SPO

The Psychology and Guidance Service (SPO – Serviço de Psicologia e Orientação ) operates in the field of promoting the well-being, mental health, personal development, inclusion, and academic success of FEUP students, contributing to the creation of a healthy, equitable academic environment conducive to learning, participation, and personal fulfillment.

The team

  • Helena Lopes
  • Fernanda Mendes
  • Luísa Pereira
  • Fernanda Araújo
  • Judite Rodrigues

Mission & Objectives

The SPO is responsible for:

  1. Provide psychological support and specialized counseling to students, in accordance with applicable ethical and professional standards;
  2. To develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives and programs that promote students’ well-being, integration, inclusion, and academic success;
  3. To promote the development of personal, social, and transferable skills relevant to students’ academic careers and professional lives;
  4. Manage the process for granting the status of Student with Special Educational Needs, planning and monitoring the implementation of individualized measures and accommodations, in coordination with the directors of academic programs and other relevant units at FEUP and the University of Porto;
  5. Provide specialized technical advice to FEUP’s governing bodies and other units, as well as issue opinions on matters related to students’ academic experience, well-being, and mental health;
  6. Organize and facilitate initiatives to promote mental health literacy within the academic community;
  7. Propose, promote, and support inclusive institutional practices that ensure equitable access to knowledge, full participation, and student well-being, in coordination with units at FEUP and the University of Porto;
  8. Develop, support, and collaborate on studies, projects, and initiatives relevant to its areas of intervention, contributing to the continuous improvement of institutional practices;
  9. Develop and support the implementation of institutional programs that promote student engagement, civic participation, and active citizenship, in coordination with the relevant FEUP units;
  10. Identify, support, and manage, in coordination with the relevant bodies and services at FEUP, merit-based scholarship programs and other initiatives recognizing students’ academic, social, or personal achievements.

Areas of intervention/action

SPO provides the following services:

Psychological consultation

This is a confidential individual intervention, more or less prolonged, based on an empathetic and supportive relationship, which allows students to find alternatives and develop strategies for resolving their problems.

This service is free and available to all FEUP students by appointment.

Counseling

This is a service provided by SPO psychologists, aimed at guiding students through more or less specific issues, whether of a personal/academic nature, such as:

  • Vocational development / reorientation
  • Study planning and organization
  • Prescription prevention
  • Academic reorganization during/after prescription
  • Referral / Screening of requests related to other FEUP and/or UPorto services

This service is free and available to all FEUP students by appointment.

Support for Students with Special Educational Needs

At FEUP, the Psychology and Guidance Service is the Support Contact for Students with Special Educational Needs.

Students with SEN must apply for their Status in order to benefit from the support and adjustments to the teaching-learning process appropriate to their needs.

Support and Development Groups

This is a type of psychological intervention, run by a psychologist, which is based on interaction and communication between the members of a carefully organized group, with defined objectives and activities, to promote specific skills and strategies. Sharing common problems and difficulties promotes integration, helps to alleviate the feeling of social isolation that so many university students experience, allows for the construction of richer and more comprehensive solutions, which greatly contributes to the students’ sense of belonging, well-being and the quality of their academic experience.

The sessions are held weekly and last one hour, in person. Students are invited to make a semestral commitment.

Workshops on Integration and Academic Success

These training workshops work on personal, emotional, social and academic skills, with the aim of facilitating the integration process and contributing to the academic success of all students.

This initiative takes place throughout the school year.

Walk-in Hours

A type of service provided by the GOI’s psychologists which aims to give students the opportunity to access a consultation for advice and/or counselling, without the need for an appointment.

The service is available every Wednesday between 12 AM and 1 PM.

Check out the FAQs for more information on this service.