The complex practice of clinical psychologist: the influence of everyday life and culture in therapeutic interventions involving community networks

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to clarify basic theoretical constructs about lhe complexity of clinical psychologist practice in the context of psychiatric reform, with an emphasis on lhe influence of everyday life and culture in therapeutic interventions involving community networks. This practice implies interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous interactions with lhe community. The psychosocial approach adopted highlights lhe dynamic of social networks and the cooperation between professionals and patients. The aspects discussed in this article are: cultural experience; the interactions involving mental health services, the demand of patients, and the dialogue in therapeutic relations; psychological suffering, whose understanding takes into account lhe patients’ world vision and cultural myths. It was emphasized here that informal and interpersonal rules tend to influence lhe professionals’ daily practice, and interfere with institutional decisions and changes. The dialogical communication in therapeutic interaction supposes patients’ psychic suffering and world vision, which would require reinvention of cultural myths of social exclusion regarding madness. As final considerations, importance is given to de-institutionalization mental institutions as a process of social inclusion.