8:30-12:00
Answer any 2 of the following 3 questions:
1. Describe the evolution of the evidence-based practice movement in psychology. Discuss some of the challenges to defining and determining what constitutes “evidence.” What are the pros and cons of the evidence-based movement for clinical practice and the counselor training process?
2. Social class recently has gained prominence in the counseling psychology literature as an aspect of social justice. What conclusions do you draw from the literature you read about social class? What are the limitations of this literature? What are the implications for training, research and practice? Use examples to illustrate your points.
3. Often the distinction between theory and ideology is blurred. One example of this is the consideration of feminism in the literature. References to feminist “theory” can be found throughout the psychological literature and feminist “theory” is sometimes used as the backdrop for quantitative and qualitative research. In contrast, however, feminism also has been described as an ideology (i.e., a body of ideas and beliefs of a person, group, or nation) rather than a theory. Based on your reading and coursework in the program, evaluate multiculturalism in terms of the degree to which it represents a theory, an ideology or both.

1:00-4:30
Answer any 2 of the following 3 questions:
4. Based on your reading in preparation for this exam, identify one study that you read that changed the way you work with either clients in general or with specific client concerns.
Describe the study in detail with special attention to the components of the study that were particularly convincing from a scientist-practitioner perspective. Discuss specifically how you would apply this intervention in treatment and support its use if challenged by a managed care organization.
5. A psychologist at a clinic announces that due to his religious values he is not willing to see
GLBT clients. Discuss the ethical issues involved in this situation. If you were his supervisor how would you address this situation?
6. As a consumer of psychological research, argue against the use of structural equation modeling and other “esoteric” analytic strategies (e.g., growth curve modeling) typically employed by counseling researchers. Be sure to give examples from the literature to illustrate your points.

8:30-12:00
Answer any 2 of the following 3 questions:
7. The DSM system appears to be a given in current psychological practice. Discuss the pros and cons of using this system. Make an evidence-based case for continuing the use of the DSM and/or suggest viable alternatives.
8. There has been an ongoing tension between qualitative and quantitative research. Mixed methodology is proposed as a remedy to relieve this tension. Argue the merits of mixed methodology, contrasting mixed methodology to purely qualitative or quantitative approaches.
Define a research question that would be best addressed via mixed methodology and outline a mixed methods study to address the question.
9. Some psychologists argue for the importance of having a single theoretical orientation guiding their clinical work, but other psychologists advocate for a more eclectic or integrative approach.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches. Which approach do you believe reflects best practice and why?

1:00-4:30
Answer any 2 of the following 3 questions
10. Imagine you are the incoming editor of the Journal of Counseling Psychology . During your term as editor, you plan to announce several calls for manuscripts for special sections of the
Journal . The purpose of these special sections is to call attention to topics that have been underrepresented in counseling psychology publications. Identify critical gaps in the literature which warrant attention and explain why shedding light on these topics would make a significant contribution to Counseling Psychology. Be sure to ground your answer in the literature.
11. Recently, there has been an increased focus in Counseling Psychology on psychological well-being and optimal human functioning. Use the literature to discuss how you could incorporate strengths-based theories in psychological service activities.
12. Counseling psychology as a profession has a long history of struggling with issues of identity. Critical among these struggles has been attempts to differentiate counseling psychology from clinical psychology. Below are the descriptions of counseling psychology and clinical psychology as taken off of their respective web sites.
Counseling psychology as a psychological specialty facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns.
Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with a sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders.
The field of Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, disability, and discomfort as well as to promote human adaptation, adjustment, and personal development. Clinical Psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning across the life span, in varying cultures, and at all socioeconomic levels.
Assume that you are approached by a potential Ph.D. student looking to decide whether to apply to a counseling psychology or clinical psychology program and that the potential student has read these two descriptions. What would you pull from these descriptions to highlight both the similarities and differences between these two specialties? What have you read in the recent literature that might help in clarifying the distinctions between the two? Based on your responses, is it time for counseling psychology to move beyond identity concerns, or is there still more to be done? Explain your decision.