Graduate training in clinical psychology: a view from the consumer

Recent graduates from APA-approved doctoral programs in clinical psychology were asked to rate the adequacy of their training in a variety of skill areas (N = 316). For the most part, respondents were relatively satisfied with their training and were most satisfied with traditional skills in therapy and assessment. Comparisons of males and females, practitioners and academicians, and traditional clinical vs. community-oriented programs resulted in few significant differences. In light of other recent findings, the present results suggest that satisfaction with training and satisfaction with professional work role are not the same. Implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.