Die ontwikkeling en evaluering van 'n opleidingskursus vir privaat praktisyns in die sielkunde

[摘要] English: The employment options available to South African psychologists are clearly spelledout in the guidelines given by the Professional Board for Psychology (HPCSA,2006). According to these guidelines, psychologists may work for a variety oforganisations or may opt for self-employment in private practice. PsySSA (2006)indicates that the Health Professions Council of South Africa has near to 6000psychologists on its psychology register and that 4300 psychologists (excludingindustrial psychologists, research psychologists and psychologists in communityservice) were employed in private practice during 2005. The psychology industry inSouth Africa is estimated at a value of R2,5 milliard per annum, approximately 65%(1,6 milliard) of which is generated in private practice.The training of psychologists at most South African universities is largely focused onequipping the psychologist in private practice with the skills to be a therapist,counsellor, consultant or researcher, and little or no attention is given to preparingthe psychologist for managing a psychology practice; which comprises elements ofself-employment and entrepreneurship. Moreover, training in the principles ofpractice management at South African universities is focused on the ethics ofpractice as opposed to practice management itself. The conclusion to be drawn fromthese statements is that the business component of psychology training in SouthAfrica is currently neglected.The purpose of this research is to develop and evaluate a training programme forregistered psychologists making an entry into private practice. This programme wasdeveloped and evaluated by employing a qualitative research methodology in threephases and was supplemented with the use of quantitative methods. During thefirst phase of the research, a background study and needs assessment were performed by means of conducting a comprehensive literature study on the natureand content of training models for psychology practice management in the SouthAfrican context as well as internationally, and by means of qualitative interviews with10 successful psychologists in private practice in the Free State. In addition to this,an analysis of training practices at South African universities was conducted. Theliterature study and qualitative interviews with practitioners and training institutionsconfirmed the research problem, i.e. that formal training in the management of apsychology practice is inadequate and that a pressing need for such training existsin South Africa. The final step in the first research phase comprised the compilationof a structured questionnaire, drawing upon the training agenda formulated from theliterature study as well as the supplementary qualitative interviews. Thisquestionnaire was designed with the aim of determining the current state, nature andcontent of the potential training needs for existing and prospective psychologists inSouth African private practice.Deriving from the inputs of the first phase, phase two of the research saw thedevelopment, presentation and evaluation of an experimental training programme forprivate practitioners by making use of an experiential model (Kolb, 1984). Phasethree of the research process comprised the documentation and evaluation of thefinal training programme by four specialists.The contribution of this study is such that it attempts to meaningfully integrate thestudy terrains of psychology and the management sciences, not only to assistprospective psychologists to meet the challenges of private practice but also in theinterests of the natural evolution of the profession and its optimal positioning in theSouth African health services sector. The competencies attained by successfulprivate practitioners through experience and which enables them to establish theirpractices successfully, currently exists as an informal knowledge system betweenpractitioners. This knowledge base should be theoretically grounded and presentedto practitioners during the training preceding the establishment of a private practice.It is hoped that the alignment between the theoretical models and the wisdom of practitioners, acquired through the valuable lessons they have learned, has beencaptured in this study, and that it may in future be used as a suitable basis fortraining.

[发布机构] University of the Free State