CLINICAL SOCIOLOGISTS: COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

For several years, many sociologists have been practitioners in personal development and social change. They have worked in various clinics, mental health centers, juvenile delinquency and crime prevention programs, drug addiction programs, suicide prevention centers, and family growth and development pro grams, applying sociological thinking and knowledge. Moreover, many sociologists have developed therapeutic skills, methods, interactive strategies of intervention, and techniques, and have been involved in applying sociological knowledge and methods to solving mental health, community development, organizational change, and family relations problems. Consequently, there is evidence that sociologists have practiced the application of socio logical knowledge in clinical settings. Now that there is an organized attempt to establish the field of clinical sociology,1 there are two objectives that must be satis fied in the process. The first is to unify the scientific and pro fessional aspects of Clinical Sociology so that academicians and practitioners who are committed to clinical research and clinical practice might work to bring these aspects more closely together. The potential rifts among colleagues whose primary commit ment is to clinical research, teaching, or practice might be averted were unification achieved.