The way for certifying counselors and psychotherapists in China / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:From a professional competency-based perspective,this study aimed to explore appro-priate ways for certifying counselors and psychotherapists in China,and focused on improving the evaluation pro-gram for clinical and counseling psychologist of the Clinical and Counseling Psychology Registration System (CCPRS)of Chinese Psychological Society.Method:The theories and methods for certifying counselors and psy-chotherapists in China and overseas were summarized by using the literature method,based on which the design principles for certification in China were determined.Using the expert method,the core competencies of Chinese counselor and psychotherapist were proposed to form the index system of evaluation.A survey was also conducted to obtain a preliminary validity of the improved evaluation program.Result:Design principles for certifying coun-selors and psychotherapists were multi-trait,multi-method,and multi-informant.The core competencies of Chinese counselor and therapist included six domains,which were professional attitudes and conduct,ethics and law,clinical knowledge and skills,science and research,relationship building,cultural diversity and Chinese culture,case man-agement,respectively.Results from the expert judgments indicated that the evaluation materials which formulated by the improved program could assess all six core competencies and had acceptable reliabilities(Cronbach's α=0.74-0.97).And the expert evaluation about the improved program was high.Conclusion:The core competencies of Chinese counselor and therapist,which formulated by the improved evaluation program,reflect the necessary attitudes,knowledge and skills that needed when engaged in the professional practice of counseling and psychothera-py,and also can be used as a reference for counselor and psychotherapist education,training,practice,and compe-tency evaluation in China.The improved evaluation program can be used as a transitional way for certifying coun-selors and psychotherapists in China.