The Experiences of Clinical Psychologists Providing Community Service

This study investigated the experiences of community service psychologists placed within the KwaZulu-Natal region in South Africa. As community service is mandatory on Clinical Psychologists qualified Clinical Psychologists are placed at different hospitals within the Department of Health. The community service psychologists are placed for a year of service prior to being allowed to register and practice independently as Clinical Psychologists within the country. A single, structured interview was used to collect the data. Grounded theory was utilized in the analysis of the qualitative data. The findings indicate dissatisfaction with the management and implementation of the Community Service Psychology Program amount the participants. In addition, psychological trauma in regard to fear over safety and abusive or alienating management structures within the environments serviced by the Community Service Psychologists was noted. The implications and applications of this study are far-reaching as research and critique is direly lacking in the arena of Community Service provision, development, structure and facilitation within the South African context.