Refer to the University of Phoenix Material: Professional Interview and Response Guidelines for assignment guidelines.
Interview two helping service professionals from two different settings, such as a school, hospital, or prison.
Ensure that at least one of the interviewees is a clinical psychologist.
Provide the name and work environment of the two professionals you interviewed.
Ask the following questions to each of your interviewees:
• In what setting do you practice? How long have you been practicing?
• What are your specialties or areas of clinical focus?
• What are the most common disorders you treat?
• Do you have any special certifications or training beyond your original graduate coursework?
• How do you approach therapy or treatment? Do you use specific modalities, techniques, or interventions?
• What ethical and legal issues do you think are the most challenging or common?
• Do you have an opinion on where you think the field of psychology is heading?
• What do you enjoy most about your work?
• What advice would you provide an aspiring psychologist or therapist?
Discuss, in a 350- to 700-word response, the similarities and differences of how these professionals approach treatment in their settings.
Please be sure you include transcripts of interviews that should be in appendix.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
KBR, Clinical Psychologist for U.S. Public Health Service.
In what setting do you practice? How long have you been practicing?
I've always practiced in correctional settings. I've been a psychologist since 2012 and been practicing since.
What are your specialties or areas of clinical focus?
Clinical focus is forensics
What are the most common disorders you treat?
Most common disorders: anxiety, depression, psychosis.
Do you have any special certifications or training beyond your original graduate coursework?
hostage negotiation, drug abuse coordinator
How do you approach therapy or treatment? Do you use specific modalities, techniques, or interventions?
solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral
What ethical and legal issues do you think are the most challenging or common?
confidentiality, dual relationships.
Do you have an opinion on where you think the field of psychology is heading?
Getting more respect as a science, moving toward prescribing options
What do you enjoy most about your work?
everything, helping people, listening to people, psych assessments.
What advice would you provide an aspiring psychologist or therapist?
find your niche and own it.
TSD, School Psychologist
In what setting do you practice? How long have you been practicing?
I practice in the public-school setting in the high school level this is my first year.
What are your specialties or areas of clinical focus?
I specialize in psychoeducational testing for individuals birth to age 22.
What are the most common disorders you treat?
In the school setting we do not treat disorders, we do testing to determine the most appropriate educational placement for students having difficulties in the general education classroom (emotional and or academic). Most often students qualify for specific learning disabilities (SLD) or other Health impaired for having ADHD.
Do you have any special certifications or training beyond your original graduate coursework?
I am a registered behavioral technician (RBT) for ABA therapy and I am also nationally certified as a school psychologist.
How do you approach therapy or treatment? Do you use special modalities, techniques, or interventions?
In the school setting we do not provide therapy, but we can recommend students meet with the school counselor or school social worker if the needs arise. Depending on the student's needs we can formulate Behavior Intervention plans or academic interventions to target the area of need or concern.
What ethical and legal issues do you think are the most challenging or common?
An ethical issue I have seen while in the school setting involves IQ Testing in the private sector. For example, when a child is tested for Gifted in the school setting and does not qualify (IQ 110) parents get them privately tested. Often, they return with a report with IQ's above 130 which is a highly unlikely and statistically significant difference.
Do you have an opinion on where you think the field of psychology is heading?
Within the school setting the field of Psychology is relying more on 12TI (response to intervention) than psychoeducational testing when determining specific learning disabilities. There are always changes in protocol, especially in the school setting. Things are constantly changing as new laws are passed.
What do you enjoy most about you work?
I enjoy getting to meet students, work with them, and know what I had a hand in making a positive impact regarding their psycho educational needs.
What advice would you provide an aspiring psychologist or therapist?
It can be a rewarding career if you enjoy helping others; however, the pay does not reflect the amount of schooling involved.