1 Student Counselling Centre Dr Who? A Support Group For Post Graduate Researchers Introduced by Barbara Lawton

Historical Context Early 2000’s. Significant numbers of post graduate researchers approaching the Counselling Centre. Similar presenting issues. May benefit from a group experience. Effective use of counselling staff time. Publication of the Roberts Review in

Aims of Dr Who? group Contact and support. Psycho-education. Personal development. Communication skills Potential for ongoing friendship. 3

Nature of the Dr Who? group Recruited through Student Counselling Centre & Graduate School Offices. 5 weekly meetings of 1.5 hours duration. Usually 3 groups per academic year. Day of the week and time of day varies. An average of 15 participants in each group. Venue = 4

Session 1 People Hunt – icebreaker. Introductions – name game. Considering 2 statements individually, then with peers. Drawing up an agenda for the subsequent 4 sessions. 5

Subsequent sessions Topics indentified by the participants - often includes: Getting and/or staying motivated. Managing stress. Maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Addressing procrastination. Dealing with difficult relationships. 6

Carry on Doctor….. Initially, a popular follow up to the Dr Who? group. Technology has changed the format. Now an informal, self organising group. 7

Feedback ‘It helped me to learn when & how to speak up.’ ‘It’s a great opportunity to accept new experiences & hear other opinions.’ ‘It’s interesting and reassuring to find that students from all demographics of study experience similar problems, regardless of their specialist field.’ ‘Many of the exercises were really helpful in getting me to think through my method of working and my approach to tasks. 8

Feedback ‘After this training, I have strong confidence to do my research and am eager to discuss problems with my supervisor.’ ‘Thank you for an enjoyable 5 weeks. I will take some nice friends away from this.’ ‘I liked the creative activities such as mind mapping.’ Talking to students who have similar problems and finding practical solutions was really useful’ ‘I learned a lot about myself and I liked that.’ 9

Feedback ‘I found it slightly daunting that we had to organise ourselves into small groups.’ ‘More information on other resources available for struggling students could be provided, e.g. lists of forthcoming workshops.’ ‘Friday lunchtime would have been ideal.’ ‘Earlier in the day, say 9am, would have been better.’ ‘The thing I found most distracting was participants leaving part way through.’ 10

The National Picture ‘Surviving Your PhD’ – I off workshop, then meets monthly on a Tuesday morning as a support group all year round. ‘Writing Up Group’ - 6 sessions, structured. ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ – 3 sessions focusing on personal development & communication skills, then an opportunity to join an ongoing support group. Several universities have adopted the Dr Who? title and format pioneered at Leeds. 11

Next steps Another Dr Who? group planned for semester 2. Dates will be circulated via Graduate School Offices. SCC reviewing this provision for

Student Counselling Centre 13