Training Ph.D. psychologists for rural service: a report from Nebraska

The Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln developed a rural mental health specialty to train psychologists to work in rural settings. Preliminary data indicate that the project was relatively successful in placing graduates in rural practice. But the needs for practitioners in rural communities clearly are greater than training programs can meet. Relying on doctoral psychologists for clinical work in rural communities may not be the best strategy in workforce planning.