gradPSYCH - September 2011 - (Page 7)
Almost half of psychology graduate students have noticed a fellow therapy trainee failing to provide quality patient care or behaving unethically, yet only 30 percent act on their concerns, according to a study published in the June issue of Training and Education in Professional Psychology (Vol. 5, No. 2). The survey of 321 graduate students in clinical, counseling and school psychology programs also found that students were more likely to report a colleague’s problem if the student in question was having a romantic relationship with a client or abusing drugs or alcohol, but they hesitated in less clear-cut competence cases, says lead author David Shen-Miller, PhD, a counseling psychology professor at Tennessee State University. “There is a clear feeling among some folks that students’ competence is the faculty’s job to monitor,” says Shen-
Miller. “We need our whole community — students and trainers — to help with competence concerns.” Students have the same ethical responsibility as faculty to act if they see a fellow trainee providing inadequate care or engaging in unprofessional behavior or other ethical violations, says Shen-Miller. If you notice such a problem, he says, you should: 1. Discuss what you’ve noticed with other students or faculty to determine whether further action is needed. You can also contact the APA Ethics Office for a free and confidential consultation at (202) 336-5930. 2. Tell the student you’re concerned about what you’ve seen, citing specific behavior. For example, say, “I have noticed you consistently show up late for appointments with your clients,” rather than “You’re acting unprofessionally.” Then
suggest ways he or she could fix the problem. 3. If the problem continues, report it to a faculty member. Skip directly to step three if you see direct evidence of gross incompetence or exploitation, says Shen-Miller. Don’t feel discouraged if it seems that faculty are not acting on your concerns, he adds. “I take these reports very seriously, but out of respect for students’ privacy, I usually can’t talk about what we’re doing to address them,” he says. —S. DINGFELDER For the full APA Ethics Code, visit www. apa.org/ethics/code.
Preview gradPSYCH digital
Check out the first edition of gradPSYCH digital at www.apa.org/gradpsych/digital/index.aspx. Anyone can access this expanded issue of gradPSYCH, which includes a slideshow of anonymous “coming out” postcards on page 8, a video of a student-made speedometer on page 32 and an interactive quiz on page 56. Don’t delay — starting in November, the full issue of gradPSYCH digital will only be viewable to APAGS members and gradPSYCH subscribers.
gradPSYCH • September 2011 • 7
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Students often notice but only sometimes blow the whistle on peers’ ethical violations
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of gradPSYCH - September 2011
GradPSYCH - September 2011
Contents
Interns: Be sure to track your hours
Students often notice but only sometimes blow the whistle on peers’ ethical violations
Psychology student spearheads coming-out project
Internship application costs rise
Odd Jobs
Media Picks
Chair’s Corner
Research Roundup
Matters to a Degree
The new academic job market
Applier beware
Does TV accurately portray psychology?
Safer travels
How to handle a tough audience
Free Money for Education
Meet your new advocates
Bulletin Board
Jobs, internships, postdocs and other opportunities
The Back Page
gradPSYCH - September 2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/gradpsych_201109
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