An Introduction to Consulting Psychology: Working With Individuals, Groups, and Organizations

by Rodney L. Lowman PhD

Overview

This book provides a broad introduction to consulting psychology that reviews assessment and intervention at three levels of competency—individual, group, and organizational—including how these levels interact.

Consulting psychology is a burgeoning yet sometimes underappreciated discipline whose goal is to empower clients and improve workplace functioning. In this book, Dr. Lowman describes this fulfilling and important work, translating theory and research into a succinct and accessible overview that will familiarize students, psychologists from multiple disciplines, and others with the field.

Lowman reviews how consultation helps clients at three levels—individual, group, and organizational. Using illustrative case examples, he samples issues that can arise at each level and describes appropriate tools for assessment and intervention.

The various consulting activities surveyed include:

• screening potential job candidates;
• coaching individuals to help them adapt to new roles and manage relationships with colleagues;
• evaluating and improving work group dynamics, such as communication patterns; and
• working with different organizational cultures to enhance system-wide processes and structures.

Leadership is given special focus as a complex topic that spans all three levels and requires the consultant to consider a host of variables. Multiculturalism and internationalism are also examined as competencies that consulting psychologists must possess in our increasingly globalized society.

Lowman also considers important professional standards and guidelines for consulting psychologists, including the APA Ethics Code.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433821783
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	02/15/2016
Series:	Fundamentals of Consulting Psychology Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Rodney L. Lowman, PhD, is currently a distinguished professor in the California School of Professional Psychology and is past provost/vice president of academic affairs and past acting president of Alliant International University. Dr. Lowman has authored or edited nine books and monographs, published more than 130 scholarly and professional publications, and given hundreds of professional presentations all over the world. His previous works include Internationalizing Multiculturalism: Expanding Professional Competencies in a Globalized World; Handbook of Organizational Consulting Psychology; The Ethical Practice of Psychology in Organizations (2nd ed.); The Clinical Practice of Career Assessment: Abilities, Interests, and Personality; Counseling and Psychotherapy of Work Dysfunctions; and Pre-Employment Screening: A Guide to Professional Practice.
 
Dr. Lowman has served as editor of Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, the flagship journal in the field of consulting psychology, currently is the series editor of the APA Fundamentals of Consulting Psychology book series, and was founding editor of The Psychologist-Manager Journal. He has also served on the editorial boards of other journals and has lectured widely both in the United States and abroad on professional ethics, consulting psychology, career assessment and counseling, and counseling and psychotherapy of work dysfunctions.
 
Dr. Lowman is a Fellow of APA, Divisions 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology), 13 (Society of Consulting Psychology), 14 (Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology), 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), and 52 (International Psychology), and he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Assessment Psychology. He also heads the Scientific Advisory Board of Leadership Worth Following, a Dallas-based consulting firm.
 
Dr. Lowman is past president of the Society of Consulting Psychology and the Society for Psychologists in Management. He has served as Research Domain Leader and as elected APA Council representative for the Society of Consulting Psychology, and later as elected APA Council representative for the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. He was the inaugural elected chair of APA's Council Leadership Team and in this role served as a nonvoting participant on APA's Board.
 
Dr. Lowman has received many honors and recognitions for his professional work, including the Richard Kilburg Service Award from the Society of Psychologists in Management, the Service Award from the Society for Consulting Psychology, and the International–Multicultural Provost's Award from Alliant International University. He is a psychologist licensed in California and currently resides in San Diego, with his spouse, clinical psychologist Dr. Linda Richardson. Their daughter is a writer and entrepreneur who lives in New York, where she is attending Cornell University's "Cornell Tech" MBA program.
 

Table of Contents

Series Editor's Foreword Rodney L. Lowman ix

Chapter 1 The Work of Consulting Psychologists 3

Chapter 2 Consulting at the Individual Level 21

Chapter 3 Consulting at the Group and Team Level 43

Chapter 4 Consulting at the Organizational Level 63

Chapter 5 Integrating Across Domains and Levels: The Case of Leadership 81

Chapter 6 Multicultural and International Issues in Consulting Psychology 101

Chapter 7 Ethical and Professional Standards in the Practice of Consulting Psychology 111

Chapter 8 The Road Ahead 135

References 141

Index 163

About the Author 169

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM, FAAETS (C3 Education and Research, Inc.)
Description: This is a wonderful exploration of the world of consulting psychology that examines the consulting psychologist's role at the individual, group, and organizational level. It is a realistic primer of what to expect and how to handle various pitfalls and hurdles. While it is a broad overview, it provides solid knowledge about this field.
Purpose: The main purpose is to introduce readers to an area that is both exciting and challenging. In many ways, consulting psychology is a field that is often overlooked, under recognized, and clearly not taught in most graduate programs. This book gives the foundation for further exploration of the field and the many areas to which consulting psychologists may be able to contribute. The author has done a fine job presenting the material in a realistic manner.
Audience: While the book is geared for psychologists, those in other professions such as medicine and business may benefit as well, as the principles are applicable across disciplines. This would be an excellent resource and supplemental guide to use in graduate work, especially an industrial/organizational psychology program.
Features: The book provides a strong base of knowledge about the various levels of consulting practice including the individual, the group and team, and the organizational. The author explains the nature of the work in an easy-to-read, enjoyable format. Notably, case discussions are intertwined throughout all chapters, helping to solidify the knowledge and promote applicability. The book also devotes an entire chapter to the ethical and professional standards one must follow as well as a discussion of the pitfalls one may encounter as a consulting psychologist.
Assessment: The author has demystified the world of consulting psychology. This is truly an excellent primer on consulting psychology and the dynamics at play.

Doody's Review Service

Exceptionally well organized and presented, An Introduction to Consulting Psychology is comprehensively informed and informative.

Midwest Book Review