Abstract

This survey was conducted to examine the public’s perception of psychological service-related bills that are not in Korea, to clarify the need for psychological service-related bills, and to further clarify the role of the Clinical Psychological Association. The survey was conducted online from August 20 to September 5, 2022, targeting adults aged 19 or older across the country, with a total of 710 respondents participating. The survey consisted of three areas: “Use of psychological services,” “need based on experience of using psychological services,” and “awareness of the psychological service system.” According to the survey results, 338 out of the 710 respondents had prior experience with psychological services, while the remaining 372 indicated no such experience. Many respondents said that they were willing to use psychological services in the future (75.8%), and the primary avenues for selecting psychological service providers were “recommendation from acquaintances,” followed by “internet searches,” “institutional connections,” and “contacting local universities.” The criteria for selecting a psychological service institution were primarily centered on the “possession of certificate,” followed by “service offerings,” “cost.” In particular, those in their 20s considered “service cost” the most, and those in their 20s may have a relatively low economic independence compared to other age groups, indicating that “service cost” has the greatest impact on the choice of psychological service institutions. “Counselor’s ability” was the most important factor when choosing psychological services, followed by “counselor’s qualifications,” “counselor’s experience,” and “counselor fees.” In the case of those with experience in psychological services, the “ability of counselors” was considered more important, and the “qualification of counselors” was also considered more than those who had no experience in using psychological services. Many respondents believed that “professionalism” was the most important thing for individuals seeking qualifications in the field of psychological services, and it was high in the order of “a respectful attitude toward clients,” “commitment to confidentiality,” and “morality.” Notably, 93.0% of the respondents agreed that a major in psychology should be a prerequisite for acquiring professional qualifications related to psychological services, and this consensus held true across all age groups.