Me. Procidano et al., RESPONDING TO GRADUATE-STUDENTS PROFESSIONAL DEFICIENCIES - A NATIONAL SURVEY, Journal of clinical psychology, 51(3), 1995, pp. 426-433
Seventy-one doctoral programs in professional psychology were surveyed
with respect to the incidence of students' professional deficiencies
and related procedures. Professional deficiencies, particularly limite
d clinical skills and personality/emotional problems, were reported by
89% of the respondents, twice the number that have official policies
for dealing with such problems. Incidence of limited clinical skills w
as related positively to interviewing applicants and use of practicum
grades for evaluation and related negatively to using recommendation l
etters and reliance on clinical supervisor's assessment. Responses to
deficiencies reflected appropriate due process concepts and were most
likely to include terminating students and psychotherapy referral. Rec
ommendations are made for definitions of professional competencies, de
velopment of policies, and research on the reliability and validity of
screening and evaluation mechanisms.