The Cohesive Corporate Identity in Counselling Psychology: Public Relations in Action

Abstract

Miller, one time president of the American Psychological Association, once said, “it is the duty of every psychologist to take psychology to the people.” If you support this sentiment, then speaking to the press is one obvious solution.We have all regularly encountered the extraordinary level of ignorance and misinformation that still exists among the general public about psychology and even among people who seem well read and informed in many other areas of enquiry. How often have you been asked to explain the difference between psychology and psychiatry, let alone to define psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, counselling or counselling psychology? Journalists can often be as guilty of such misunderstandings as any other outsider. They are also prone to adding their own touch of DIY psychological interpretation to news reports that may increase the public's mis-perceptions about the work of counselling psychologists.