Shifting the focus of psychological intervention: From Freudian couch to Freirian community collaboration

Abstract

The practice of psychology has been critiqued for being Eurocentric in its focus and application. In this presentation, I will present arguments for broadening the conceptualisation of psychological intervention beyond the traditional individual curative preoccupation and consider the broader spectrum of psychological interventions. Drawing from my experience in working in South Africa, I will describe initiatives of how service learning modules can be used formatively to encourage students to engage in indigenous, collaborative psychological community work on the one hand, and to transform the training agenda of a clinical psychology training programme.