If you are in need of support, please reach out to your college’s counselling and psychological services. For more info, you can click here use our chat or send us an email.
Counselling can be beneficial to assist students with brief interventions (i.e. academic or personal questions), time management challenges or study methods. These sessions last 45 minutes, and counsellors guarantee complete confidentiality and impartiality. All topics can be
freely and safely discussed, without any judgment from the counsellor’s side.
Psychotherapy is beneficial for individuals who are facing mental health challenges or struggling emotionally. In these sessions, patients and therapists develop a relationship based on trust and work collaboratively on discovering the best path to improve emotional well-being and personal growth. There are multiple therapies available that can be used accordingly with the situation. Therapy helps individuals with their self-awareness development, thought process and mental well-being.
Below are some examples of therapies used by NOVA Counsellors. If you have any questions about the therapy’s approach, please ask the counsellor for information on the used method.
When a patient has cognitive and behavioural disorders, this therapy can be used in order to adjust the patient’s actions, beliefs or emotions. It helps patients become more aware of how to respond to challenging situations in a more effective way.
Family therapy is a type of psychological counselling amongst family members which tries to improve communication and interaction patterns between individuals. Families can benefit from this therapy when mental health conditions exist or families go through major life events.
Drama therapy is a type of therapy done in a group context. This approach incorporates group dynamics as well as role play and bases the therapy on spontaneity, authenticity and creativity.
Contemporary psychoanalysis’ approach deals with both conscious and unconscious processes a patient goes through, allowing personal growth and self-awareness development. This therapy is used as a means towards establishing and improving relationships with others, moving on from unhealthy ones, and overcoming trauma.
With the used methods, patients and therapists develop a strong, mutual and creative bond.
During the sessions, the patient is usually lying on a couch out of the therapist’s sight.
This type of therapy is based on psychoanalytic principles and the patient meets often with the therapist. The process can last for a number of weeks, months or even years. Sessions involve in-depth talk.
Clinical Hypnotherapy uses approved methods and techniques that focus on awareness in order to treat a variety of medical and psychological disorders.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) uses stimulation techniques proven to help people recover from trauma and distressing life experiences. These therapy sessions allow a redirection of triggering experiences and trauma to more positive mental associations.
This initiative takes into account the student’s interests, motivations and abilities as a way of exploring the different career paths available. All students are different and have diverse personalities, and this initiative intends to help students pick the most suitable career while promoting a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines special needs’ students as:
a) Transnational Category A (CTN.A): Includes all students with any physical, neurologic or sensory disabilities and impairments. These students’ needs for support is primarily associated with the disabilities mentioned before.
b) Transnational Category B (CTN. B): Includes all students who deal with behavioural or emotional disorders or with specific learning disabilities. Challenges associated with the students’ interaction and integration in the academic context are the main reasons for the support needed.
In order to provide equal opportunities to all, students who fit in any of the above mentioned categories, may need personalised educational resources throughout their academic journey.
Some of these disorders and impairments can be temporary, others are permanent.
Having these resources available will contribute to the students’ personal growth, academic success and emotional well-being.
Being inclusive and providing equal opportunities to all students is of extreme importance, while guaranteeing teaching and learning quality. It should be a right for students with special needs to have access to the same education as others, not a privilege.
This initiative allows students to be taught some school subjects in order to improve their understanding of the subject matter and, consequently, improve their performance in class. Positions will be available for both tutors and tutees in the beginning of each semester, and students who wish to be tutored will need to have an average grade of 14 on the given subject. Before the peer tutoring initiative starts, all tutors receive training and regular support and follow-up sessions are available.
This initiative’s main goals are to make NOVA’s new students feel warmly welcomed and promote a sense of belonging. Students can volunteer to become mentors and, after receiving training before the beginning of the given academic year, will be available to assist all new students with any questions or in providing access to educational resources.
This initiative was created with the intent of assisting students with both personal development and growth whilst focusing on career paths. Topics like communication or interview skills are approached as well as CV boosting techniques.
This initiative takes place every two months, and focuses on relevant academic skills. These workshops cover topics like study method, teamwork, time management and emotional intelligence. Procrastination, personal coaching and self-control techniques are also discussed and experiences shared.
This programme focuses on students’ needs, whether they are psychological or of different nature.
Students who would like to take part in this initiative can apply directly and referrals are also accepted. Once students’ needs are identified, a personalised plan of action is built and follow-up sessions are put in place. If a more structured therapy is necessary for a longer period, our team will make a referral to an external Specialist.
Find out which therapy is more suitable for you, and where you can find specialists.