Training programs: a methodological note

On a daily basis, professionals working in areas such as mental health, social deviance, addiction, and special education face complicated and stressful situations. The purpose of the present article is to elucidate further the notion of situational factors as a central axis in the training of these professionals and to propose a methodological manner for selecting situations relevant to their future tasks. The training program developer has to consider what is appropriate in light of the kinds of situations workers will have to cope with and then decide what skills and knowledge need to be acquired. The training program should revolve around the role the professional is expected to fulfill at a given agency or organization in specific situations. A description of the process of selecting the appropriate situations is presented.