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Ethics is a topic of great importance for professional school psychologists. The National Association of School Psychologists’ (NASP) Principles for Professional Ethics is a document that originated in 1974 and was most recently revised in 2010. The function of this document is to guide school psychologists’ conduct in their professional careers. This study examines the content of school psychology journals, the NASP school psychology newspaper, and NASP convention abstracts from the last 16 years to evaluate the ethical topics being discussed within the school psychology community. A search of the publications related to ethics provides answers to several questions while highlighting the contemporary concerns and interests of school psychologists. The findings of this study include the representation of ethical issues in four domains to varying degrees. The greatest topics of interest and concern for school psychologists were found to be related to assessments and interventions while issues related to professional behaviors seem underrepresented in the literature.

Considering the high incidence of suicide in the South African context, the fact that suicide is considered an occupational hazard for psychologists, with more than half experiencing the suicide of a patient in their career and the dearth of post-suicide qualitative research among psychologists, the purpose of this study is to explore and describe the experience of psychologists after the suicide of their patient, and to develop guidelines as a framework of reference to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. In keeping with a social constructionist ontological and ecosystemic epistemological theoretical framework, data was collected by means of meaning-making conversations with six purposively selected psychologists, with a minimum of five years‟ experience and at least one year having passed after the suicide of their patient. The data was analysed independently by the researcher and an independent coder using Tesch‟s open and descriptive method. The present study found that, following the suicide of their patient, the participants were propelled into a myriad of acutely distressing emotions. They often described a suffocating sense of responsibility for the suicide and the lingering presence of their patient. The participants experienced feelings of guilt and self-doubt, often questioning their own professional competence. The post-suicide process was described as being both a personally and professionally isolating event, due to the sense of having to carry the burden of the suicide alone for ethical reasons and fear of social stigmatisation. The participants appeared to grapple with the paradoxical dance between their personal emotional realities and what they perceived to be “clinically” or “professionally” acceptable. Having gone through the traumatic experience of losing a patient to suicide, most of the participants eventually found new wisdom, which helped them become wounded healers. Based on these findings, post-vention guidelines with practical actions were developed to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. Recommendations are made with regard to suicidology research, suicide education and psychologists‟ practice. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

There is limited research examining the identities and experiences of those from mixed ethnic backgrounds and the research literature is almost non-existent for those who are from a mixed white ethnic (MWE) background. The existent evidence base in regards to the experiences of clinical psychology training of those from minority ethnic groups is focused on Black and ethnic minority (BME) backgrounds. This study therefore aimed to gain insight into the experiences of trainee clinical psychologists from a mixed white ethnic background, raising awareness of these individuals and their needs in the clinical psychology training arena. This study adopted a qualitative approach where eight participants were recruited and in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three main themes emerged from participants’ accounts: ‘the double edged sword of invisible difference’, ‘uncovering the undercurrents of difference’ and ‘that which is sought and gained’. These findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature and clinical implications are presented. Methodological considerations and areas for future research are also considered. This study makes contribution to a sparsely researched area and provides rich insight into the experiences of trainee clinical psychologists from a MWE backgrounds. It is hoped the material presented here will encourage further thought, debate and study of this area.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the ways that beginning therapists utilize ‘informal supervision’, the process wherein therapists in training engage individuals who are not their formally assigned supervisors in significant conversations about their clinical work. Because the research literature on formal supervision does not adequately acknowledge the frequent use and significance of informal supervision, this study sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of why therapists in training seek informal supervision, what they get out of it, how informal supervision differs from formal supervision, and how it influences trainees’ clinical work and their developing therapeutic identity. Participants were 16 doctoral trainees in clinical and counseling psychology programs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method. Eleven domains emerged from CQR analysis, and results suggest that informal supervision is a valid practice by which trainees in clinical and counseling doctoral programs in psychology develop clinical and professional competencies. The valuable practice of informal supervision was evident in a multiplicity of arenas: in seeking informal supervision, trainees received validation, reassurance, and emotional support. Additionally, trainees used informal supervision to openly and authentically discuss personal anxieties and self-doubt, strong countertransference reactions to patients, and salient clinical challenges and mistakes. Trainees who used informal supervision gained insight into their clinical work, explored diverse approaches to clinical interventions, and increased their capacity to access and use their personal reactions to patients to further their clinical work. Results also revealed important differences between formal and informal supervision, specifically that informal supervision provides trainees with a unique and important space to discuss clinical interactions that lead them to feel emotionally dysregulated, overwhelmed, confused, concerned, upset, and drained – i.e., those aspects of experience that are often not disclosed or are carefully curated in their presentation to formal supervisors – so that they could better understand and use their personal reactions to influence their clinical work. Regarding the former, i.e., personal challenges of clinical work, trainees revealed their personal anxiety, self-doubt, uncertainty, and shame frequently and non- defensively in informal supervision. Lastly, results showed that participants’ concerns about using informal supervision are considerable, and include anxiety about breaking APA’s ethics codes regarding patient privacy and confidentiality Recommendations are proposed for clinical practice and clinical training, including an ‘ethical’ proposal to integrate informal supervision as an important avenue for trainees’ clinical and personal development throughout their training, and thus legitimize its practice. Clear and innovative ethical guidelines regarding the use of informal supervision that are consistent with the APA’s ethics codes are outlined, and future directions are discussed.

The purpose of this research study was to analyze school psychologists' perspectives on 27 parent involvement and empowerment activities focused upon improving students' school success. A sample of 36 school psychologists from high and low minority schools in a large urban school district rated the degree to which they believed the activities should be offered to parents and the extent to which they were feasible to implement over the next five years. The activities rated highest for offer and feasibility by psychologists at both high and low minority schools were related to information dissemination and one-to-one meetings. The activities rated lowest for offer and feasibility by psychologists at both high and low minority schools were related to systems change and time-intensive programming. Psychologists' mean ratings for offer were generally higher than their mean ratings for feasibility of implementation. However, the mean ratings for offer and feasibility at high minority schools tended not to be different from those ratings at low minority schools. Time was rated as the biggest barrier to implementation at both high and low minority schools, with current work responsibilities a close second. It is suggested that moving away from the traditional role of assessment and placement and towards prevention and intervention might reduce, if not eliminate, the time and current work responsibilities barriers and allow more school psychologists to implement home-school collaboration.

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This portfolio addresses the moral, ethical and legal issues that impact upon decisions to maintain or disclose confidential communications. The tensions and moral dilemmas that are created when a conflict between these aspects arises are considered. Risk assessment procedures that inform decisions to maintain or disclose confidential information are discussed, as are issues related to the practical implementation of planned interventions. The topic is addressed by firstly reviewing professional codes of conduct and legal requirements to maintain confidentiality. The limits of confidentiality and privileged communication are then reviewed together with legal requirements of “duty to warn” or “duty of care”. These requirements are then related to risk assessment procedures and relevant interventions. Four case studies that illustrate the practical application of assessment techniques in the decision process and planned interventions are presented. They cover such diverse topics as disclosure and suicidal intent, threat of harm to a third party, risk of transmission of the AIDS virus and “duty to warn” and maintenance of a minor’s confidential communications. The ways in which these issues were addressed and the outcome is presented. NOTE: All names and details that have the potential to identify the people whose cases are presented here have been changed to protect their anonymity.

School psychologists have increased their practice of consultation within the schools due to mandates by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and positive outcomes associated with the service. Previous research has examined how training directors at school psychology graduate programs viewed consultation training. The current study investigated how school psychologists view their training in consultation and how they view the practice of consultation in school systems. A random sample of 510 school psychologists from across the country was sent a survey to obtain their perspectives on consultation. A 46% return rate was achieved. The respondents were divided into two groups based on the practitioner’s years of experience (i.e., more than 10 years experience and less than 10 years experience) in order to make comparisons based on when the school psychologists received their training. Results indicated that recent graduates reported more comprehensive training in consultation, a heavier emphasis on collaborative and problem-solving consultation and significantly higher levels of satisfaction with consultation training and practice. However, recent graduates did not perceive their skills with consultation to be higher than school psychologists with less training, but more experience.

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