Final answer:
The 1960s marked the peak period of competition among various schools of counseling and therapy, stimulated by post-World War II optimism and social change movements. This decade was a transformative time for the field, with the Swampscott Conference and influences from Freud to Rogers shaping the landscape of psychological practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decade that saw the peak period of competition between the various schools of counseling and therapy can be most notably attributed to the 1960s. This era was characterized by significant social change movements which also influenced the field of psychology, leading to the emergence and growth of different therapeutic approaches. The optimism post-World War II and the rise of various social movements catalyzed a period where clinical psychologists were poised to create new schools of thought and practice.
In 1965, at a significant conference for psychologists known as the Swampscott Conference, the stage was set for the development of community psychology, reflecting the period's ethos for health, reforms in mental health systems, group dynamics and action research, and movements for social change and liberation. This particular decade was marked by the advent of influential perspectives from Freud and Rogers, the latter shaping what came to be known as client-centered therapy, as well as the growth of behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Collectively, these developments represented a peak in the evolution and clash of major psychological theories and practices.