Die ontwikkeling en evaluering van 'n opleidingskursus vir privaat praktisyns in die sielkunde

English: The employment options available to South African psychologists are clearly spelled out in the guidelines given by the Professional Board for Psychology (HPCSA, 2006). According to these guidelines, psychologists may work for a variety of organisations or may opt for self-employment in private practice. PsySSA (2006) indicates that the Health Professions Council of South Africa has near to 6000 psychologists on its psychology register and that 4300 psychologists (excluding industrial psychologists, research psychologists and psychologists in community service) were employed in private practice during 2005. The psychology industry in South Africa is estimated at a value of R2,5 milliard per annum, approximately 65% (1,6 milliard) of which is generated in private practice. The training of psychologists at most South African universities is largely focused on equipping the psychologist in private practice with the skills to be a therapist, counsellor, consultant or researcher, and little or no attention is given to preparing the psychologist for managing a psychology practice; which comprises elements of self-employment and entrepreneurship. Moreover, training in the principles of practice management at South African universities is focused on the ethics of practice as opposed to practice management itself. The conclusion to be drawn from these statements is that the business component of psychology training in South Africa is currently neglected. The purpose of this research is to develop and evaluate a training programme for registered psychologists making an entry into private practice. This programme was developed and evaluated by employing a qualitative research methodology in three phases and was supplemented with the use of quantitative methods. During the first phase of the research, a background study and needs assessment were performed by means of conducting a comprehensive literature study on the nature and content of training models for psychology practice management in the South African context as well as internationally, and by means of qualitative interviews with 10 successful psychologists in private practice in the Free State. In addition to this, an analysis of training practices at South African universities was conducted. The literature study and qualitative interviews with practitioners and training institutions confirmed the research problem, i.e. that formal training in the management of a psychology practice is inadequate and that a pressing need for such training exists in South Africa. The final step in the first research phase comprised the compilation of a structured questionnaire, drawing upon the training agenda formulated from the literature study as well as the supplementary qualitative interviews. This questionnaire was designed with the aim of determining the current state, nature and content of the potential training needs for existing and prospective psychologists in South African private practice. Deriving from the inputs of the first phase, phase two of the research saw the development, presentation and evaluation of an experimental training programme for private practitioners by making use of an experiential model (Kolb, 1984). Phase three of the research process comprised the documentation and evaluation of the final training programme by four specialists. The contribution of this study is such that it attempts to meaningfully integrate the study terrains of psychology and the management sciences, not only to assist prospective psychologists to meet the challenges of private practice but also in the interests of the natural evolution of the profession and its optimal positioning in the South African health services sector. The competencies attained by successful private practitioners through experience and which enables them to establish their practices successfully, currently exists as an informal knowledge system between practitioners. This knowledge base should be theoretically grounded and presented to practitioners during the training preceding the establishment of a private practice. It is hoped that the alignment between the theoretical models and the wisdom of practitioners, acquired through the valuable lessons they have learned, has been captured in this study, and that it may in future be used as a suitable basis for training.