The community context is a complex and challenging terrain in which Psychology crosses principles and foundations of two distinct areas, but which are assumed to be complementary here: Clinical and Social. In disadvantaged territories, social exclusion is a structural and multidimensional reality based on the lack of access to resources and opportunities, which can lead to a rupture in social ties. This concept is assumed to be a risk factor in terms of mental health, with a high prevalence of mental illness being common in these territories. In view of this, individual psychological support is an essential response when conceptualizing an intervention with disadvantaged communities, especially knowing the difficulties of the SNS and the population's weak economic resources to access this service in a particular way. At this individual level, the intervention focuses on reflecting on the individual's conflicts and anxieties, and the way in which they are affected by their perception of the external world. Gradually, Psychology began to look at the contexts in which the individual is inserted, expanding its vision of this internal reflection to the exchanges between the individual and the systems they integrate. We start to look at the individual as an agent with an impact on the community and impacted by it. Working with groups proves to be an effective methodology not only in terms of the individual's well-being, but also in the (re)activation of social ties and formal and informal social networks, which are considered one of the main balancing factors for mental health. .
This communication is a “journey” into the world of a clinical psychologist with systemic training inserted in a community context and his look at the way in which these constructs apply in his daily practice.
Bibliographic references
Ornelas, J. (1997). Community psychology: Origins, foundations and areas of intervention. Psychological Analysis, 3 (XV), 375-388
Nery, MP, & Costa, LF (2008). Research in clinical psychology: from the individual to the group. Psychology Studies (Campinas), 25 (2), 241-250
Pinheiro, F., Barros, JP, & Colaço, V. (2012). Community psychology and techniques for working with groups: contributions from historical-cultural theory. PSICO, Porto Alegre, PUCRS, v. 43, n. 2, 193-199.
moderator
Lídia Serra
Speaker
Pedro Ferreira