Chapter X. Professional Affairs (Part 1)

Psychologists in public programs

Psychologists in public programs, whether engaged in service or research, typically seek to work cooperatively with members of other professions with special competencies which they as psychologists do not possess. Such collaboration is most effective when the members of each profession have respect for the special competencies, skills, and responsibilities of each of the other professions represented on the team. Effective collaboration is impeded whenever one profession assumes a hierarchical domination of another or treats another profession as ancillary.

The American Psychological Association believes that psychologists can make their greatest contribution to public service programs only if the administrative structure of the organization enables them to assume full responsibility for their professional activities. By virtue of the standards of selection, professional education and ethical conduct accepted by this association, psychologists are qualified to assume full responsibility for their procedures, techniques, decisions, and actions as psychologists.

Psychology as an independent science and profession (Revised in 2019)

Council reaffirmed the concept that psychology is an independent science and profession and that the psychologist and the patient or client independently determine the proper application of work in whatever context the patient or client may be functioning.

Application of hypnosis

Be it resolved that the American Psychological Association, in the interest of the public, opposes applications of hypnosis by persons who are not fully trained clinicians or advanced students of health delivery professions and who lack specific, in-depth training in hypnosis. Therefore, be it also resolved that APA opposes the teaching of hypnotic induction techniques or applications of hypnosis that involve treatment or assessment with patients or clients to persons who are not fully trained clinicians or advanced students of a health delivery profession.

Use of “Dr.”

That the APA adopt as the standard that it will recommend to the media for the use of 'Dr.' the following: Doctor should be used in references to all individuals who hold doctoral degrees -- MD, PhD, or other --- in any context or format where the title 'doctor' is used for any of them.

Collaboration with professional nursing

Council voted to affirm that it is APA policy to work collaboratively with the elected leadership of professional nursing in areas of mutual concern and interest.

Impaired psychologists

For almost half a century, psychology has been guided by its own self-developed principles of ethical behavior which are intended to protect uses of psychological knowledge and services. Impairments in the performance of psychologists, induced by mental health problems, substance addiction, and other disturbances, lead to violations of APA's purposes and ethical principles. Prevention programs and early interventions may reduce the incidence and the intensity of impairment. Such actions may best be introduced on the state level. Based on these premises, APA resolves:

to provide information and assistance regarding problems of impaired psychologists to State and Provincial Boards of Examiners, the American Association of State Psychology Boards, and State Psychological Associations;

to provide informational liaison services to the states through its Board of Professional Affairs;

to encourage the APA and Division program committees to give due consideration to impairment in choosing topics;

to advise the editors of the APA Monitor and state and division newsletters of the importance of the educational role in countering impairment;

to facilitate public information programs through the APA Public Information Office. This will include, but not be limited to, developing a directory of impaired psychologists programs; and

to review periodically, psychology's progress in confronting impairment.

APA statement on alcohol and other drug abuse

APA Statement on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuseopens in new window (PDF, 34KB)

Removal of licensure exemptions for psychologists in public health care programs

Council takes full note of the difficulties each state jurisdiction faces in implementing any proposed changes in statutes governing the practice of psychology. It also recognizes that there are unique circumstances that help shape the practice of psychology in the various states. Nonetheless, and in the hopes of stating more clearly the Association's aspirations for the field's future evolution, it adopts the following resolution:

WHEREAS many states have licensing laws that exempt psychologists from licensure if they provide health care services to clients within state or public agencies, programs and institutions, and

WHEREAS these exemptions in fact or in appearance imply that minimal requirements for competence as indicated by licensure in the profession are not needed when providing health care services to clients within public programs, and

WHEREAS the existence of these exemptions provides a double standard for the care of individuals receiving psychological health care services in public programs, many of whom are poor, of minority backgrounds, and without health insurance or adequate health insurance,

THEREFORE be it resolved The APA adopts and promotes policy -

a) to remove state licensure exemptions for psychologists providing healthcare services to clients of state or public agencies, programs and institutions.

b) to exempt psychologists from licensure who are already employed in public programs at the time of enactment of these proposed changes in licensing laws.

c) to require licensure or the obtaining of licensure within three years of appointment for psychologists as a condition of employment when providing health care services in such programs and to require appropriate supervision of the health care services provided by unlicensed psychologists during this initial period of employment.

d) to require licensure of school psychologists unless their practice is limited to a school setting and is regulated or certified by an appropriate state education agency, and

e) to develop position statements on licensure exemption issues that are consistent with this resolution and the APA's Model Licensing Law, to work with state psychological associations to amend state licensing laws during sunset review cycles to remove exemptions covered by this resolution, and to begin working immediately with federal and state agencies to remove regulations exempting psychologists from licensure or add regulations that require licensure when psychologists are providing health care services to clients within state or public agencies, programs, and institutions.

It is further resolved that APA work with state licensing boards and groups such as the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and the National Association of Community Mental Health Centers to develop strategies to minimize the impact of implementation of this resolution on underserved populations and to incorporate appropriate exemptions or examinations for those psychologists uniquely qualified to serve divergent and underserved populations.

Comprehensive and coordinated psychological services for children: A call for service integration

Comprehensive and Coordinated Psychological Services for Children: A Call for Service Integrationopens in new window (PDF, 1.1MB)

Supervisors for psychological services in schools

Supervisors for Psychological Services in Schools Psychologists working in school settings are often concerned about the frequent practice of being supervised by a nonpsychologist. Such nonpsychologist supervisors are often not familiar with the ethical responsibilities and professional standards that guide the practice of psychology. Without a common frame of reference, conflicts between what the profession expects or demands and what a nonpsychologist supervisor requires are likely to occur.

The American Psychological Association/National Association of School Psychologists Interorganizational Committee (APA/NASP IOC) has reviewed the issues and concerns associated with the supervision of psychological services in schools. The APA/NASP IOC developed the following policy guidelines dealing with supervision of psychological services in schools in order to provide guidance to school administrators and individual providers of school psychological services on the appropriate types of supervisors and supervisory responsibilities.

It is recognized that school psychologists who are certified by their state education agency are permitted to use the term school psychologist or certified school psychologist as long as they are practicing in the public schools (APA Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists, July 1987). Employing agencies assure that an effective program of supervision and evaluation of school psychological services exists for the benefit of all students (NASP Standards for the Provision of School Psychological Services, 1984).

In context, supervision is focused on the professional psychological services and functions performed by school psychologists. At the same time, it is acknowledged that school psychologists may be administratively accountable to other school district administrators such as directors of student services (APA General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services, 1987).

To this end, the APA/NASP IOC believes that guidelines such as the following should be used when addressing the issue of professional supervision, at state or district levels, for school psychologists practicing in the schools:

1. School psychologists' professional psychological functions in schools should be supervised by qualified supervisory school psychologists.

2. A supervisor of school psychologists should meet appropriate criteria such as (a) certified by the State Board of Education on the basis of having completed a program for the preparation of school psychologists that is accredited by a specialized professional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-Secondary Accreditation (APA Model Act for State Licensure of Psychologists, July 1987); (b) who has completed three years of successful, documented, supervised experience as a school psychologist; and (c) who has been designated by an employing agency as a supervisor responsible for school psychological services in the agency (NASP Standards for the Provision of School Psychological Services, 1984).

Veterans Affairs (VA) psychology

WHEREAS the Department of Veterans Affairs has a long-standing commitment and history of providing health care to the veterans that have served this country;

WHEREAS VA psychologists have provided a critical service and leadership role in the health care, training, and research mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

WHEREAS health care reform discussions must support the continued role of VA psychologists in serving our nations' veterans;

BE IT RESOLVED that APA establish a high priority to support the continued service to veterans by VA psychologists by (a) presenting the importance of VA psychology's role in veterans' care to the Administration and congressional leaders and policymakers and (b) by opposing attempts to reduce the level of employment of VA psychologists.

Recognition of health service providers

Psychologists are recognized as Health Service Providers if they are duly trained and experienced in the delivery of preventive, assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention services relative to the psychological and physical health of consumers based on: 1) having completed scientific and professional training resulting in a doctoral degree in psychology; 2) having completed an internship and supervised experience in health care settings; and 3) having been licensed as psychologists at the independent practice level.

Follow-up to the "Principles for the Provision of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment Services: A Bill of Rights"

WHEREAS APA has adopted the Principles for the Provision of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment Services: A Bill of Rights and it has come to Council's attention that the procedures and policies of some managed care companies may violate these rights...

THEREFORE be it resolved that APA is committed to identifying and publicizing any abuses by those managed care companies which violate patients’ rights as well as policies that uphold these rights and to educate consumers about their rights as patients.