PROFESSIONAL MARKERS OF THE ACTIVITY OF A PSYCHOLOGIST-CONSULTANT IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: CHALLENGES AND TRENDS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/cusu-psy-2026-1-4Keywords:
knowledge, skills, crisis and risk-oriented skills, competence, healthcare, medical institutions, compliance, psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, confidentiality, crisis interventions, interprofessional communication, psychological correction, psychological rehabilitation, emotional statesAbstract
This article presents the author’s view of the key indicators of professional practice for psychologists, which serve to determine their professional competence and compliance with the international requirements of Professional Standards, as well as their ability to effectively fulfil their duties as competent providers of psychological support to clients. It presents a contemporary scientific understanding of such psychological indicators as: ‘knowledge’; ‘declarative knowledge’; ‘procedural knowledge’; ‘skills’; ‘competencies’; ‘competence’; ‘sub-competence’ and others. The aim of the article is to specify the psychological content of the professional markers of the activities of counselling psychologists within the healthcare system, and to identify the main professional characteristics and areas of work. The article also notes that the role of the counselling psychologist within the healthcare system can be defined as: a) ‘building a bridge’ between the client and the doctor, helping the client to accept the diagnosis and treatment plan, and reducing anxiety levels; b) ensuring the prevention of burnout, supporting medical staff, and managing stress; c) achieving a comprehensive approach and integrating psychological support into the overall treatment system to achieve the best outcomes; d) collaborating with medical staff. The article also highlights the roles of the counselling psychologist in healthcare, which include diagnosing and addressing patients’ psychological well-being, assisting with adaptation to illness, managing stress and psychological trauma, as well as developing rehabilitation programmes aimed at restoring mental health and promoting harmonious development. It is noted that the counselling psychologist acts as a link between the patient and the treatment process, requiring collaboration with medical staff to ensure a comprehensive approach to treatment and an improvement in the psychological climate. These measures have necessitated a description of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies required of specialists in this field.
References
Калмиков Г.В. Психологія формування професійно-мовленнєвої діяльності майбутніх психологів. Монографія. 2019. Київ: Видавничий дім «Слово», 316 с.
American Psychological Association. Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. 2017. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR). 2022. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Blustein D. L., Goodyear R. K., Perry J. C., Cypers S. The Shifting Sands of Counseling Psychology Programs’ Institutional Contexts: An Environmental Scan and Revitalizing Strategies: An Environmental Scan and Revitalizing Strategies. The Counseling Psychologist, 2005. Vol.33, no. 5, pp. 610-634. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000005277820
Clark D.M. Realizing the Mass Public Benefit of Evidence-Based Psychological Therapies: The IAPT Program. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 2018. Vol.14. pp.159-183. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050817-084833
DiMatteo M.R. Social support and patient adherence to medical treatment: A meta-analysis. Health Psychology. 2004. Vol.23, no.2. pp. 207-218. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.23.2.207
Engel G. L. The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science (New York, N.Y.), 1977. 196(4286). pp. 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460
Maslach C., Leiter M. P. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). 2016. Vol. 15, no.2, pp. 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
World Health Organization. International classification of diseases for mortality and morbidity statistics (11th revision; ICD-11). 2019. https://icd.who.int
World Health Organization. World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. 2022. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
Wu M. S., McGuire J. F., Martino C., Phares V., Selles R. R., Storch E. A. A meta-analysis of family accommodation and OCD symptom severity. Clinical psychology review. 2016, Vol.45. pp. 34-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.03.003
Young C, Saville Young L. Comparing clinical and counselling psychologists’ practitioner demographics, key activities, theoretical orientations, values, and career satisfaction: a contribution to the Scopes of Practice debate. South African Journal of Psychology. 2019. Vol.49, no.4. pp. 505-517. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246318823188
Chen C., Zhang Y., Guo Q., Wang X., Chen S. Core competencies for psychological counselors: A scoping review. Behavioral Sciences. 2025. Vol.15, no.2, p. 147. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020147
