Psychology licensing board disciplinary actions: The realities

Our increasingly litigious society leaves many professional psychologists with a sense of vulnerability. This article presents survey information about disciplinary complaints against psychologists and about psychology licensing board actions. The data collected support an alternative perspective to the view that licensing boards are overzealous in their disciplinary procedures and actions against licensees or that they are lax in their protection of the public. In fact, few complaints are filed and most do not lead to discipline. Recommendations are offered that would permit clearer interpretation of the complaints of misconduct, the outcomes of those complaints, and the risk of adverse actions by boards.