The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibilities and the limits of practicing psychology in social welfare services. The limits of the psychologist's practice is discussed considering: 1) the historical development of the profession in social welfare service; 2) a conceptual review on the significance of social policies in monopolist capitalism in facing the "social issue"; 3) a discussion on the impact of the neo-liberal reform of social policies in Brazil, including the emergence of the "third sector".
social policies; social responsibility; psychologist's practice