Skills and knowledge required to provide psychological services: A comparison of self report information provided by rural practitioners to that provided by non-rural psychologists

The numerous difficulties associated with providing effective mental health services to residents of rural areas have been discussed frequently in the professional literature. Yet there has been no nation wide study of the skills necessary for psychologists to function effectively in a rural setting. In a previous review of the relevant literature the present author identified several skill areas and some aspects of the psychologist\u27s personal style as being potentially important for working effectively in rural areas. In the present study a sample of practicing psychologists were polled concerning the importance of these skills and characteristics for effectively functioning in their current work situations. Subjects were practicing psychologists from rural and non-rural communities across the United States. Results indicate that the skills seen as important by rural psychologists differ significantly from those viewed as important by psychologists working in non-rural locations. Rated as more important by rural practitioners were: assessment skills, therapeutic skills, networking skills, community psychology skills, and personal style