The 23rd International Psychological Counseling and Guidance Congress, organized with the cooperation of the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association and Istanbul Kültür University (IKU), was held at Akıngüç Auditorium and Cultural Center on 13-15 June with the theme of 'Psychological Counseling and Guidance for Sustainable Development'.
23rd International Psychological Counseling and Guidance Congress was started of by the opening speeches of Istanbul Deputy Governor Dr. Yaşar Aksanyar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of IKU Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver, President of the Turkish PCG Association Clinical Psychologist Oğuz Özat, Head of IKU Department of Educational Sciences Prof. Dr. Alim Kaya and the event was attended by Counseling Professionals, education administrators and teachers from the public and private sectors throughout Turkey. In his opening speech to congress, which lasted for 3 days, Istanbul Deputy Governor Dr. Yaşar Aksanyar said, “Today, individuals who cannot repair themselves are increasing in our society. It is very important that we examine the psychology of our society.” he said.
“INTERDISCIPLINARY GUIDANCE OFFICE ESTABLISHED”
Our Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver pointed out that important steps have been taken for the development and the of PCG Culture since the establishment of Kültür College and said:
“The observations of our Honorary President and Founder, Fahamettin Akıngüç, from his research on schools in Philadelphia and Pittsburg in the 60’s US, laid the foundations for the Guidance Office, which was established for the first time in an College in Turkey in 1968 at Kültür College.
When he returned to Turkey , he established the interdisciplinary guidance office, which was newly established by the Ministry of National Education, by meeting with experts working in the General Directorate of Testing and Guidance who were trained abroad.”
“PCG AND RESEARCHERS HAVE A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY”
Touching on the work of the Department of Educational Sciences, which was put into service at the university and trains the aspiring PCRs of the future, Dr. Akıngüç Günver said, “In today’s world where generations are changing, learning and teaching are redefined and psychological well-being is of vital importance, qualified PCG specialists and researchers assume a great responsibility.”
“THERE ARE 300 PAPERS, 550 PARTICIPANTS”
Head of the Department of Educational Sciences Prof. Dr. Alim Kaya explained, "This is one of our most prestigious congresses as a psychological counseling community. About 300 papers, 5 panels and 21 workshops will be held at our congress. We have about 550 participants from 70 universities of our country. These participants are mostly comprised of academicians from the field of psychological counseling guidance. We have psychological counselors working in our schools in practice. Mainly at the congress we chose the main theme of sustainable development. At the heart of sustainable development lies actually the yearning for an equal, fair world order for everyone and a world that respects nature and the environment. We would like to draw attention to such an issue and its approach to the phenomenon of sustainable development while doing the routine work of our own congress and to contribute from head to toe.”
“IT IS ALSO CREATING A NEW COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND A COOPERATION NETWORK”
Prof Dr. Erdal Hamarta, Dean of Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Education and Guidance and Psychological Counseling Assist Prof. in Necmettin Erbakan University, said, "Our studies here are the problems faced by both psychological counselors working in schools and our friends working outside the school in the Ministry of Justice or in the field of family counseling, in the field of career counseling. The congress consists of notices in which the information they produce about solutions or new information that appears in the field is shared with field employees. Of course, congresses are not only a place where information is shared, but also where new communication and cooperation networks are created.”
“THE BEST IS TÜRKİYE AFTER AMERICA”
Expert Psychological Counselor Oğuz Özat said, “We are holding our largest academic congress in the field of mental health, psychological counseling and school solidarity and guidance services. Here, academicians, students, field workers, psychological counselors meet. We consider this program significant to contribute to our field, to present scientific developments and studies. In fact, it is like a feast of psychological counselors. Psychological guidance services are the most developed in Türkiye after America as a system. The scientific and academic studies conducted here will contribute to our professional development in our field.”
