Your Practicum in Psychology

A psychology student's practicum placement experience has the potential to be the most exciting time in his or her graduate training. This comprehensive guide to the practicum is a vital guide for all students beginning their field placement, and for those curious about how the system works. In conversational and accessible language, the authors equip students with the knowledge they need to anticipate, prevent, and resolve common difficulties that may arise during practicum placement. Readers will find helpful background information on finding one's feet, developing rapport with clients, confidentiality and ethics, symptoms of psychopathology, assessment, psychopharmacology, and working with children or older adults. This second edition includes new and updated chapters that will appeal to all graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

Janet R. Matthews , PhD, ABPP, received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Mississippi, USA following an internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA. Her postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and neuropsychological assessment was at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA. She is a licensed and board certified psychologist and Professor Emerita at Loyola University New Orleans, USA where she taught an undergraduate practicum course for 30 years. Prior to joining the Loyola faculty, she was a tenured faculty member at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Her professional activities include 5 years on her state licensing board as well as service on many boards, committees, and task forces of APA. Dr. Matthews has served multiple terms on APA's Council of Representatives as well as a term as member-at-large on APA's Board of Directors. Among the APA groups she has chaired are the Policy and Planning Board, Board of Professional Affairs, Board of Educational Affairs, and the Membership Committee. She is a past president of APA Division 2 (Society for the Teaching of Psychology), Division 31 (State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs), and Division 12's Section IV (Clinical Psychology of Women) and Section IX (Assessment Psychology) as well as of the Southwestern Psychological Association. She is a Fellow of APA through 9 of its divisions. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Board of Assessment Psychology. She is an associate editor of Professional Psychology: Research & Practice . She has recently been named to the Advisory Council for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University New Orleans, USA. This is the second book she has co-edited with Dr. Walker. Dr. Matthews has received many professional honors including a mentoring award from APA Division 12, Section IV, an APA Presidential Citation for lifetime contributions to the Southwestern Psychological Association, an award for enduring commitment to clinical psychology from APA Division 12, Section IX, and Distinguished Psychologist of the Year award from the Louisiana Psychological Association. She is married to Lee H. Matthews, a clinical psychologist with whom she is partner in a private practice. C. (Clarence) Eugene Walker , received his PhD in 1965 from Purdue University, USA with a major in clinical psychology and minors in experimental psychology and sociology. His psychology internship was completed at West Tenth Street Veteran's Administration Hospital and Riley Children's Hospital, both in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Dr. Walker taught at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, USA from 1964 to 1968, where he was an assistant professor and chair of the Division of Psychology, Education, and Physical Education and Athletic Director. From 1968 to 1974 he was an assistant, then an associate professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, USA. From 1974 to 1995 he was at the University of Oklahoma Medical School in Oklahoma City where he became Director of Training in Pediatric Psychology and co-chief of mental health services for Children's Hospital of Oklahoma, USA. On retirement, Dr. Walker was named professor emeritus at the medical school and began teaching on the Arts and Sciences campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, USA. Dr. Walker has published more than 100 articles, reviews, and chapters and more than 20 books on research and clinical practice with children and adults.