The Official College of Psychology of Catalonia announces a collaboration agreement with Eholo.

Today, Eholo, the management software for psychology clinics, announces its collaboration agreement with the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia (COPC), offering a special bonus to all those members who want to manage their practice from a single place in an easy and safe way.

The relationship between the COPC and Eholo dates back to 2020, when the founders of Eholo, the co-founder and general health psychologist Sonia Torras and the co-founder and engineer Eduard Martí, were awarded the Psychofoundation's “Young Entrepreneurial Psychologists” award.

Eholo and the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia share the mission of improving the practice of psychology. Thanks to the relationship established between the two, we had the opportunity to talk with the dean of the COPC, Guillermo Mattioli, who offers us his vision of the sector, the integration of technology and how the College promotes and guarantees an ethical and quality professional practice in the field of psychology.

This includes, in addition to the above, offering continuous training and support to registered psychology professionals, as well as promoting the social and professional recognition of the profession as a fundamental discipline for the care and well-being of people.

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What initiatives and resources does the COPC offer to support professionals and improve psychological care in Catalonia?

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The Official College of Psychology of Catalonia (COPC) offers a wide range of resources and programs to support psychology professionals and improve psychological care. This includes continuing education through courses, academic events, book presentations and access to the InfoCOPC newsletter. In addition, it organizes the Catalan Summer School of Psychology, provides professional counseling services and actively promotes mental health through collaborations and support networks. These initiatives are essential to ensure the quality of psychological practice and promote professional development in Catalonia. The COPC uses both its social networks and its website to keep all its members and members up to date: www.copc.cat.

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What do you think are the challenges that psychologists face today?

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Psychologists face various challenges today, from the need to regulate psychotherapy to ensure the adequate qualification of all professionals to ensuring access to continuous training resources. In addition, there has been a notable increase in demand for psychology sessions. Nowadays, both in private and public centers, waiting lists have been generated due to the impact of COVID-19, which has helped to reduce the stigma associated with seeking psychological help. This change has encouraged people to talk openly about their experience with psychologists, both in the media and in everyday conversations. On the other hand, the integration of new technologies into clinical practice and consultation management is also significantly transforming the field of psychology.

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How do you think that the integration of technology and artificial intelligence in our daily lives, including psychology consultations, is affecting and will affect professional practice?

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I think that the artificial therapist lacks empathy, although he may seem empathetic, he lacks the self-awareness that a human psychotherapist has, who, while talking to a patient, also reflects on the patient's impact on himself and adjusts his response accordingly. This self-awareness is something that machines cannot yet replicate. AI can support the therapeutic relationship, but not replace it; it is crucial that there is always human oversight to ensure the quality of the therapy.

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However, technology, when properly applied, can be a valuable complement, and artificial intelligence has great potential as a tool, especially in diagnosis, progress monitoring and query management. It can recall important details from previous sessions and suggest approaches based on historical data, as well as assist the professional in administrative and management issues.

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What do you think is important when managing a psychology practice?

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It is crucial to have an efficient system for managing a clinic, especially in private practice. If you're doing well, you can hire professionals to manage accounting or scheduling appointments, or use a platform like yours, which would integrate both figures and streamline your work. I remember that when we found out about your platform, we validated it at two different times with two independent teams. Both evaluated between 10 and 15 platforms and agreed that yours was the best. That's why we decided to collaborate with you and we're here today.

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How has the visibility and accessibility of psychological care changed in recent years?

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In recent years, there has been a significant change in the visibility and accessibility of psychological care. Previously, this attention was limited in the public sector and barely visible in the private sector. However, today, we are witnessing an emergence of psychology with greater visibility and social acceptance. This change has been crucial in destigmatizing access to psychological help and has led to an increase in demand for psychological services in both public and private settings.

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What is the role of the Official College of Psychology in ensuring the quality of practice?

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The Official College of Psychology of Catalonia plays a fundamental role in this evolution. Its focus on ensuring good practice through continuing education programs and deontological commissions reflects its commitment to quality and ethics in psychological practice. These initiatives not only promote high standards among professionals, but they also manage complaints of malpractice, thus ensuring public trust and the integrity of the psychological service offered.