Inclusion of Trainee Stakeholders Is Necessary for Effective Change in Health-Service-Psychology Internship Training.

Abstract

In a recent call to action, we described pressing issues in the health-service-psychology (HSP) internship from the perspective of interns. In our article, we sought to initiate a dialogue that would include trainees and bring about concrete changes. The commentaries on our article are a testament to the readiness of the field to engage in such a dialogue, and we applaud the actionable recommendations that they make. In our response to these commentaries, we seek to move the conversation further forward. We observe two themes that cut across these responses: the impetus to gather novel data on training (the "need to know") and the importance of taking action (the "need to act"). We emphasize that in new efforts to gather data and take policy-level action, the inclusion of trainee stakeholders (as well as others involved in and affected by HSP training) is a crucial ingredient for sustainable and equitable change.