Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Isabel Fernandes de et al. Psychologists at basic health units: professional training and practice. Interações [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.17, pp. 71-89. ISSN 1413-2907.

We characterized the professional training and practice of psychologists in Basic Health Units in Natal-RN. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 28 psychologists in 4 sanitary districts. 93% of the psychologists were females, 46% were between 30-40 years old, 89% studied in UFRN, with supervised training in clinical activities (69%), 89% have been involved in post-graduate studies, 54% used only psychotherapy and 46% associated it with other activities. The prevalence of psychotherapy, the gap between the psychologist’s work and the principles of the Brazilian Unified Health System, and the difficulty of attaining a psychological practice that surpasses the individualistic and psychologically biased views of social problems are discussed. The non-adoption of a differentiated, egalitarian and preventive conception and practice of health is a barrier to the development of actions that differ from the assistential-curative model that prevails in the propositions both of health politics and actions.

Keywords : Psychologist´s professional training; psychologist´s professional practice; Psychology in Brazil; Psychology in Rio Grande do Norte; Basic Health Units.

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