Gaining prescription rights: a qualitative survey mapping the views of UK counselling and clinical psychologists

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The British Psychological Society (BPS) has been exploring whether its practitioner members are interested in gaining prescription rights for psychiatric drugs and what such a privilege might look like. This qualitative study aimed to survey the views of UK-based, qualified counselling and clinical psychologists. Method: Qualitative data was collected from 82 participants via an online survey (37 counselling and 45 clinical psychologists). Along with the survey items, the last question asked participants to select one of three answers (yes/no/unsure) in relation to whether they supported prescription rights for psychologists. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis, from a critical realist perspective, to develop 3 themes. Results Theme 1 explores how psychologists grapple with their professional identity within structures dominated by the medical model of distress, and constructions of the prescription rights debate as a crossroads for both discipline and profession. Theme 2 explores participants’ assumptions about psychiatric drugs as they seem to serve as a springboard to their views on prescription rights. Theme 3 examines the belief that gaining prescription rights will result in increased status and power for psychologists and what might be gained or lost as a result. Regarding the final question: 18 participants answered yes; 42 no; and 22 were unsure. Conclusion We advocate for increased criticality in how UK psychology continues to consider this issue. We caution against an optionality approach that might risk obscuring wider implications for psychology beyond the preferences of individual practitioners.