The Department of Psychology celebrated the All-Ukrainian Psychologist’s Day with practical master classes from teachers

Every year on April 23, psychologists celebrate their professional holiday in Ukraine. The Department of Psychology of the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University has a long-standing tradition of celebrating the All-Ukrainian Psychologist’s Day among a wide range of its students and graduates. This year, the department celebrated the professional holiday online.

The festive events began with solemn congratulations from the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Taisia ​​​​Hayvoronska and the Acting Head of the Department of Psychology Vladyslav Koval and continued with congratulatory words from the teachers of the department, stakeholders and graduates of the department of different years. In particular, all those present were congratulated on their professional holiday by Professors Iryna Burlakova and Nataliia Savelyuk, Associate Professors Iryna Bondarevych and Tetyana Borodulkina, Kateryna Rakytyanska (crisis psychologist of the Center for Assistance to the Rescued, Gestalt therapist, family, group, art psychotherapist, stakeholder of the department, graduate of the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University OP 053 «Psychology»), Olena Ganotska and Anastasiia Kurgan (graduates of the master’s degree in 2024).

The main program consisted of master classes from the faculty of the department – teachers who are also practicing psychologists.

Professor of the department, Doctor of Psychological Sciences Iryna Burlakova held a master class on the topic «Self-management of mental health.» She revealed the meaning of the concept of «self-management», introduced the participants to the formulas of the components of self-management of mental health; offered them a number of useful psycho-hygienic exercises to support their own mental health and manage their own reaction to stress; recommended the author’s mindfulness practices. At the end of the master class, the participants performed a number of dynamic exercises.

Professor of the department, Doctor of Psychological Sciences Nataliia Savelyuk conducted a master class on the topic «Positive personal brand: practicing in construction». The participants of the master class deepened and expanded their own ideas about the meaning of the concepts of «image», «image», «reputation», «authority» and «personal brand»; got acquainted with the modern scientific understanding of «PR» and its types, as various ways of promoting a personal brand. In addition to an interesting structured theory on the topic, Nataliia Mykhailivna conducted several interactive exercises and psychodiagnostic techniques. In particular, the participants assessed their own ability to please others and created personal brand emblems.

Associate professor of the department, Candidate of Psychological Sciences Tetiana Borodulkina conducted a master class on the topic «A journey that changes and heals» in the form of a workshop on working with metaphorical associative cards with elements of art therapy. Using the author’s methodology using the MAK-actualization of existential meanings «Reflections along the Carpathian Trail», the participants tried to find answers to questions of existential content; traced the changes in their own mental state after completing the proposed tasks; shared their own experiences and reflections.

The event was attended by about 80 participants – teachers of the department, full-time and part-time students who are studying as psychologists at the Department of Psychology at the educational and qualification levels of «bachelor» and «master»; graduates of the department of different years and stakeholders.

The main recordings of the event were uploaded to the YouTube channel of the Department of Psychology: https://www.youtube.com/@psychology_nuzp

The master class program was built in accordance with the objectives of the implementation of the project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine «Psychosocial support and psychological assistance at all levels of education».