A Study of Clinical Psychologists Practicing in Child Foster Care Institutions in Japan: Focusing Particularly on Work Status and Practice Content

Abstract

The aim of this study was to reveal how clinical psychologists practice in child foster care institutions. Over 10 years have passed since clinical psychologists were introduced into child foster care institutions by the Health Labor and Welfare Ministry. Our study targeted 22 child foster care institutions of an anonymous prefecture, and a written questionnaire was the method of inquiry. Twenty child foster care institutions and 30 clinical psychologists cooperated with this study. The results indicated that for about half of the clinical psychologists, the current child foster care institution was their first professional experience. Half of the clinical psychologists administered psychological tests, the rate being significantly greater for full-time clinical psychologists compared to that of part-time clinical psychologists. The mean number of counseling sessions provided by full-time clinical psychologists was almost the same as that of part-time clinical psychologists. Full-time clinical psychologists provided advice and assisted the care workers and the team in addition to counseling. In contrast, part-time clinical psychologists mainly counseled children.