Competências profissionais na psicologia pediátrica nos contextos hospitalar e ambulatoria

Abstract

Psychological care for children and adolescents depends on the development of specific professional competencies and the proper theoretical and technical adaptation to various contexts, such as hospital and outpatient settings. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of professional competencies in psychological care for children and adolescents in hospital and outpatient contexts. It is a qualitative observational study. A content analysis was conducted on the first author’s personal notes regarding their professional training. Categories of analysis were defined, and a data extraction protocol was developed to assess: a) objective facts (observed verbal and non-verbal behaviors), environmental elements, and available instruments; b) clinical impressions of the sessions. Regarding fundamental competencies, theory supported practice in both contexts. Interdisciplinary collaboration was relatively facilitated in the hospital but absent in the outpatient setting. Regarding functional competencies, clinical formulation was unsystematic in both contexts; however, interventions in the outpatient setting were guided by theoretical approaches, whereas in the hospital, they were limited by the context. The psychologist’s individual factors interact with the foundational structure of the healthcare, social, and educational support system in mental health interventions for children and adolescents. Work processes related to clinical practice, prevention, and health promotion for this target population are closely tied to science, particularly in investigating psychological phenomena and their interfaces with contextual risk and protective factors in development. The findings provide insights for healthcare managers and professional organizations regarding the structuring of workflows for psychologist integration, especially in addressing the demands of childhood-to-adulthood transition and chronic mental health conditions.