The making of curricular internships in psychology training: a collective experience

Abstract

This work presents the conception and implementation of basic and specific internships in the Psychology course at the Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health (EBMSP), an institution dedicated to health. Then, it describes the functioning of these practices, presenting the context in which they are inserted and the process management process. The internships occupy a different place in the curricular organization of the Psychology course at EBMSP, as they offer students possibilities of articulation between theory and practice in a critical and reflective way, as guided by the National Curricular Guidelines for Psychology Undergraduate Courses. The components are part of the pre-professional axis and enable the experience in different work spaces and processes, in the two emphases of the course, Health and Work. The activities take place over the fourth and fifth year and are mediated by several participants: student body, faculty, coordination and field supervisor. It is the academic and pedagogical organization of the internships that allows the offering of different practical experiences for the development of skills related to the Psychologist's work. It is observed that throughout the 20 years of the Psychology course at EBMSP, the internships are in continuous improvement with a focus on building the student's professional identity. It is evident from the evaluation of students, teachers and field supervisors that the graduate of the Psychology course at EBMSP, presents a generalist training, with practical skills acquired to work in the fields of health and work with high technical level, integrated critically to society, reality and the world of work.