Wellbeing and professional agency in the academic context
Researchers and lecturers play a crucial role in our society. At the same time, many academics work under high pressure and have little space to reflect on how they want to shape their work in a sustainable way.
Academic Companion supports universities, universities of applied sciences, UMCs, and other academic institutions with training programmes, workshops, and talks on workload, resilience, and professional agency in the academic context. I also support employees who are absent from work due to stress or burnout.
By working with Academic Companion on resilience, workload, and professional agency, you strengthen sustainable employability, reduce absenteeism, and help retain talented researchers and teachers.
My training programmes are regularly offered to PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers within graduate schools, but are also suitable for teachers, researchers, and research teams.
Training programmes, workshops, and talks
My training programmes combine scientific insights into wellbeing, stress, and values-based work with practical reflection on academic life.
Alongside my practice, I work as an Associate Professor of Wellbeing at Radboud University, where my research and teaching focus on wellbeing and resilience. This means I understand academic work from the inside and can connect closely with the specific challenges of the academic context.
Through my experience in academia and my work as a certificed coach and psychologist NIP® for this target group, I see two recurring challenges that arise throughout all stages of the academic career.
These challenges can contribute to workload, stress-related complaints, absenteeism, and loss of talent, and can also affect workplace climate and social safety.
Two pillars for sustainable work as a researcher or teacher
My training focuses on two interconnected themes.
The pillars
1. Mental space and resilience
Many researchers and teachers experience the feeling of always being “on” because of a full agenda and high expectations.
In these sessions, participants learn, among other things:
- how to deal with a high workload, high standards and perfectionism
- practical ways to maintain mental space and focus
- how stress and recovery work in the body
2. Professional direction and agency
Many academics experience tension between their own values and the expectations within academic culture.
In these sessions, participants work on:
- clarifying what matters to them in their work
- making choices and setting boundaries
- finding direction in work and career
These two themes reinforce one another.
Under high workload, researchers and teachers often have less space to make conscious choices. At the same time, a lack of agency and direction can contribute to stress and reduced wellbeing.
That is why these themes can be addressed separately or combined in talks, workshops, or training programmes.
Approach
In my training, I work among other things with:
- insights from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- the CSR Method® for dealing with workload and stress
These methods are scientifically grounded and widely used in support related to stress, resilience, and professional development.
Format
Training can be offered as:
-
- Talk (60–90 minutes)
-
- Workshop (2–4 hours)
- In-depth programme (for example, a half-day group training combined with individual coaching sessions, or several group sessions)
All training can be tailored to the specific target group, for example:
- PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers within graduate schools
- teachers and researchers
- research teams or departments
Interested in a training or talk?
Please feel free to get in touch to discuss the possibilities.