Q & A: Peeter Pruul

Three questions to dr. Peeter Pruul

Q. What is your experience of the EuroPsy in your country?

A:   The certification for psychologists in Estonia exists since 1993. Since that time, it has undergone many changes and in recent years EuroPsy has definitely played a role in this process. Estonia joined EuroPsy in 2013. As in many other countries the greatest impact of EuroPsy can be seen in the changes of academic education and professional training of psychologists: the model of 5+1 years of training is well accepted and integrated with Estonian certification system, as well as the concept of continuous professional development. Also, we have some promising perspectives on the arrangement of supervised practice and the ideas concerning the training of supervisors have been greeted with interest.  

Q: What attracted you to joining the EAC?

A:   I have been participating in EuroPsy on national level since Estonia joined the initiative six years ago and witnessed the potential it has in defining and strengthening the profession. I hope that joining the EAC makes it possible to put to use this experience from EuroPsy National Awarding Committee and also the experiences from Estonian national certification system for facilitating the discussion about the issues and future the profession is facing. 

Q: What hopes do you have for the future of EuroPsy in Europe?  

A:  EuroPsy has already strengthened the profession of psychology in Europe by changing psychology curricula and by defining the guiding principles for training and continuous professional development of individual psychologists. I hope that it might also strengthen the contacts between national psychology associations to facilitate communication and collaboration in shaping the future.  