Specialty Competencies in Counseling Psychology

Counseling psychologists have led the field of professional psychology in many areas including psychotherapy, supervision, vocational psychology, consultation, the promotion of human strengths, and the use of humanistic and empowering approaches to mental health promotion and treatment. As such, the specialization may be one of the broadest, most flexible, and widely applicable specialties in the field of applied and professional psychology. In Specialty Competencies in Counseling Psychology, Fuertes, Spokane, and Holloway provide a striking balance of the rich history of the counseling specialty and a thorough articulation of the professional practice domains conducted by the counseling psychology specialist. The authors deliver informative examples of each foundational and functional domain of competency as well as a comprehensive discussion of the historic roots that support the specialty's leadership role in professional psychology. In addition to interested individuals who wish to learn about the specialization of counseling psychology, readers from all specialties who are committed to developing professional competencies in psychotherapy assessment and intervention, supervision, vocational psychology, consultation, and contemporary issues having to do with human diversity and multiculturalism will also be served well by reading this volume. In order to assist such readers, the authors successfully capture how counseling psychology interfaces and overlaps with the other psychology specialties yet also distinguishes itself from them. Series in Specialty Competencies in Professional Psychology Series Editors Arthur M. Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu As the field of psychology continues to grow and new specialty areas emerge and achieve recognition, it has become increasingly important to define the standards of professional specialty practice. Developed and conceived in response to this need for practical guidelines, this series presents methods, strategies, and techniques for conducting day-to-day practice in any given psychology specialty. The topical volumes address best practices across the functional and foundational competencies that characterize the various psychology specialties, including clinical psychology, cognitive and behavioral psychology, school psychology, geropsychology, forensic psychology, clinical neuropsychology, couples and family psychology, and more. Functional competencies include common practice activities like assessment and intervention, while foundational competencies represent core knowledge areas such as ethical and legal issues, cultural diversity, and professional identification. In addition to describing these competencies, each volume provides a definition, description, and development timeline of a particular specialty, including its essential and characteristic pattern of activities, as well as its distinctive and unique features. Written by recognized experts in their respective fields, volumes are comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible. These volumes offer invaluable guidance to not only practicing mental health professionals, but those training for specialty practice as well.