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Psychological challenges facing MSc students

This powerpoint has been designed to offer advice and guidance to MSc students. The format of the Workshop may be slightly different to this powerpoint.

Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service

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Aims

To look at common challenges involved in starting at a university

To examine practical activities for dealing with the stress of transition

To review stress management skills

To be aware of sources of advice

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Part 1

Common challenges involved in starting at a university Academic Social

Settling in tips

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Settling in: The Academic side

Adjusting to a new level of study Adjusting to self-directed learning Trying to keep previous standards Adjusting reading strategies Presentations, essays and exams The tutor relationship Sustained pressure during a 1

year course

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Academic challenges

Feeling overwhelmed with material Adapting to a new style of learning Needing time to develop an

independent critical voice Anxiety can lead to procrastination

We may disguise avoidance by being very busy

We may find things to do that are interesting or even useful, but don't contribute towards the main goal

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Settling in - the Social Side

Talking to strangers Making contacts through shared activities Keeping contact with people from home Meeting people from similar and different

backgrounds Getting a balance from work and leisure. Being realistic about what to expect Giving yourself time to adjust Looking after yourself - food and sleep

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The challenge of transition

Loss of the familiar – home, friends, family, places, routine

What about feeling homesick? Coping with loss, after initial excitement subsides

Encountering disappointment, depression and anxiety

Meeting new people, relationships

Academic challenges

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Feeling Homesick

Can be part of the natural grieving reaction associated with change

Is extremely common Most common in first

few days or weeks after arriving

Can occur at the time of leaving home, but also later, such as after Christmas break.

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Homesickness may be associated with

distance from home sense of anticlimax high initial expectations work overload and low control

over it contrast in lifestyle time needed to adapt to changed

culture, language and lifestyle

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Initial impressions

Why did you choose to study at LSE

What are your initial impressions Academic Social Cultural

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Settling in Tips - I Talk to someone. Make contacts and friends

through shared activities such as societies and clubs.

Keep contact with people from home, but also give yourself time to begin to get involved here

Remember that many others will be feeling the same

Remember that you are also allowed to enjoy yourself - it isn't being disloyal to those you miss!

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Settling in Tips - II Be realistic about what to expect from

student life and from yourself. Try to balance work and leisure.

Give yourself time to adjust: you don't have to get everything right straight away.

Remember to get enough food and sleep Most people come through times of

homesickness and go on to do well and enjoy their time at university.

If work is difficult, look at your study skills and time management (see Teaching and Learning Centre)

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Settling in Tips - III Speak to your tutor Look for advice and help:

Student Services Centre Study Skills Advisors in TLC Student Union Medical Centre Mental Health and Wellbeing

Advisor. Don't wait until problems

have grown impossibly large!

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Part 2

The context for studying

What are you reallydoing here?

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Common student difficulties

Ambivalence about leaving home and family

Cultural isolation Settling down in a new peer

group Dilemmas about relationships

and identity Financial difficulties Ambivalent relationship to study Feeling under pressure to do

everything right

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Underlying dynamics Trying to please others Wanting to be the best Being a perfectionist The family / historic

context for your success, eg keeping the family together

Setting yourself impossible targets

Re-enacting anxiety, trauma, failure …

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Dynamics of study, work, life ...

Pastrelationships

Relationshipwith LSE or

course of studyor work or …

Currentrelationships

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Under Pressure?

What pressures are you under as an MSc student coming to LSE

From others From yourself

Are these pressures realistic or excessive?

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Part 3

What are the practical ways of dealing with future challenges?

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Future challenges Classes, essays

and exams Work and Money Planning your

future life Sustaining

momentum Getting support

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Practical approaches Revise study skills

see LSE Learning World Website Assess time management skills Set realistic and achievable goals Plan short term targets and longer term

strategies Recognise short term achievements Talk to others, ask for help and support

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Getting things done

Concentrate on the task,

not the outcome

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Getting things done

Concentrate on the task,

not the outcome

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Focussing on the task Break down huge activities into

small manageable tasks Remember your past successes Recognise you are likely to pass Be methodical, and allow time for

breaks and space to breathe and think

Use mind maps, scribble ideas Go for a walk, talk out loud

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Part 4

Review your Stress Management Skills

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Stress Management Skills Physical, behavioural, cognitive Regularly switch off with some kind of

physical activity Good self care – sleep, diet, caffeine,

alcohol and nicotine Allow yourself time out without guilt Acknowledge anxiety, rather than denying

it. Ask if your negative thoughts are realistic

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Challenging negative thoughts Apply ‘Socratic reasoning’ or imagine

this being tested in a Court of Law

Identify the negative thought Eg, I can’t do this Course

Ascertain the evidence For and Against Ask if you are making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable alternative

thought

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Thinking errors

Discounting the positive Tunnel Vision

only seeing the negative side of things

Overgeneralizing because it happened in the past

it will happen again in the future All or nothing thinking Believing a catastrophe will

happen Emotional Reasoning

If I feel it then it must be true

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Part 5

What sources of advice and help are available?

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Sources of advice and help

Academic Adviser Disability OfficeDepartmental Staff Student Services

Centre TLC study skills advisors Learning World Student Union and Advice Centre Medical Centre

Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisor Deans

Don't wait until problems have grown impossibly largeIt’s OK to ask for help earlier

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LSE Student Counselling Service – KSW.507

Free and confidential Mainly short term counselling Book appointments in advance Urgent appointments (phone early in the

day) See Website for

Stress management handouts Self help resources on a wide range of student

issues (study – related and personal difficulties) Relaxation MP3’s

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Forthcoming Groups

Stress Management Group (3 weeks), Thursday 11 – 1, 17 November

Self Esteem Group (3 weeks) Monday 11 – 1, 14 November

MSc therapy group PhD therapy group

Places on all groups need to be booked in advance. Please see the website, Call Ext 3627, visit KSW.507 or email student.counselling@lse.ac.uk.

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Final thoughts

Transition can be stressful, but also allows us to grow as a person

Imagine looking back in 5 years Talk