A guide for starting a specialty training clinic: An alcohol treatment program as an example

Since the Boulder conference more than 50 years ago, clinical psychology has been moving toward empirically-based techniques and methods. Considerable research has been conducted and a multitude of studies have documented support for empirically-supported treatments (ESTs). However, the literature on implementing ESTs in real-world settings is relatively limited. The absence of practical guidance poses a particular problem for students in clinical psychology training programs that emphasize training and competency in ESTs. This article describes the development of an alcohol specialty clinic within a clinical psychology training program from the first conceptualizations to establishment of a referral base and provision of services. At each step, integration of science and clinical practice is discussed. Future directions and suggestions for developing training clinics are provided