Counselling Psychology training in the United Kingdom for Greek students who completed their undergraduate training in Greece: themes when comparing the two different organisational settings

Abstract

Citation: Filippopoulos, P. (2009). Counselling Psychology training in the United Kingdom for Greek students who completed their undergraduate training in Greece: themes when comparing the two different organisational settings. European Journal of Counselling Psychology, 1(2), pp. 3-15. This is the published version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks to Demosthenous Maria from Surrey University, Psy D Programme, who helped with the transcription of the interviews of the present study and transcribed all the interviews and the pilot interview for the purpose of this research. AbstractCounselling Psychology training is a very important aspect of the profession of counselling psychologists. In Europe there are countries that do not include such training in their educational system with the result that a lot of Psychology graduates must move to a different country in order to qualify as counselling psychologists. A number of students who completed their first degree in Greece have studied, and still are studying, counselling psychology at a doctoral level in the United Kingdom.The present study interviewed students that have completed their first degree in Greece and are currently studying Counselling Psychology at a British higher education institute. A thematic analysis was conducted and 4 main themes emerged:Professional Identity, transformative learning, research and training for research, and feelings. In conclusion, all the participants expressed ideas that their move to a British institute was a very good choice for both their training and their professional development.

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“…More and more people appear to be moving within the European Union using this right according to regulation No 1612/68 (The European Parliament, 2004) and recent data suggest that there is a population change within the European Union with net migration being equal to all changes in total population that cannot be attributed to births and deaths (European Commission eurostat, 2009). This move puts culture on the map, as its connection with the use of ethnic diversity and mechanisms of ethnic integration through constituted identities such as professional identity is evident in recent literature (Filippopoulos, 2009). Axelson (1993) argued that all groups of people who identify themselves or have connections to each other based on some shared aims, needs, or the similarity of background, belong to the same culture.…”

Exploring the perceptions of Greek counsellors’ and counselling psychologists’ professional identity and training experience, through the lens of the first alumni graduates of a Greek state University

“…The general population in Greece has changed in recent years through both forced and voluntary migration, hence the culture-specific developments in how psychological distress is approached shall very much be based in the pluralistic framework that such trainings provide (Cooper & McLeod, 2010;Cooper & Dryden, 2015) The model of the 'practitioner-researcher' or 'scientist-practitioner' identity is something that has been supported by the field of counselling psychology (Vespia & Sauer, 2006) but more for those training at Doctoral level. It is evident that such a critical thinking approach is needed at earlier stages of Education in Greece, something that could plant the seed for a more collaborative approach amongst professionals; this could also influence the perceptions of the general public around the role of counsellor and counselling psychologist and as such facilitate a process of psychological help-seeking that is well informed and encourages the advancement of the profession in countries across Europe and beyond where still developing.…”