted of 55 commuters and 55 non-commuters. Instruments utilized were the Marital Satisfaction Inventory, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, Relationship Style Inventory, and two instruments designed for the study. There were no differences between commuters and non-commuters or between men and women on a global measure of marital satisfaction. Commuters were more dissatisfied with time spent together and with affectional communication. Commuters were more non-traditional in their perceptions of marital and parental roles. Non-commuters had a higher proportion of parallel communications. There were no differences on attribution measures or on global vocational satisfaction. Marital satisfaction was best predicted by parallel communication for both groups; however, there was a much stronger relationship for commuters. Vocational satisfaction for both groups was predicted by satisfaction with job security. Counseling strategies for use with problems faced by commuters are discussed.

Worldview and Health Promoting Behavior: A Causal Model

The present study investigated the manner in which Peppers (1942) worldview theory relates to health promoting behavior. A sample of 259 subjects completed a battery of inventories measuring worldview, health promoting behavior (HPB), social class, and sex. The data were analyzed by means of structural equation modeling using the statistical program for the social sciences (SPSS) and the analysis of moment and structure (AMOS) computer programs. The results support the idea that a modest relationship exists between worldview and HPB, with organismic thinkers more likely than mechanistic thinkers to engage in HPB. There was also a slight indirect effect of sex on worldview and HPB, with women more likely to endorse an organismic worldview and therefore more likely to engage in HPB than men. No relationship was found between socioeconomic status and HPB.

Psychotherapy Integration in Internships and Counseling Psychology Doctoral Programs

Training directors from APA-accredited internships and counseling psychology doctoral programs reported on the status of doctoral training in psychotherapy integration. A mail survey was used to assess several areas related to psychotherapy integration, such as didactic and clinical training, faculty/staff theoretical orientation and hiring practices, student competency and evaluation, directors’ beliefs about integrative/eclectic training, and internship admissions. Overall results show a positive attitude toward psychotherapy integration in predoctoral training and suggest that the foundations for further student development in psychotherapy integration exist.

Counseling Psychology and Welfare Reform Implications and Opportunities

The passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRA) of 1996 marked the beginning of reforms in the welfare system that promise to affect more than 20 million people in the next 5 years. Although many agree that reform was needed, efforts may be based on misconceptions about welfare recipients. The transition from welfare to work may be problematic for many, as they face individual factors (e.g., psychological disorders) and contextual variables (e.g., lack of well-paying jobs). Counseling psychology traditionally has rested on the foundations of the vocational guidance, psychological testing, psychotherapy, and mental hygiene movements. The context of welfare reform offers unique opportunities and obvious responsibilities for the profession. This article discusses the philosophies and values of counseling psychology in the context of realities and misconceptions of the past welfare system and implications of the PRA. Recommendations for points of entry for counseling psychologists are made.

Public Image of Counseling Psychology: What Introductory Psychology Textbooks Say

The public image of counseling psychology was discussed at the Third National Conference for Counseling Psychology. To examine the way counseling psychology is perceived, it has been recommended that psychology textbooks be reviewed. The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of descriptions of counseling psychology and its professionals in introductory psychology textbooks compared to the descriptions of other applied areas of psychology (i.e., clinical psychology, industrial or organizational psychology, school psychology, and counseling). The top 10 introductory psychology textbooks sold in the United States were reviewed. Results showed that counseling psychology is less represented than industrial or organizational and clinical psychology and more represented than school psychology and counseling. The practice of counseling psychology is often presented as indistinguishable from clinical psychology, and when differentiated, as limited to problems of daily living, career issues, or both. Recommendations are made to address deficiencies in public image.

Organizational and Political Issues in Counseling Psychology An Accounting of the Georgia Conference Recommendations

This article examines organizational and political issues of Division 17 (the division of counseling psychology) of the American Psychological Association. The methodology was derived from the recommendations of the Organizational and Political Issues Group (OPIG) of the Third National Conference for Counseling Psychology. The activity of Division 17 governance was traced over a 9-year period (1984-1992) and then compared against the OPIG recommendations. The goal was to assess the divisions compliance with these recommendations. The results were mixed.