María Laura Divi holds a degree in Family Sciences and a degree in Family Counseling, having graduated from the Universidad AustralShe has worked for 9 years in the clinical care of couples and families, in interdisciplinary teams, and for the last 4 years she has worked as a teacher at the ICF of the Universidad Austral.

During her professional experience, she has seen how the family counseling approach offers concrete help to individuals and families who seek assistance. The approach, based on the various sciences that study the family, provides a comprehensive view of the individual and their relationship conflicts. The results observed have demonstrated the effectiveness of the family counselor's specific intervention, further consolidating her role. She has already conducted more than 1.000 marital and family counseling interviews.

In the photo: Part of the team from the Family Diagnostic and Therapy Unit (UDITEF) of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the University of Navarra Clinic. From left to right: Raquel Martín Lanas, Carmen Laspra Solís, Ma. Laura Divi, Adrián Cano Prous (director of UDITEF).

What was the biggest challenge when you started practicing family counseling?

The biggest challenge I encountered when I began practicing my profession was that this was an unfamiliar field. I quickly realized: if I wanted to persevere despite the situation before me, I had to work with a lot of patience and perseverance. It was going to take time to make this profession known. It was—and still is—essential to take action so that it would become established in society and so that our contribution would be valued among health professionals. That's how I took on an attitude of active wait: a lot of patience along with detailed and constant work.

At that first moment—in 2010—I was fully aware of the long road ahead. But I was willing to work tirelessly along the way, so that the contributions we as family professionals could gradually become known. The goal was clear: to help people strengthen themselves and reorganize their priorities, to improve their interpersonal relationships, especially their family ties. This would result in clear benefits for their health and quality of life.

What kept you going on this path you set for yourself?

Continuing education was a pillar for me, keeping me firm on this path. Continuing to acquire tools, especially in the clinical field, and exchanging perspectives with other disciplines has been an excellent source of nourishment and dissemination. Professionals from different areas gradually became familiar with my approach and method of intervention.

My conviction and commitment to the goal of professionalizing the discipline has led me to undertake various actions and continually take on challenges. In this way, these renewed proposals are for me opportunities, steps, new foundations that motivate me.

This is how I accepted the role of Coordinator of the Santa Fe Regional Center for Family Counselors, the province in which I reside. The objective of the Network of Regional Centers launched by the Institute of Family Sciences The goal is to help graduates strengthen their professional development and enter the workforce. This strengthening will be realized through various activities proposed collaboratively by the coordinators and colleagues: workshops, supervisions, experience sharing, training, etc. It is essential in this strengthening process that family scientists can stay in touch, mutually enrich each other, and network.

Could you tell us why you recently traveled to the University of Navarra?

I traveled to Pamplona (Navarra, Spain) at the end of August to learn about and understand the work methodology of the Family Diagnostic and Therapy Unit (UDITEF) of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the University of Navarra Clinic (CUN). It's called a "clinic," but it's a university hospital, where professionals from different countries come to train and improve their skills in different disciplines. For a month, I was able to attend full workshops with the professionals from the UDITEF team, acquiring knowledge and tools for my work with couples and families in conflict. It was a very enriching experience, one of great personal and professional growth.

What characteristics could you identify in OF graduates from the Universidad Austral And what about the OFs in Spain?

In Navarre, I found that professionals dedicated to family care and intervention have other basic professions (psychiatrists and psychologists) and then specialize in families and couples. And family counselors are dedicated to giving lectures to parents; it's not a university degree in Spain.

I noticed that the undergraduate training we Argentine family counselors receive (from the ICF, Austral University) was innovative for them, and they received it positively. They especially valued the specific training from the first year of their degree. The term "familiologists" aroused sympathy and curiosity. I felt very respected professionally and am immensely grateful to all of them for their appreciation and recognition. I returned to Argentina with the satisfaction that this experience had truly been worthwhile.

Before going to Spain, I thought that OF was more established there than in Argentina. However, after interacting with other professionals in the field, I was surprised to conclude that the path our profession is taking in Argentina is advancing steadily and steadily.

This reinforced my perception of the possibility of consolidating relations between both institutions: on the one hand, the ICF Universidad Austral (Argentina) and, on the other hand, the ICF University of Navarra and the UDITEF of the University of Navarra Clinic (Spain). I believe that strengthening the relationship between both institutions would allow for significant growth in collaborative work, enhancing the exchange and qualified professional training, and empowering students and graduates to achieve a solid professional practice.

I am convinced that the path we family scientists are taking in Argentina has solid foundations, and our discipline is here to stay and grow. More and more professionals are entering the workforce in different fields and see opportunities for growth. For this reason, I encourage students and colleagues to pursue their training with commitment and to carry out their work with great professionalism and passion.