Académique Documents
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Universidade de Coimbra
1
What is counseling psychology?
Currently there is no indigenous accepted
definition of counseling psychology in our country
The same is true about any original Portuguese
theoretical models or techniques
The majority of researchers and practitioners, in
Portugal, will subscribe to and agree with the five
unifying themes explained by Gelso & Fretz, as
the most important distinctive characteristics of the
discipline of counseling psychology
2
Central Roles of Counseling
Psychology
Another distinctive characteristic of the science and
profession of Counseling Psychology, is its
emphasis on the activation of the following roles:
Remedial
Preventive
3
Enduring the Salazar Dictatorship
4
Recent historical events - continuing
Foundation of the first Faculties of Psychology (Coimbra,
Lisbon, and Oporto) in 1980.
Creation of several Services (Vocational and Educational Guidance,
Consulting Psychology) within the Faculties structures, related to the
specialty of counseling psychology
Creation of the career of Psicólogo-Conselheiro de
Orientação Escolar e Profissional (COEP), within the
Ministry of Education, and the Services of Psychology and
Guidance (SPO’s) in the Educational System (1991)
Introduction in the major Universities and other Higher
Education Institutions of Counseling and Psychotherapy
Services (late 90’s).
Current Status
(Duarte, Paixão & Lima, 2007)
Intensive recruitment of counseling professionals
from mid 80’s to mid 90’s to work in schools and
employment settings (private and mainly public
sectors)
Creation of counseling psychology services in some
higher education institutions (and the RESAPES
network, late 90’s)
Several initiatives took place (seminars, national
scientific meetings, publication of thematic journal
issues and proceedings)
5
Current status - continuing
Research on counseling issues has been increasing,
namely in the ever growing number of master and
doctoral dissertations
Attention to specific populations
At risk students (Special Education Needs)
Erasmus students
Students coming from Portuguese Speaking Countries
Ageing groups
6
Current status - continuing
BUT …
Lack of professional regulations has encouraged other less
trained practitioners to engage in counseling activities
In the last few years there has been a severe decrease in the
recruitment and training of counseling professionals
New evidence of de-motivation and even burnout among some
very dedicated counseling psychologists (difficulty in coping with
increasing job demands imposed by the employers, caused by the
consequences of globalization)
Lack of strategic plan for counseling psychology (a clear mission
statement)
Lack of common core national curriculum for the training and
credentialing of professionals in the specialty of counseling
psychology
Future Directions
To invest in the post-graduate training (2nd and
3rd cycle of higher education studies) in counseling
psychology (Counseling Psychology Diploma)
A Division of Counseling Psychology should be
institutionalized within the Scientific Psychological
Associations already existing and/or in the
Professional College to be created in near future
To restructure the a-theoretical, isolated and
mainly remedial practices existing today into an
articulated and full counseling model.
7
Future Directions -- continuing
To improve the quality of the services provided
(doing more program evaluation studies)
To increase the attractiveness of prospective
graduate students to the area of Counseling
Psychology
To foster the growth of indigenous research and
the demand for evidence practice and its
evaluation.
8
Possible working definition of
counseling psychology
A specialty within the science and profession of
psychology [Gelso & Fretz, 2001] (…) [that] can be
understood as the application of psychological
knowledge, psychotherapeutic skills and professional
judgment to facilitate enhanced human functioning
and quality of life [Leung, Chan, & Leahy, 2007].”