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Call For Papers: Special Issue of Clinical Psychological Science

Shaping the Future of Clinical Science Training: A Manifesto for Change

Co-Guest Editors: Cindy Yee-Bradbury, Ph.D., Timothy Strauman, Ph.D., Marisol Perez, Ph.D.

The 2023 Academy for Psychological Clinical Science (APCS) Summit on Clinical Science Training provided a unique forum for reflecting on the current state of clinical science training and imagining its evolution to meet the demands of a rapidly changing mental health landscape. Building on the discussions, feedback, and ensuing activities from this landmark event, this special issue of Clinical Psychological Science aims to distill the Summit’s key themes, highlight critical challenges, and propose actionable steps toward transformative change in the field.

The issue will adopt a forward-looking perspective, acknowledging the successes of previous training models (e.g., the Boulder Model) while addressing the complexities of preparing clinical scientists for diverse roles within research, practice, policy, and implementation science. Guided by an overarching question of “What will it take to achieve meaningful and sustainable change?” the special issue will explore a range of topics, such as:

  • Defining and expanding the roles of clinical scientists and the competencies required to meet public mental health needs.
  • The future of internship training and its integration within clinical science programs.
  • Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) into training and practice.
  • Embedding open science and interdisciplinary science into training and practice.
  • Innovations in dissemination and implementation (D&I) training.
  • Pragmatic strategies for scaling change at individual, program, and institutional levels.

The contributions will examine pivotal questions including: What changes are needed within clinical science training to address the public mental health burden? How do we prepare graduates for an expanding array of professional roles while maintaining scientific rigor and a commitment to evidence-based practice? Contributors will be encouraged to integrate actionable strategies such as pilot programs, cross-program resource pooling, or data-driven approaches to promote practical impact. Invited commentaries from diverse perspectives will accompany each invited article and further enrich the discussion by providing a range of voices to inspire the field’s evolution.

Ultimately, this special issue seeks to catalyze meaningful and pragmatic changes that prepare clinical science graduates to meet the challenges of a complex mental health landscape while fostering innovation, inclusivity, and adaptability in training. Through a collaborative and collective effort, the issue aims to inspire and energize the field, offering a roadmap for the future of clinical science training.

Please submit an abstract (500 words max) that summarizes the proposed manuscript and full author list to the Guest Editors. For full consideration, please submit abstracts by April 21, 2025, at [email protected]. Abstracts that meet the aims of CPS and the Special Issue will be most competitive and will be invited by May 21, 2025, to submit full manuscripts for further consideration. Full manuscripts should be submitted to CPS via the journal portal by November 1, 2025. We encourage contributing authors to post submitted versions of their articles to Advance, Sage’s preprint server or other (restricted) accessible repositories. Please email the Guest Editors at [email protected] with any questions about the scope of the Special Issue and its timeline.