Doctoral Training in Counseling Psychology: Analyses of 20-Year Trends,
Differences Across the Practice-Research Continuum, and Comparisons
With Clinical Psychology
John C. Norcross
University of Scranton
Michael A. Sayette
University of Pittsburgh
Caitlin A. Martin-Wagar
University of Akron
Training in counseling psychology boasts a distinguished history, but not much longitudinal research on
its broad parameters. This study tracked doctoral training in APA-accredited counseling psychology
across 20 years (1995–2015) in terms of program, student, and faculty characteristics. At each interval,
more than 95% of the programs participated. Temporal changes include the emergence of PsyD
counseling programs, a gradual decline in the average number of applicants, and pronounced increases
in the percentage of women and ethnic minority students. Faculty theoretical orientations remained
consistent; about 45% cognitive– behavioral, 30% existential/humanistic, 22% systems, and 20% psy-
chodynamic. Programs’ respective placement along the practice-research continuum (practice oriented,
equal emphasis, research oriented) replicated findings that the “model does matter” concerning admission
requirements and financial assistance. Comparisons between counseling psychology PhD programs (n =
54) and clinical psychology PhD programs (n = 169) indicated proportionally more behavioral and
cognitive orientations among clinical faculty and more psychodynamic and humanistic orientations
among counseling faculty. Clinical programs featured more student applications and higher Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) scores, whereas counseling programs reported proportionally more ethnic
minority students. These findings can guide graduate programs, potential applicants, and academic
advisors in accurately portraying the multiple training options for health-service psychology.
Public Significance Statement
Graduate training profoundly impacts the activities and interests of mental health professionals. This
study identifies training trends in counseling psychology and compares them with clinical psychol-
ogy. The results can inform potential clinicians, academic advisors, and the general public about the
characteristics and practices of psychologists.
Keywords: counseling psychology, clinical training, theoretical orientations, graduate student character-
istics, graduate admission requirements, clinical psychology
Counseling psychology, and the larger field of professional
psychology, has frequently considered its intended activities, de-
bated its distinctiveness in health-service psychology, revisited its
training mission, and examined its members. This lengthy and
distinguished history, however, has not frequently entailed longi-
tudinal research on its training programs. Moreover, less is known
JOHN C. NORCROSS, PhD, ABPP, is Distinguished Professor of Psy-
chology at the University of Scranton and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry
at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He received his doctorate from the
University of Rhode Island and completed his clinical psychology intern-
ship at Brown University School of Medicine. His research interests center
on psychotherapy, clinical training, and graduate education.
MICHAEL A. SAYETTE, PhD, is Professor and Director of Graduate
Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pitts-
burgh, where he directs the Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory.
He received his doctorate from Rutgers University and completed a
clinical psychology internship at Brown University School of Medicine.
His research interests include social, cognitive, and affective charac-
teristics of cigarette craving, and psychological theories of alcohol use
and abuse.
CAITLIN A. MARTIN-WAGAR, MA, is a doctoral candidate in counseling
psychology at the University of Akron and is completing her clinical
internship at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Her research inter-
ests include eating disorders, sexual trauma, emotional dysregulation,
and PTSD. She is also passionate about health outcomes associated with
systems of oppression.
CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS ARTICLE should be addressed to John
C. Norcross, Department of Psychology, University of Scranton, 800
Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510-4596. E-mail: norcross@scranton.edu
This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.
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Training and Education in Professional Psychology
© 2020 American Psychological Association
ISSN: 1931-3918 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tep0000306
167
2021, Vol. 15, No. 3, 167–175
This article was published Online First March 9, 2020.