Developing Diversity in the Clinical Psychology Profession

Developing Diversity in the Clinical Psychology ProfessionThe profession of clinical psychology is currentlypredominatelypreponderantly clear, female and middle class. What lavbe done to ensure that we become a more diverse andinclusive profession?Word count1.256The app bent movement of how the field can be do more can be made more diverse and inclusive is one that has been much explored in the clinical psychology community in Britain as well as in opposite countries.This essay will examine strategies and initiatives previously put in engineer in order to recruit clinical psychologists from a wider pool of applicants, and look at how lucky such initiatives have been.Finally, the discussion will focus on what seems to be the best way forward for the profession in its efforts to more closely reflect the disparate communities of which it serves.The skewed demographics of the profession might be at least partly responsible for the low usage rates of clinical psychology services by sorry, ethnic minority and male UK citizens.An influential bits per second report entitled Widening access within undergraduate psychology education and its implications for overlord psychology Gender, disability and ethnic diversity was published in fresh yearsrecently published (Turpin Fensom, 2004). The report revealed that only 5.8% of UK clinical psychologists were recruited from ethnic minorities, and that a mere 23% were men.These figures called indicated a need for greater efforts to increase the number of recruits from dark and other ethnic minority (BME) and disabled communities.The report referred to the work of Davenhill et al. (1989), who made a number of recommendations to widen access of BME groups into clinical psychology training. Unfortunately, little rise was made.RZ2The BPS has, however, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to deal with this complex matter, such as the setting up of a Race and Culture Special concern Group. Amongst the Groups aims and obj ectives is a stated commitment to promote strategies that increase Black and Minority Ethnic Communities to the profession of Clinical Psychology, RZ3and to promote the charm that training in clinical psychology should reflect the needs of people from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (Reference).RZ4A notable contribution has also been made by the BPS s Standing Committee for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities, which amongst other valuable functions, monitors levels of minority representation within the BPS. According to the most recent available figures, these BPS initiatives have not as yet had significant impact on diversity and inclusiveness, but it is perhaps too early to designate them as inadequate and ineffectual.Turpin and Fensoms 2004 report (2004) shows interesting figures, showing that psychology is hugely popular as an undergraduate discipline with approximately 80,000 applicants a year, of which 79 percent are female. In the field of psychology, BME students are more highly represented at 12 percent compared with the rest of the population studying other subjects.The same study also give that out of those from a BME background, only 1.4 percent are successful in their clinical training applications, compared with 3.95 percent of those who are white, and 3.5 percent who are male.With regard to clinical training, approximately 9.4 percent of students are of a BME background, whereas only 6.2 percent of these are successful. Of the 90.6 percent who consider themselves to be white however, the success rate is 93 percent.These data point towards highly complex reasons for a profession dominated by white females of a middleclass background. Gender mold in psychology has been recognised for many years (Morris et.al, 1992). It is probable that the nature of the discipline appeals more to females than men. RZ5But it might also be influenced by lack of friendship of the true nature of psychology as well as that of future career possibilities. Amongst the practical measures announced in the BPS report mentioned above, were a enlisting video to be used in schools, and an initiative to make careers advisors more aware of the employment opportunities offered by clinical psychology. RZ6It can be argued that the mere serve up of undertaking clinical training in itself is likely to exclude certain social groups. RZ7The ratio of applicants far outweighs the places available, 29.3 per cent in 2002 (Turpin and Fensom, 2004) and this in itself is likely to reject some people. In addition to high schoolman entrance requirements, s several years of relevant experience is required, Working as an assistant psychologist does not in itself necessarily give opportunities for a career, and even years of experience do not always guarantee acceptance into clinical training. This can give an impression of uncertainty in addition to the likelihood of eventually being in substantial financial debt. RZ8All these factors could partly explain the reduction in applications from students from a BME background. Little is known about the perception of psychology as a vocation within or across different ethnic groups and culture. Darr (1998) found that ethnic applicants to higher education undervalued allied health professions as career choice and chose more traditional careers instead.RZ9 Research has also shown that BME students obtain fewer 2.1 and 1.st degrees than their young man white students (Pathak, 2000). This in itself might partly explain the drop in applications to clinical training, but it does not explain why fewer applicants from BME groups are successful compared to their white peers (Turpin and Fensom 2004, Boyle et al, 1993). Turpin and Fensom doubt that an explicit discrimination factor at short listing and interview would simply account for this. But in addition to the academic criteria and the necessary working experience, applicants are also vetted through interviews and other tasks. (Phillips, Hatton Gray, 2001).It is tempting to hypothesise, building on knowledge from social psychology, that applicants from minority backgrounds may encounter greater difficulties in conveying their knowledge and personal abilities.RZ10The important goal of wider diversity within clinical psychology is to ensure that the Mental Health Service can offer adequate therapy for minority and socially excluded groups. to a greater extent male clinical psychologists from different backgrounds might ensure that the Mental Health Service is accessible to these groups.More research is needed to give an understanding of the gender differences and how psychology is perceived as a career in different ethnic groups. Research into barely why, or at what stage, ethnic minorities fail in the vetting process might be helpful.RZ11ReferencesRZ12Widening access within undergraduate psychology education and its implications for professional psychology Gender, disability and ethnic diversity, (BPS, 2004)BPS Equal Opp ortunities PolicyDavenhill R, Hun H, Piallary H M, Harris A Klein Y (1989). didactics and selection issues in clinical psychology for black and minority ethnic groups from an equal opportunities perspective. Clinical Psychology Forum,21 34-36Darr, A. (1998) Improving the recruitment and retention of Asian students on nursing, midwifery, radiography and physiotherapy courses A qualitative research study.Bradford and Airedale Health Related Strategy Group.Morris,P., Cheung,D. Smith,H. (1992) How and why applicants choose to study psychology at university.The Psychologist,5,Pathak,S. (2000) Research report topic, race research for the future ethnicity. In Education, Training and the Labour Market. Department of Education and Employment,UKPhillips,A.,Hatton,C. Gray,l. (2001) Which selection methods do clinical psychology courses use? Clinical Psychology,8 19-24RZ1RZ2Can you provide a quote from the report here to expound why little progress was made? What are the criteria for progres s in this area?RZ3What are these strategies?RZ4Yes, dont forget to reference this quoteRZ5Why? hold back this assertion.RZ6You may want to consider moving this explanation of practical measures to the previous page, where the question of strategies is raised initially.RZ7Why? Are certain social groups less demonstrably likely to display the work ethic necessary to complete clinical training?RZ8Good point.RZ9Does Darr hypothesise why this might be so?RZ10Why is it tempting? Internalized racism?RZ11Miid 22 Standard. You should consider spending less time describing the particulars of the problem and more time analyzing why the problem exists and what might be done about it. Otherwise, well-written and well-sourced.RZ12K c