Opening pathways to new perspectives

a school internship experience in Psychology within Youth and Adult Education in the municipality of Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

This article presents an internship experience report in Educational Psychology within Youth and Adult Education (YAE), conducted at a public school in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The study aimed to analyze the possibilities of psychological practice in promoting emancipatory educational approaches with YAE students. Historically, this educational modality has been associated with vocational training, responding to labor market demands within the capitalist production model. In this context, YAE students often present life trajectories marked by social exclusion and denial of fundamental rights. The theoretical framework is grounded in critical and decolonial pedagogy, based on Paulo Freire, bell hooks, and Luiz Rufino. The methodology is qualitative, in the form of an experience report, based on interventions carried out with an elementary school group, including workshops and cultural activities in the local territory. The results indicate that the practices developed contributed to expanding students’ cultural repertoire, enabling expression of subjectivities, and strengthening their sense of belonging, although still limited by institutional and social constraints. It is concluded that psychology practice in YAE can support the development of more dialogical, critical, and socially transformative educational practices.