President's Column: Excellence and Enjoyment

Rob Heffer
 

“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." The Joy of Children, 1964, Pearl Buck (1892-1973)”

Thinking about my colleagues in ADPTC conjures up two words: excellence and enjoyment.  In my experience, ADPTC-ers are eager to exhibit excellence in their work and enthusiastic about enjoying each other.  The work of a training clinic director may not consistently be joyful, but I find joy overall in my work through developing, extending, and improving what I do as I learn from—and along with—others.

The recent revision of the ADPTC Administrative Guidelines for Training Clinics http://www.adptc.org/orb/page/guidelines is an example of our organization’s efforts to promote best practices and support the role of training clinic director.  Thanks to Brian Lewis and his committee, this document—initially penned by Bob Hatcher following the first ADPTC mid-year meeting in Chicago (March 1999)—has been revised and is ready for distribution.  “These Guidelines are intended to provide clinic directors, directors of psychology training programs (clinical, counseling, school or combined programs), departmental chairs, and other interested parties with recommendations for the appropriate, effective and ethical administration of university-based psychology training clinics” (Purpose, page 1).  Specific best practices are recommended in the areas of (a) the Clinic Mission, (b) the Director’s Role, (c) Supervision, (d) Students/Trainees, (e) Clients, and (f) Operational Guidelines. Attention was given to the diverse range of training models within which ADPTC members work.  Rather than to demand conformity to “standards” the Guidelines were “formulated to assist directors in their roles, recognizing that effective leadership is supported and strengthened by an explicit statement of essential components for the professional operation of training clinics” (Introduction, page 1). Of course, this kind of document will evolve over time as information is incorporated from updated sources, such as the APA Record Keeping Guidelines (a draft is now available for public comment http://forms.apa.org/practice/recordkeeping/index.cfm). Please review, adapt, implement, and disseminate the ADPTC Administrative Guidelines to press toward excellence and enjoyment in your work.

In addition, plan now to enjoy and to learn with your colleagues at the ADPTC Mid-Year Meeting April 12th-14th at the Sheraton Marina Hotel in San Diego . Rick Schulte and Phyllis Terry Friedman are working on the local arrangements and Randy Cox and his Program Committee are developing an outstanding program.  Our Mid-Year Meeting will parallel the biennial APPIC Conference, “Defining and Building Skills in Psychology Training: From Practicum to Practice.”  We will share some keynote speakers and a couple sessions with APPIC and have our own sessions for the remainder of the meeting.  As expected, the 2007 Mid-Year Meeting will focus on equipping clinic directors to excel in the unique roles they play in their training program and departments and on enjoying each other’s company.   I look forward to seeing you there!

Rob