WHO WE ARE

The Portuguese Association of Relational-Historical Psychology ⎼ APPsiRH, registered on 26 November 2009, was born of a need felt by a group of psychologists to promote new forms of clinical and systemic psychological treatment, developing innovative forms of inclusion in the community that differ from instrumental and behavioural approaches in that they are grounded in the Relational-Historical perspective of psychic development.

Our MISSION is therefore to promote social inclusion and active citizenship. We organise and establish ways of providing services to the community that serve a threefold purpose:

(1) Training & Supervision on an ongoing basis for professionals and final-year higher-education students in the fields of Mental Health and Education;

(2) Intervention covering clinical, systemic and neuropsychological psychology for children, young people, adults and their families;

(3) Scientific Research based on the interventions carried out by the technical team, for a better understanding of clinical practice in Psychology and Neuropsychology. The aim is to optimise the effectiveness of treatment and social inclusion processes.

1. In the training area, we provide specialised training for those interested in Psychology, Neuropsychology and Education. As a result of the work carried out in this area, APPsiRH has been accredited by DGERT as a training provider, with specialisations accredited by the Accreditation System of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists. The training process also includes supervision, aimed at developing the theoretical, technical and relational/social skills of professionals and final-year higher-education students in Mental Health and Education.
2. In the clinical area, we have developed social intervention programmes, notably the clinical and systemic intervention programme Rita Leal School which is aimed at children, young people and adults and their families. In this context, regular parental and systemic (family) supervision is provided so that they can respond more effectively to the needs of the children/young people in their care. Our intervention extends to various settings: schools, through the project Neuropsychology in Schools, referred by the Court, or at the Association’s premises with the aim of facilitating access to mental health services.
3. In the research area, at the Research Centre for Developmental Disorders, we produce scientific knowledge, using as our main methodology the analysis of audiovisual recordings (software The Observer XT12), which allows a rich and detailed observation of the reality and lived experiences of the individuals. The results of this research are published as scientific articles and presented at national and international conferences.

Our VISION is an inclusive society in which all citizens are effectively supported in their personal and professional development, actively and consciously taking on the role of agents of their own life/history in pursuit of a dignified and fulfilling life.