IPUSP Community – Docentes – Maria Abigail de Souza
abigail@usp.br

• Department of Clinical Psychology. Master’s Degree ISOP / Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro (1984)
• Doctoral Degree, Psychology Institute,USP (1995)
• Associate Professor, Psychology Institute, USP (2006)
• Professor Ph.D , Psychology Institute, USP (2010)

Psychological Diagnosis and Preventive Psychotherapy Intervention
Drug-addiction is the central theme of my research which has been developed since 1988 on the Psychological Diagnosis area. I have used the Rorschach Method along with interviews and have integrated a multidisciplinary team at the mental health institutions. Since 1991, along with the Diagnostic services I have added Psychotherapy treatment for drug addicts at the IPUSP Psychology Clinic, with a view to rendering services to the community as well as developing research.

Throughout this work I have tried to investigate which strategies and techniques would be more adequate to meet the psychotherapy treatment for drug addicts’ necessity. I have attempted to observe which elements from this experience contributed to post-preventive care. Since 1995, I have focused on preventive care and psychological assistance to aggressive children from 8 to 12 years old of satisfactory intellectual potential. The choice of this group came from the observations and conclusions from our studies with drug addicts, which revealed that these individuals were frequently aggressive children (just as the children who we are treating are). Much as these children are intellectually gifted, they don’t perform well at school.

Regarding Students’ qualification, I am responsible for the disciplines related to the Rorschach Method for Undergraduate students since 1988 and for Post-Graduate students since 1997.I have also been part of the Clinical Consultation Team: Psychodiagnosis and Psychotherapy, since 1992.

Academic/Professional Background
Undergraduate Degree in Psychology – Centro de Ensino Unificado de Brasília (1975); Undergraduate Degree in Languages – Universidade de Brasília (1975); Master’s Degree in Psychology – Fundação Getúlio Vargas – RJ (1984); Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology – Universidade de São Paulo (1995) and Associate Professor Habilitation -Universidade de São Paulo (2006). Currently holds the post of Associate Professor at Universidade de São Paulo.

Area of experience: Psychology with emphasis in Psychodiagnosis using the Rorschach Method; Aggressive children and young drug addicts’ Psychotherapy. Thus, the following areas are part of the Professors’ research activity: the projective Rorschach Method, Psychotherapeutic intervention with aggressive children within the school setting – in order to prevent them from becoming future drug addicts.