The shift towards consulting psychology in South Africa : implications for training
Date
2007-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
The recent history of psychology in South Africa has seen a shift amongst
clinical/counselling psychologists towards a distinct practice modality. The
overarching aim of this study is to explore the shift amongst clinical/counselling
psychologists towards the consulting psychology modality, and to investigate the
implications of this shift for the training of psychologists in South Africa. The
trend towards consulting psychology is investigated through an analysis of the
described experiences and perceptions of registered clinical/counselling
psychologists working in consulting roles; educators involved in the training of
psychologists; and consumers of the services of consulting psychologists.
Juxtaposition of the competencies required for success as a consulting
psychologist with the competencies acquired in current clinical/counselling
training programmes has implications for a potential reconceptualisation of
training approaches in the light of this shift. A grounded theory approach is
employed to access the perceptions of those most intimately involved in the field
without manipulating these through the lens of a pre-defined hypothesis. The
perceptions, as accessed via interviews and focus groups, of 9 consulting
clinical/counselling psychologists, 10 educators, and 8 consumers form a
triangulated depiction of the shift to this practice modality, the competencies it
requires, and the efficacy of current clinical/counselling training programmes in
equipping psychologists for a consulting role. Analysis of these inputs indicates
that clinical/counselling psychologists lack certain competencies vital to successful consulting. They do, however, possess many of the core-competencies
required. Hence, while the training of psychologists may require review in order
to meet the changing needs of both providers and consumers of consulting
psychology services in South Africa, many of the facets of current
clinical/counselling programmes are indispensable.
Description
Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Keywords
Psychology, Industrial, Psychology, Industrial -- Study and teaching, Dissertations -- Psychology, Theses -- Psychology