Why choose this topic?
During a course with Mrs. Debont, we discovered this specialty of psychology that we had never heard of before. Therefore, we wanted to focus more on it to fully understand the differences and similarities with the French term of “psychologie integrative” in history, theory and application. Being currently in a society advocating expertise in one single field, it was important for us to learn about a global approach and practice that is recognized and legitimate in other countries.
What is the counseling psychology?
Counseling psychology has emerged in occupational psychology. The Society of Counseling Psychology defines it as a professional branch of psychology. It is interested in events and demonstrations that can cause difficulties in everyday life. This includes emotional, social, professional and educational concerns that may be related to health, development and organization. The target audience can therefore be of any age: children, adolescents, adults, seniors.
In addition, in counselling psychology, an important feature is the consideration of the individuality and culture of the person to address his or her daily difficulties, whether in “academic adjustment, life transitions, relational difficulties, learning deficits, stress management, organizational problems and career changes”.
There are therefore similarities and differences with clinical psychology.
To begin with, the counselling psychologist emerging from social psychology, the approach developed was more global and focused more on people in good psychological and emotional health. It was based in the relationship with the other on humanistic and positive psychology at first with the valorization of the patient’s strengths and then on all the others (psychodynamics, cognitive-comprotemental, ethnopsychiatry, systemic etc). Unlike clinical psychology, which also has a psychopathological approach, it makes it possible to understand “abnormal” functioning and to make a diagnosis.
Although there are these differences, clinical psychology and counselling regularly overlap in practice, since each of the training courses teaches the art of psychotherapy, accompaniment, support and counselling. Thus, their training is both endowed with the ability to be in care.
What is the training?
This is a specific training in psychology counselling and is accredited by the APA. During doctoral studies lasting 4 to 6 years, different topics are covered: the basics of psychopathology, different theories (counselling, development, evaluation, psychopathology, statistics, ethics) and research design. Supervision and consultation times are also on the agenda. In addition, for at least one year on a full-time basis, internships must be carried out and supervised in order to develop the skills specific to this field. And finally, a written report in the form of a thesis is also required in order to validate this training.
What are the applications to this field of psychology?
Counseling psychology provides psychotherapy to help people overcome their daily difficulties. This can be done in groups or individually with all age groups, as we have seen previously.
In addition, this title makes it possible to work both in private practice and in multiple institutions: companies, healthcare structures (somatic and/or psychological), universities, schools. In addition, there is also the opportunity to work in research and thus advance knowledge in this field of psychology.
What about France?
In France, Counselling psychology is very little known, even unknown to some people (such as us for example). There is counselling training (with PATIO), but it focuses only on the psychology of the work and is not very similar to the one described above by the APA.
A second training course exists in Marseille. This one mentions the concept of “psychosynthesis”. Psychosynthesis is a global psychological approach based mainly on psychoanalysis and humanism, created by Doctor Roberto Assagioli (1888-1974), an Italian psychiatrist after his meeting with Carl Gustav Jung in 1909. This training seems to be in line with the APA’s conception of counselling psychology. The main difference is that it provides an European certificate in psychotherapy and not a diploma in psychology.
Finally, counselling is not integrated into psychology in France as it is in English-speaking countries. At least, not yet.
Bibliographic references
https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/counseling
https://www.div17.org/about-cp/what-is-counseling-psychology/
https://www.bestpsychologydegrees.com/faq/what-is-counseling-psychology/
http://www.psychosynthese.com/la-psychosynthese/quest-ce-que-la-psychosynthese.html
The key Words
- Counseling psychology
- Psychosynthesis = psychosynthèse
- Training course = formation
- Overcome = Surpasser
- To advocate = Prôner
660 words
Pauline Bonnet et Manon Fevrier