Stability and Change in Counseling Psychologists' Identities, Roles, Functions, and Career Satisfaction Across 15 Years

Abstract

The authors examined changes in the profession of counseling psychology by comparing results of similar surveys of Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP) members administered 15 years apart (in 1985 and 2000). The authors found the roles and settings of SCP members were relatively stable across this period but observed that notably fewer respondents were engaged in vocational counseling or vocational assessment and that the proportion of women SCP members nearly doubled over this time period. Year 2000 data also included the responses of counseling psychologists who were not SCP members. Numerous differences emerged from a comparison of SCP members and nonmembers. For example, members were more likely than nonmembers to (a) be employed in university settings, (b) identify as academics, (c) be either an American Psychological Association (APA) fellow or an American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) diplomate, and (d) publish in professional outlets.