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Recruitment, Retention and Professional Development of Psychologists in America: Potential Issue for Training and Performance

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Abstract

The need for increased practitioner diversity, multicultural awareness, sensitivity and competence in the mental health field has been addressed multiple times in the decades following ethnic minority psychologists’ and others raising concern during the 1960’s in America. Specifically, the concern highlighted the issue that the mental health profession was not meeting the needs for people of color. The resulting American Psychological Association guidelines on multicultural education training, research and practice reflect an inclusive approach to multiculturalism and diversity. The conceptualization of diversity now includes multiple aspects of identity such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability and disability, sexuality and sexual orientation. However, review of the profession in America highlights incomplete progress in efforts to acknowledge, respect and embrace the multi-leveled facets inherent in diversity that potentially impact on efforts for recruitment, retention, training and professional development in the field of psychology.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported in part by a grant to the first author from the American Psychological Association Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention, and Training (CEMRRAT). The opinions expressed here are ours and not necessarily those of CEMRRAT or representative of our training programs and institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, 396 Washington Street, Suite 211, Wellesley Hills, MA, 02181, USA

    Sigmund Hough

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Sigmund Hough

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Sigmund Hough

  4. Department of Psychology, The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Leah E. Squires

  5. Psychology Internship Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Leah E. Squires

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  1. Sigmund Hough
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  2. Leah E. Squires
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Correspondence to Sigmund Hough.

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Hough, S., Squires, L.E. Recruitment, Retention and Professional Development of Psychologists in America: Potential Issue for Training and Performance. Sex Disabil 30, 161–170 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-012-9259-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-012-9259-3

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