Protocol Signed Between Üsküdar Üniversitesi and Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association

A cooperation protocol was signed between Üsküdar Üniversitesi and the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association. Within the scope of the cooperation protocol, which covers the '5th International Congress of Positive Psychology', Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Association President Mesut Yıldırım came together. Highlighting the great importance of the cooperation to be established between PDR (Psychological Counseling and Guidance) and Psychology, Tarhan emphasized the importance of training PDR professionals who will lead the future of mental health.

The protocol signing ceremony held at the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Central Campus Senate Hall was attended by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Sırrı Akbaba, Secretary General Selçuk Uysaler, Positive Psychology Coordinator Dr. Lecturer Fatma Turan, Head of Corporate Communications Tahsin Aksu, Event Manager Dağhan Rasim Işık and Media Relations Specialist Ayşe Nur Akçelik.

From the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association, Chairman Mesut Yıldırım, Psychologist, and representatives of the Association were present, including Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Metin Pişkin, Secretary General-Psychological Counselor Mehmet Fatih Kılıç, Vice Chairman Responsible for Organization-Expert Psychological Counselor Cemalettin Parıltılı, Vice Chairman Responsible for Projects and Foreign Relations-Expert Psychological Counselor Melike Uslu Taş, Vice Chairman Responsible for Financial Affairs-Psychological Counselor Ahmet Duran, and Vice Chairman Responsible for Press and Broadcast-Psychological Counselor Alperen Arslan.

At the meeting, the association management stated that the Guidance and Psychological Counseling (PDR) department is a part of the Psychology department and underlined the need for cooperation between these two fields.

Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “PDR professionals will train the team that will lead the future of mental health”

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that there are no major differences between PDR and Psychology departments and emphasized the need to increase cooperation between these two fields. Tarhan said; “Since its establishment, the PDR department has been producing work according to the needs of people in Turkey. As the psychology department and other related fields, we make plans and consider solutions to meet people's needs. Especially as a university established on the basis of PDR, we currently attach great importance to psychological guidance lessons for young people who will play a role in Turkey's future. PDR professionals will train the team that will create the individuals who will lead the healthy upbringing of future generations, the team that will provide psychological guidance. These experts should learn from the past and work for the future in the light of their own values, within the framework of Turkey's needs. The PDR field is an important area that will meet a need.”

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “90% of PDR and Psychology courses are similar”

Tarhan pointed out that there is no difference between PDR and psychology departments, saying, “The courses taught in these two fields are 90 percent similar. The collaborations to be established between these two fields are very important. Professional conservatism is one of the issues that harms us the most. This is a very problematic situation; what is important is to focus on the services to be rendered. Guidance counselors are among the professional groups seen as role models. This is one of the areas we need most according to the course of the world. We need to establish collaborations that will lead us to our goals. Learning from the past, Psychology and PDR departments should carry out joint studies.”

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Collaborations to be established between PDR and Psychology are very important”

Emphasizing that early diagnosis of some diseases seen in children has now become much easier and more important thanks to PDR professionals, Tarhan said, “Attention deficit and hyperactivity seen in children have become detectable early through interviews and tests conducted by guidance counselors. Let's not forget that the primary and most important duty of PDR professionals is to protect the mental health of students. Guidance counselors are the most role-modeled individuals in schools. For all these reasons, collaborations to be established between Psychology and PDR are very important.”

Mesut Yıldırım: “I believe the conflict between Psychology and PDR benefits no one”

Mesut Yıldırım, Chairman of the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association and Psychological Counselor, pointed out that psychology and PDR departments have a common area of work. Yıldırım said; “I believe that the conflict between Psychology and PDR benefits no one. Mental health professional groups have a responsibility to society. Our internal conflicts also affect the service area. Ultimately, there is room for everyone in this field; services must be provided to society with defined boundaries, competencies, and qualifications. If we do not achieve this, life does not accept a vacuum; others fill these gaps and can exploit our citizens financially and morally. Afterward, it is up to us, the mental health specialists, to put them back together. We are very happy to be here.”

Prof. Dr. Metin Pişkin: “The PDR department faces exclusionary attitudes in the field of psychology due to professional chauvinism”

Prof. Dr. Metin Pişkin, drawing attention to the career difficulties faced by PDR graduates, stated that professional chauvinism leads to PDR graduates, who have invested in their education, becoming unemployed. Prof. Dr. Pişkin said, “Our graduates are of great academic value with their successes in exams. This qualified workforce has been squeezed into a narrow area. The current number of unemployed graduates, reaching tens of thousands, bothers us. It is necessary to open up opportunities for these people in the private sector in line with their competencies and efforts. You must create areas where they can reach citizens with these competencies. There is a significant supply-demand situation in society. Legal regulations should be made to ensure this gap is filled by competent personnel. Otherwise, incompetent people can be drawn to very different points for commercial purposes. Our demand from you is not to fuel the conflict narrowed down to clinical psychology. Because only 3 percent of graduates continue their careers in clinical psychology. Looking at the figures, PDR covers a much broader area, but it faces exclusionary attitudes due to professional chauvinism.”

Following the exchange of ideas, a decision was made to develop cooperation between the parties, and the “5th International Congress of Positive Psychology Cooperation Protocol” was signed.

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan presented a book set consisting of his own books to all participants attending the ceremony.

After the photo shoot, the meeting concluded with good wishes and a decision for joint work.