KSU Team Participated in a Round Table with European Partners within the BURN Project
On November 28, a round table meeting took place to address current issues that emerged during the course of cooperation. European partners provided their responses and recommendations.
Valentyna Kalenchuk, Coordinator of the Center for Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing, delivered a presentation on the center's activities within the framework of the Erasmus+ BURN project – “Boosting University Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing in (Post-) War Ukrainian Nation.”
Issues, Challenges, and Recommendations Regarding the Work of the Psychological Center:
During the round table, a number of key issues related to the functioning of the Center for Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing were discussed. The discussion addressed practical and organizational aspects of the center’s work, challenges in providing psychological services, and development opportunities.
.jpg?id=85156312-1a69-440b-8187-1ff50ca43b3e&width=500&height=325)
Below are the questions raised and the recommendations provided by European partners:
1. What agreements need to be signed with clients to ensure confidentiality, data protection, and regulate the terms of service?
This depends on the legislation of the country that regulates the privacy policy for users of psychological services. According to the recommendations of European partners, when clients register via the website platform, there should be a privacy policy document that explains what personal data is collected, how it is collected, where it is stored, and for how long.
2.How should the planned furniture and equipment be best arranged in a 20-square-meter office?
The arrangement depends on the number of staff, functional zones, and the type of work performed. European partners demonstrated their own office setups, emphasizing comfortable conditions and dedicated space for both offline and online client sessions.
3.How can a comfortable environment be created when one consultant is holding an online session and another is consulting offline in the same room?
European partners recommend avoiding simultaneous online and offline consultations in the same space due to ethical standards and the need to protect clients’ confidentiality.
4.What technical and organizational solutions can be applied to avoid disruptions during consultations?
Online sessions can be organized in a different location if there is no designated space available in the counseling center. A stable internet connection and a quiet environment are essential for conducting online consultations.
5. How can supervision be provided for the center’s consultants if there are no supervisors at the university?
European partners recommended organizing intervision groups, with the long-term goal of introducing the concept of “supervision” within the university. This topic will also be addressed during the next study visit to the University of Tartu for future implementation.
6. What remote tools and partnership support options can be used to organize supervision?
European partners noted that, if additional project funding is allocated, they are willing to provide remote supervision for Ukrainian colleagues.
7.Which self-care programs, trainings, or materials are most effective in preventing professional burnout among consultants?
Partners emphasized using so-called “vitamins for specialists”: proper nutrition, sufficient sleep, positive thinking, maintaining social connections (family, friends, partners, colleagues), and rest. It’s important to manage workload (no more than 5 sessions per day, and possibly fewer for trauma-related work).
8.Are there any recommendations for conducting group intervision sessions?
Homogeneous groups should be formed based on purpose: psychoeducation, peer support, or case discussion. The group leader can rotate, which is beneficial for the professional development of specialists.
9.What funding models, collaborations, or support options could help ensure the sustainable development of the center?
European partners recommend aligning the center’s funding with the university administration. As an alternative, student practice could be implemented as a mandatory component of the center’s work.
The KSU team expresses gratitude to partners from the University of Tartu, the International Psychoanalytic University Berlin, and the University of Latvia for their valuable experience and support in all emerging matters.
Press Center of Kherson State University