Abstract

SILVA, Luís Augusto Vasconcelos da; OLIVEIRA, Rodrigo Freire  and  FRANCO, Anamélia Lins e Silva. The role of the psychologist in programs of primary care with adolescents: an experience in Salvador, Brazil . Psicol. Reflex. Crit. [online]. 1998, vol.11, n.3, pp. 605-620. ISSN 0102-7972.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79721998000300017.

New contexts, social demands and economic perspectives of the current Brazilian reality in which the process of globalization and neoliberal influences were observed and discussed in an internship at the Department of Psychology of the Federal University of Bahia. Two trainees conducted a weekly meeting of a group of adolescents at a Primary Health Care Unit in a low income district. The group’s goals were the development of prevention strategies based on the discussion of issues (AIDS, family, sexuality) and of autonomy to choose their lifestyles. The teenagers were encouraged to discuss these issues and to plan long-term actions. It could be seen that the adolescents started to present assertive behavior and developed new social support networks. At the end of the school term they were willing to make a video, produce a play, and write a report about the issues they discussed.

Keywords : Primary attention program; adolescents; Psychology Internship.