The PhD journey is a period of significant intellectual and personal demands. The intensity of academic work, the pressure to produce results, and the challenge of planning a future career can put students’ mental health and well-being at risk. This workshop series was created to support PhD students at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in developing skills to cope with these challenges in a healthy, adaptive, and future-oriented manner.

Aligned with UCP2MentalHealth and inspired by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), this series promotes a practical, experiential, and collaborative approach, fostering the integration of personal and academic values, the development of self-care strategies, and the creation of a supportive community among students from different years.

Across six sessions, participants will:

• Promote mental health and well-being by providing practical ways to manage stress, anxiety, and academic pressure.
• Clarify personal and academic values to align them with PhD goals.
• Develop self-care routines and time management skills to balance study, work, and personal life.
• Learn to deal with difficult thoughts using ACT techniques.
• Build a supportive community through experience sharing and strategy exchange.
• Prepare for academic and professional future by setting plans and commitments to progress during and beyond the PhD.

By the end of the series, participants are expected to:

• Strengthen their awareness of mental health as a key element of the PhD experience.
• Feel more prepared to manage academic and emotional challenges.
• Integrate personal values into academic decision‑making.
• Build healthy routines for self‑care and time management.
• Enhance peer support networks and collaborative learning environments.
• Gain clarity on short‑ and long‑term goals within and beyond the PhD.

APPLY HERE