Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0487
ISSN: 2161-0487
Raihana Faiqiri, Basir Ahmad Azizi, Yasimin Haidary, Hadi Rasooli and Bree Akesson
Kabul University, Afghanistan
Herat University, Afghanistan
University of New York, USA
Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Psychol Psychother
Counseling psychology has recently been introduced as a new profession in Afghanistan. However, meeting the demand that comes with developing a new profession requires identifying and defining the skills needed. This presentation will report on research that was conducted with the members of the Departments of Counseling at Kabul University and Herat University to determine how those Afghans practicing counseling psychology or wishing to employ professional counselors understand and operationalize the knowledge, skills and values required to be a professional counselor in Afghanistan. The research, conducted in 2017, used the Develop a Curriculum (DaCUM) method, which was recommended to the Afghan Government by the World Bank Group to ensure that curricula and standards for new professions introduced in the postconflict period would be relevant and applicable in the Afghan context. The results from this study have assisted Afghan faculty members in adjusting their curricula to align with recommendations of national practitioners and those organizations (such as schools, hospitals, government agencies, NGOs) that will require the services of their graduates, thereby serving as a workforce development strategy.
Raihana Faiqiri is an Associate Professor at Kabul University. She has completed her Master’s degree in Education and has been an Educator for 13 years. She has been with the Department of Psychology at Kabul University for 5 years. Her area of interest is in counseling.
E-mail: r_faqiri@yahoo.com