DeRosier, M. E. (2004). Moving the Boulder model from ideal to real. North Carolina Psychologist, 12
The Boulder Model advocates an ideal, the integration of the science and practice of clinical psychology. Since its inception in 1949, the model has been widely applied in training programs for mental health professionals. However, once training is completed and psychologists set about applying psychology in real-world settings, the Boulder Model can readily break down on both sides. Clinicians focus on social work, and researchers focus on research, with relatively little communication between the two camps. As a result, most mental health care provided by clinicians in community settings still involves practices that have not been tested in research. Conversely, practices that researchers have tested and found to be beneficial remain primarily in universities and other research settings.
