The Psychological Counselling service exists to provide support to students according to their needs at any moment during their academic journey, to help devise strategies to deal with academic, personal, family or other difficulties, and to promote general well-being, personal development and self-knowledge.

It targets graduate-level students and alumni up to 6 months after graduation.

It is free of charge.

The main goal of psychological counselling is to enhance students’ ability to deal positively with the challenges they face in their academic and personal life, and to provide this in a confidential, accepting and supportive context. In the (individual) sessions, students can explore aspects of their life and feelings, and have the opportunity to talk openly, in a way that can sometimes be difficult with friends or family, allowing them to understand more complex emotions or relationships.

Contact us.

Psychologists:
Ana Clara Reis | 932 011 436
Francisco Almeida | 932 020 764
Lara Pacheco | 932 020 866

Psychological Counselling - what is it, and how does it work?

What is Psychological Counselling?

There are times when we experience difficulties, and we may need some help. Sometimes the support of people close to us may be enough, but at other times it may be important to get help from someone "outside" to prevent that sadness, anxiety, or feeling of isolation from worsening. Psychological Counselling is a process in which you are given the opportunity to talk about whatever is upsetting you. During the session, the psychologist gives their full attention to the person being counselled, uses strategies to promote reflection, and explores alternative ways of dealing with a particular situation, feeling, or difficulty. So the psychologist is not someone who will tell you what to do or how to do it, but someone who can help you look at a situation or problem in a new way and identify what you can do about it, always considering all the tools, people, and resources that may exist around you.

The support process can involve a variety of issues. These include the difficulty of transitioning to higher education, getting into the labor market, or dealing with the pressure of work or exams. It may be associated with moments of sadness for no apparent reason, intense anxiety, whether related to exams or other life situations, the sadness that comes from losing someone, or difficulties with emotional, friendship or family relationships.

How does Psychological Counselling work?

Usually, sessions of about one hour are scheduled and are initially weekly, but may become less frequent. The appointments are free of charge for students of the Universidade Católica - Porto. The consultation " environment" is a privileged space where anything discussed with the student is confidential.