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  • Psicologia na Madeira
    Publication . Soares, Maria Luísa; Faria, Catarina; Coelho, Cristina; Oliveira, Filipa; Lucas, Carla Vale
  • Supporting Students' Mental Health and Academic Success Through Mobile App and IoT
    Publication . Baras, Karolina; Soares, Luísa; Lucas, Carla Vale; Oliveira, Filipa; Paulo, Norberto Pinto; Barros, Regina
    Smartphones have become devices of choice for running studies on health and well-being, especially among young people. When entering college,students often face many challenges,such as adaptation to new situations, establish new interpersonal relationships, heavier workload and shorter deadlines, teamwork assignments and others. In this paper, the results of four studies examining students’ well being and mental health as well as student’s perception of challenges and obstacles they face during their academic journey are presented. In addition, a mobile application that acts as a complement to a successful tutoring project implemented at the authors’ University is proposed. The application allows students to keep their schedules and deadlines in one place while incorporating virtual tutor features. By using both, the events from the student’s calendar and his or her mood indicators, the application sends notifications accordingly. These notifications encompass motivational phrases, time management guidelines, as well as relaxation tips.
  • Reports of an Addiction: Therapeutic Intervention with a Young Adult with Cannabis Dependence
    Publication . Lucas, Carla Vale; Oliveira, Filipa; Soares, Luísa
    Abstract: Background and Goals: Cannabis is the most widely illicit substance around the world. Treatment success is predicted by different factors, among which, motivation for changing the behavior is one of these factors. Therefore, identifying the client’s readiness to change is important. Working with clients that are in precontemplation stage of change constitutes a big challenge for therapists. Methods: In this paper, we present the case study of João, a young adult with cannabis use disorder, comorbid with social anxiety. The therapeutic intervention followed the principles of motivational interviewing, highly recommended with clients less ready to change. It also combined techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy and narrative therapy, to help separate the client from the problem, thus helping him to construct a more fulfilling life. Throughout the article, the subjective viewpoints of the client will be highlighted, in the form of micronarratives written by the client, suggested as therapeutic tasks. Discussion/Results: Several challenges were faced while addressing resistance and ambivalence, early on and throughout treatment. João dropout in the 23rd session, after achieving some therapeutic gains. Changes in his self-talk, documented in the micronarratives, served as indicators that his relationship with cannabis started to change. The therapeutic tasks suggested were important in helping him to increase motivation for change and to write new paths for his life. Conclusion: It is crucial to adjust the therapeutic interventions to the client’s readiness to change, and continuously reflecting about the therapeutic process, addressing moments of disengagement, early on, to increase the probability of behavior change.