Education and Training in Rehabilitation Psychology

Issues of education and training are fundamental to the conceptualization and development of the specialty of applied rehabilitation psychology, as they are in all areas of professional health service psychology. A specialty is shaped by the preparation of its practitioners, including its selection of trainees, the structures and processes of its training programs, and the competencies expected of successful trainees. In considering education and training in rehabilitation psychology, this chapter discusses a conceptual space, based on the definition of the specialty and its relevance to important world health issues; conceptual elements, based on existing training guidelines and expected practitioner competencies; and data about what actually occurs in preparing practitioners for work in rehabilitation psychology. Recommendations are made for improving education and training in rehabilitation psychology.