Consolidating a Professional Identity in the 21st Century

In this article, I draw on personal experience from my past fifteen years as a psychology doctoral student, Director of a Counseling Center, Chair of a Graduate Psychology Department, Coordinator of a Psychology Doctoral Program, and private practitioner, and address some of the influential factors during this time frame that have impacted the professional identity of psychologists. Two such primary factors are discussed in relation to the professional identity of psychologists: (a) The academic preparation of professional psychologists, including the growing acceptance of alternative models for training psychologists, new roles for psychologists, and social awareness and diversity issues in the profession, and (b) managed care. Implications of such change for new psychologists who will be serving college students in the 21st century are addressed.