Psychological hotline at the psychology teaching clinic of the Federal University of Grande Dourados

Abstract

Psychological hotline is a contemporary form of care based on a theoretical clinical framework, adapted to meet the demands of people seeking urgent psychological care. The objective of this paper is to present an experience report of an extension project combined with a specific internship proposal of the Psychology Course of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD). The psychological hotline was implemented at the psychology teaching clinic, configuring itself as the gateway to psychology services, aiming at providing prompt qualified care, welcoming the population that was referred or that sought the service spontaneously. 53 students in the final year of the Psychology Course participated in the project, from 2014 to 2017. The service is structured as follows: a) initial interviews to receive the demand; b) follow-up with interventional psychodiagnosis or guidance and listening; and, c) closing with the completion of the process, with the possibility of discharge or referral for family or individual psychotherapy, carried out at the teaching clinic itself, or for external services. It is generally understood that the Psychological On-Call Service proved to be fundamental for the adherence of patients to referrals, as well as for the training of interns, who were able to experience an alternative form of care in Psychology.