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Biological Sciences Biological Sciences
Psychologists

Psychologists

Psychologists

Are you a student or doctoral candidate and do you have problems studying, personal problems, ADHD or autism? The UvA's psychologists can provide you with various types of support, such as groups, workshops, training sessions and consultations.

Coronavirus: advice for navigating during these uncertain times

This is a challenging time for all of us. We’ve all had to make adjustments to our routine in order to self-isolate or, at the very least, limit our social contact.

This new way of living can be unsettling and stressful, so we’ve come up with some advice on how to navigate these uncertain times during COVID-19 outbreak.

  1. Reduce anxiety and distress: minimise watching, reading or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed; seek information only from trusted sources. Seek information updates at specific times during the day, once or twice.
  2. Medication: if you have an underlying health condition, make sure to have access to any medications that you are currently using. Activate your social contacts to provide you with assistance, if needed.
  3. Preparation: be prepared and know in advance where and how to get practical help if needed (important phone numbers, websites etc.).
  4. General health: engage in healthy activities that you enjoy and find relaxing.
  5. Exercise: exercise regularly (various fitness apps and YouTube offer some great home workouts)
  6. Sleep: a regular wakeup time and bedtime helps improve the quality of sleep.  
  7. Diet: eat healthy food and try and maintain a well-balanced diet.
  8. Routine: keep regular routines and schedules as much as possible or help create new ones in a new environment, including regular exercising, cleaning, daily chores, singing, painting or other activities.
  9. Social: keep regular contact with loved ones (e.g. via phone, Skype or other accesses)
  10. Worry: plan a daily worry moment and write it down. It can help reduce your overall levels of anxiety.
  11. Study: draw up a study plan; make an overview of the material you need to study, set priorities and create a schedule to meet your goals.
  12. Study tips: more study tips can be found here: https://student.uva.nl/en/content/az/studying-successfully/study-skills-tipsheets/study-skills-tipsheets.html
  13. Meditate: meditation has been shown to have multiple health benefits (YouTube, Insight Timer, Headspace, Calm, etc.)
  14. Reading tips: Managing Stress by Kate Joseph & Chris Irons
  15. Stay informed:

(Source: RIVM and WHO)

Looking for support? Contact the student psychologists.

  • Who can get support?
    • Students at the UvA and HvA do not need a referral
    • PhD students at the UvA do not need a referral. We can offer you short-term help with psychological and other problems that are hampering your PhD or your life as a PhD student.
  • What can you come to us for?

    When you have study problems, such as

    • a lack of motivation and concentration
    • a tendency to put work off and a lack of discipline
    • fear of failure, fear of exams, fear of writing, fear of giving presentations
    • stress and worrying excessively about your studies
    • study delay, internship problems, graduation problems

    When you have personal problems that stand in the way of studying, such as

    • family problems, for example a difficult relationship with your parents, or absent, divorced, sick or deceased parents
    • difficulties in establishing or maintaining contact with people
    • worrying, general insecurity, negative self-image, being too strict on yourself when it comes to studying
    • slight to moderate despondency, anxiety or tension complaints

    If you have study problems due to ADD, ADHD or autism

    If you have study problems due to ADD, ADHD or autism or want to prevent them, you can make use of the extra study support provided by the UvA/HvA.

    Studying with ASD (information in Dutch)

    Studying with ADD, ADHD (information in Dutch)

  • When not to come to us

    Please, contact your doctor: 

    • if you have health problems,
    • if you have problems that are of a serious nature, or
    • if your problems have existed for some time

    In these cases, it is better to visit your doctor. Together with you, he or she can find out what is going on and, if necessary, refer you to the Practice Supporting Care Provider, the Dutch Association of Mental Health and Addiction Care (GGZ) Basic/Generalist or the GGZ Specialist.

    If you are being treated elsewhere and you are dissatisfied with the treatment, it is advisable to discuss your dissatisfaction with your practitioner or with whoever referred you to this practitioner. In most cases, this is your family doctor. However, when your current psychotherapeutic treatment pays insufficient attention to your study problems, we will see if we can help you with this in consultation with your practitioner.

  • Other assistance

    UvA General Practitioners Practice (Oude Turfmarkt)

    If you live in Amsterdam, you can register with the Student Doctors’ general practitioners practice. In case of emergency or crisis you can contact the UvA General Practitioners Practice.

    UvA General Practitioners Practice