Exploring and evaluating a solution-focused counselling programme for industrial psychology practitioners

MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2017The industrial and organisational psychology (IOP) practitioner is often faced with workplace situations which require provision of counselling within their professional capacity. However, research has indicated that the IOP practitioner does not receive sufficient training in specific counselling skills whilst studying towards their Masters degree, which impedes the provision of effective workplace counselling. This study therefore endeavoured to explore and evaluate the value of a specific counselling approach namely, solution-focused counselling with the prospect of developing a unique counselling training programme for the IOP profession. The general objective of this study was to explore and evaluate a solution-focused counselling training programme for the industrial psychology practitioner as workplace counsellor. A qualitative research approach was used in the study with social constructivism and phenomenology as philosophical underpinnings. The study made use of a case study design along with a combination of convenience and snowball sampling as non-probability sampling techniques. The targeted sample group comprised registered, practising industrial psychologists (N=13). The results showed that the participants favoured the probability of utilising Solution-focused counselling within the IOP context. Participants expressed that they acquired a new framework to refer to during counselling as well as for various other tasks relating to the IOP context. A unique finding from the study revealed that the participants indicated Solution- focused counselling is an approach which would be appropriate within corporate environments for various professions and, to address interdisciplinary cases. In relation to the training they received, participants recommended the approach be utilised conjointly with other compatible approaches along with providing further practical recommendations for the future training of IOP practitioners in a Solution focused counselling training programme. Conclusively, this research established that an adapted Solution-focused counselling training programme should be included in the curriculum of the IOP Masters programmeMaster