Reviewing Clinical Psychology Training in the Post-Apartheid Period: Have We Made Any Progress?

Abstract

The recruitment and training of clinical psychologists remain important challenges for South African psychology in the post-apartheid period. Specifically, the challenges are to address issues of equity and redress, develop relevant policy, curricula and practices, and to produce graduates who are able and willing to work in the context of diversity and disadvantage. In this article we selectively review the progress made in responding to these challenges. Our conclusion is one of concern, since clinical psychology's track record in terms of training leaves much to be desired. While there is a greater degree of engagement with issues of equity and access, training still remains racially skewed and redress is largely confined to simply providing institutional access. Furthermore, the ‘silences' and paucity of attempts at transforming recruitment and selection processes, policy, curricula and training practices are of even greater concern. We argue that while there are constraints to transforming training in terms of the tensions and contradictions between mainstream professional training requirements, social conditions and ‘relevant’ discourses and practices, a far more substantive engagement with, and commitment to the fundamental issues are required. This review concludes with the assertion that clinical psychology is rapidly running out of time to remedy its deficiencies and maintain its respectability as a helping profession for the entire nation. Some tentative suggestions are offered for the way forward.