Juliette came to see us because she was feeling discouraged, stressed, and demotivated by the demands of EPFL.
We worked together to identify ways in which she could better manage her stress and its causes. Adjustments needed to be made to her schedule and the way she organized herself. She also needed to find a better balance between her studies and her personal life, particularly through activities that allowed her to recharge her batteries. Several measures were therefore taken to lighten her mental load, relieve her tensions, and improve her organization.
Roméo made an appointment with the social consultation because he wasn’t feeling very well but couldn’t explain why.
By talking to the social counselor, Roméo was able to put his feelings, desires, and cause-and-effect relationships into words and express them more clearly, whereas before they had been only vague feelings. Thanks to this, he was able to identify that certain relationships and social pressures were at the root of his difficulties. He then agreed with the social counselor on several actions to be taken to remedy the situation.
Juliette chose EPFL because she was strong in math and physics, but she had lost his motivation and was unsure about her choice of studies.
This can happen. The gap between the idea we have of a course and the reality of its content can sometimes be difficult to accept. Fortunately, Juliette received support in exploring the reasons behind her initial choice and was able to reflect on what she was really passionate about. She found a new area of interest and, thanks to personalized support, was able to reorient her studies towards a specialization that suited her better.
Roméo was panicking as exams approached and didn’t know how to go about revising.
Stress before exams is a common situation, especially when the amount of work seems overwhelming. With the help of a social counselor, Roméo was able to find concrete solutions to plan and structure his revision. He learned to prioritize his tasks and set realistic goals, which allowed him to approach this period with much more confidence and success.
Juliette made an appointment for counseling because he was facing definite failure.
This type of news is always difficult to take, but Juliette was able to see the situation from a different perspective. Rather than focusing on her failure, she reflected on her skills and passions, exploring other opportunities that would allow her to change direction and regain her motivation. Today, she has found a new career path that she is passionate about, outside of EPFL.
Roméo was going through a difficult period with another person at EPFL, facing tensions and conflicts.
The situation seemed complex, but Roméo was able to talk about it and develop strategies to better manage these relationship difficulties. He learned to set boundaries and assert himself and even received advice on how to anticipate future conflicts. If necessary, he was informed about EPFL’s measures to combat harassment, which made him feel more supported and less isolated.
Juliette, a PhD student at EPFL, was in conflict with her PI and some of his lab colleagues.
We were able to work with human resources to set up mediation, during which solutions were found that allowed Juliette to continue her doctoral studies under better conditions.
Roméo was in conflict with members of his family, and this situation was very stressful for him.
Roméo was able to take a step back and reflect on his priorities. With the help of a social couselor, he explored ways to set clear boundaries and protect his relationships while remaining true to himself. Little by little, he regained his balance, reestablishing communication with his family, which eased the tensions.
Juliette had many questions about herself, her behavior, and how others behaved toward her.
Juliette needed to take a step back and better understand how she functioned as a person. During our meetings at the social consultation, she was able to explore these questions in depth. Thanks to the support she received, Juliette became aware of certain aspects of herself and her relationships with others. This allowed her to change her perspective on certain situations and overcome limiting beliefs that were holding her back. Today, she feels much more at peace and in tune with herself.
Roméo was worried about a friend who was going through a difficult time.
Roméo wanted to help his friend overcome his difficulties but didn’t know how to go about it. Together, we thought about the best approach to take to support his friend, while encouraging him to accept the help he needed. Thanks to our discussions, Roméo found the best way to approach the situation, and his friend accepted the support he needed to get better.
Juliette had an administrative problem and didn’t know how to solve it.
We guided Juliette through the administrative and legal procedures in Switzerland, providing her with clear and practical information. When the situation went beyond our area of expertise, we referred her to the appropriate contact person. Thanks to this assistance, Juliette was able to resolve her problem quickly and efficiently.