The book Remote Psychological Counseling Service: Theory and Practice of PsychoGroups on WhatsApp. An experience during the COVID-19 pandemic was presented with a virtual exchange between some of its authors.
This volume, published by the editorial of the Center for Demographic Studies (CEDEM) of the University of Havana, brings together the knowledge of a group of 41 authors, coordinated by the psychologist Bárbara Zas, who also coordinated the operation of the virtual groups.
The work of the psychogroups, the text indicates, was supported by three essential pillars of action: psychological orientation, group devices and the use of social networks and includes a service route, from its conceptual, methodological and organizational bases of the psychological orientation at a distance offered, implementation, dynamics and evaluation.
Among the recommendations of this delivery are to implement the remote psychological counseling service, which has proven to be viable in Cuba, to other demands or situations that are or are not emergency; when the post closure of the service presents a situation of health reemergency, create specific WhatsApp PsychoGroups with a territorial focus, as is the current case in Havana and Artemisa, and readjust teams with different counselors that allow to enhance the orientation from the professional strengths and satisfy the high demand with diversity of themes.
At the same time, it proposes, as an essential part of the organization and training actions of the distance care service (or face-to-face), to systematize horizontal and external supervision actions, to continue adjusting to the virtual modality, other resources, techniques and dynamics to favor learning and group work.
On the other hand, it considers it advisable, in addition, the use of materials and infographics from other contexts, the elaboration of own supports or establish alliances with the group of users for its design, which guarantees the adjustment of content and contextual and, in very specific populations or themes, develop a strategy to promote the service within the target community to reach a greater number of members and more varied active participations.
In his final reflections it is pointed out that the remote psychological counseling service of PsicoGrupos WhatsApp, has been designed in such a way that it can be replicated by other groups of professionals in similar conditions, whether or not they are emergency.
According to the text, the theoretical-methodological principles established on psychological orientation at a distance, from the presuppositions of Cuban psychology, constitute a theoretical production of reference in the development of this practice in the national context.
In turn, he adds that the professional and social responsibility of assuming a remote psychological orientation service aimed at the population, implies prioritizing to guarantee the quality of the professional actions carried out, a training in skills for this type of experience and the work with large groups in the virtual space.
In his words to the prologue, the psychologist Manuel Calviño considered that "it is the publication of an experience of dimensions not only scientific, methodological, but also ethical, where science is discovered as a direct operation at the service of the well-being and happiness of human beings, so making it visible, sharing it is an act of utmost responsibility".
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342669232
La tarea de Psicogrupos WhatsApp es brindar orientación psicológica para un mejor proceso de. afrontamiento a la pandemia de la COVID-19. Para ello se trabaja con varios grupos poblacionales ...
