Do daily challenges overwhelm you? Does a conflict at work or university keep you awake at night? Or maybe you want to develop your interpersonal skills and handle stress better? Take advantage of the offer from the Psychological Support and Mediation Department.

The new unit has been established for the community of the entire university. When a report from a work-life balance study at WUST was published in 2023, one of its conclusions was the need to provide daily access to psychological support at the university.

– It was one of our priorities for the current term in office. That's why I'm glad the Psychological Support and Mediation Department has been established and is now available to our community. We should remember that of our mental health is just as important as physical fitness and gives us the strength to care for others – says Prof. Karolina Jaklewicz, vice-rector for community development and integration.

Why should you give it a try?

Irmina Dutkowska, who heads the department, is a psychologist, mediator, trainer, therapist, and Social Skills Training (SST) coach. In her work, she is supported by Daniel Krawczyk, a psychologist and trainer. Together they create a space where everyone can find understanding and help tailored to their needs.

– We offer professional psychological assistance, mediation support, training, and workshops in small psychoeducational and developmental groups. We will ensure that everyone feels safe here and finds space for conversation, reflection, and acquiring new skills – says Irmina Dutkowska.

The support is available to employees and doctoral candidates. Students are invited to workshops and training sessions, as they can continue to seek psychological support through the Accessibility Department.

We live in dynamically changing times. Constant pressure and a fast-paced life, as well as academic and professional demands, can take a toll on our mental health.

– Ignoring problems won't make them suddenly disappear. It is quite the opposite. A better way to deal with everyday challenges is therefore to seek psychological support –  explains Irmina Dutkowska, the head of the department.

This is also an opportunity for faster personal development, greater self-confidence, and better interpersonal relationships. She quotes a passage from a book by Brené Brown: we cannot control most things that happen to us, but we can control how we respond to them.

Your comfort and self-development matter

Employees of the Psychological Support and Mediation Department offer assistance to people who experience emotional difficulties, stress, or burnout, or who have conflict, misunderstandings, or challenging academic relationships within the team at work.

They also offer soft skills training sessions, which will be useful not only in academic life but also in professional settings. And those who seek a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions are invited to participate in psycho-educational and developmental group work.

– You can register for psychological consultations via the application on the department's website, and for the mediation requests via email: dpm@pwr.edu.pl. We recommend checking our website regularly, as we will also post information about training dates and interesting psychoeducational articles – says Daniel Krawczyk.

The WUST psychologists also advise not to wait until problems escalate and to seek their help immediately. The Psychological Support and Mediation Department is located in building L-1 (Na Grobli Street 15, room 340).

Student support

Don't forget that our Faculty's website has a link to "Assistance in Difficult Situations” in the "Students" tab. It contains information on where to seek support.

The "University of New Opportunities" project involves the Centre for Psychological Consultation and Mediation.

We also have an Accessibility Department offering, among others:

• a psychological counselling centre – you can schedule a consultation at ppp.pwr.edu.pl,
  
• individual foreign language lessons (Language Courses),
  
• an equipment rental office,
  
• educational assistants,
  
• educational materials adaptation services,
  
• an integration and training camp,
  
• scholarships of the WUST Alumni Association.

The Department of Accessibility and Support for People with Disabilities is aided by the Accessibility Leaders, consisting of individuals selected from among university staff who wish to engage in promoting the idea of accessibility..

They also support people with special needs at different WUST units. The group completed a three-month training on topics related to support and accessibility. Additionally, they develop their skills in supervisory meetings, where they exchange experiences and address current issues in working with students.

Accessibility leaders at our Faculty are Agnieszka Gawryszuk, Anna Grytsko, and Ula Małecka.