Factors, Trends, and Topics in the Evolution of Counseling Psychology Training

Abstract

During all of its history, the specialty of counseling psychology has evolved constantly in response to changes in the context in which it exists. As the specialty has changed, so too has training. This article discusses six forces that have affected the content and process of counseling psychology training and will continue to do so: market forces, practitioner-educator dialogues, expectations and directives from within the profession, social and political forces, technological innovations, and the cultural context of counseling psychology. We briefly discuss prescriptive authority as a topic that will affect professional training, then conclude by introducing five particular topics that will be covered in the other articles in this issue. All will affect counseling psychology training into at least the near future.