Czechia

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Counselling in Czechia has always been strongly influenced by psychology, which has a long tradition in the country (cf. Simons/Hutchison/Baštecká 2012, p. 234). For example, such famous psychologists as Sigmund Freud (founder of psychoanalysis) and Max Wertheimer (founder of Gestalt psychology) originally come from the Czech region (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, p. 163f.).

After reviewing the literature in English and Czech, researchers* in this field claim that counselling was offered in Czechia during most of the 20th century either as marriage counselling or vocational counselling (cf. Simons/Hutchison/Baštecká 2012, p. 234). Later, academic counselling such as school and university counselling was added and has become common. However, professional psychological counselling as an independent profession does not seem to have been developed further in the country and is rather understood as a subfield of psychology.

Counselling in Czechia is regulated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (http://www.mpsv.cz/cs/) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (http://www.msmt.cz) (see Simons & Durcikova, The Czech Republic, 2013, p. 164).

Regardless of the area of practice, most counsellors usually have a master’s degree in psychology, unless they are former teachers who have taken additional courses to become school counsellors (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, pp. 163f.). The majority of students graduate from universities in Prague, Brno or Olomouc (cf. Simons/Hutchison/Baštecká 2012, p. 235). These universities offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology, although, as already mentioned, only the master’s degree entitles the holder to practice psychological counselling (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, p. 169).

• School counselling (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, p. 164).
• Psychological counselling at universities (cf. Freibergová/Fantová/Goulliová/Menclová 2003).
• Psychological counselling to support the integration of foreigners (cf. Department for Asylum and Migration Policy 2019).
• Vocational and legal counselling for people in need (homeless, unemployed, etc.) -Family and relationship counselling, legal and financial counselling (for people with debts) (cf. Centre of Social Services Prague 2020).
• Marriage counselling (cf. Simons/Hutchison/Baštecká 2012, p. 233).
• Vocational counselling (cf. Simons/Hutchison/Baštecká 2012, p. 233).
• Psychological counselling in private practices (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, p. 166).

In Czechia, psychology has a long history and so there is also the potential for further growth of the counselling sector in the country (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, p. 164). Moreover, counselling is the second largest department of the Czech Moravian Psychological Society (cf. ibid., p. 164). The number of counselling services in Czechia always seems to continue to increase. However, laws and regulations still need to be passed to support the current movements (cf. Simons/Durcikova 2013, p. 170). These include, for example, the provision of more services by counsellors and psychologists at schools, better coordination and establishment of psychological counselling centers at universities, and greater attention to the cultural differences of the population in counselling settings, taking into account the rising problem of alcoholism (cf. ibid. p. 170). Furthermore, the example of non-Czech counsellors (for example, from the other European countries) can be used to show the Czech people that adding and expanding training programs for counsellors can be beneficial (cf. Simons/Hutchison/Baštecká 2012, p. 236). The counsellors* in other countries, where counselling already exists as an independent profession, can help to establish the counselling profession in Czechia as well (cf. ibid., p. 236). In addition, they can help answer important questions such as whether there are fundamental differences between psychology and counselling, which educational approaches best serve Czech society, what standards of competence should be established, and finally, what counselling practices are most useful for people living in Czechia (cf. ibid., p. 236). Answering these questions would significantly advance the development of the profession.

For a more information about the counselling profession in the country, interested readers are encouraged to read the following journal and website articles:

• Freibergová, Z., Fantová, V., Goulliová, K. & Menclová, L. (2003). Counselling Services at Czech Universities. Praha: National Training Fund (NTF).
• Simons, J. D. & Durcikova, A. (2013). The Czech Republic. In Thomas H. Hohenshil, Norman Amundson, & Spencer G. Niles (Hrsg.), Counseling around the world : an international handbook (S. 163-172). Alexandria: American Counseling Association.
• Simons, J. D., Hutchison, B. & Baštecká, Z. (2012). Counseling in the Czech Republic: History, Status, and Future. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90 (2), 233-237.