The aim of this study was to understand how psychologists perform and what meanings they attribute to the psychological practices developed within the public health services in Salvador. A theoretic-methodological model of systems of signs, meanings and practices was used. Twenty-one psychologists were interviewed from the 24 associated with the Municipal Department of Health, using semi-structured interviews. It was observed that the predominant service was individual psychotherapy based on psychoanalysis. Two types of practices are discussed: psychotherapy and para-psychotherapy. These practices were considered inadequate for part of the population who were distant from a standard of intimacy and detail expressing health problems. Two dimensions of meaning related to health problems were identified: a) individual, characterized by the psychic structure of the patient, the type, and the acuteness of the disease. b) Collective, characterized by the socioeconomic and cultural aspects. Psychological listening could suggest a more aseptic or cautious tendency in relation to the dimensions identified. The study discusses the hypothesis that there is a socioeconomic and cultural selection of the clientele.
Psychotherapy; Mental health; Public health services; Psychological service; Signs, meanings, and practices