You, as a Nepuga/Fapuga student, have probably already noticed the NAP icon in your portal, right? If you don’t know exactly what it is or what it is for, this article will help you understand the importance of this project and also how to use this tool provided by the institution.
The Ana Carolina Puga College (FAPUGA), a higher education institution accredited by the MEC (Brazil’s Ministry of Education), and the Ana Carolina Puga Specialization Center (NEPUGA) offer students the Psychopedagogical Support Center (NAP). The aim of the project is to offer online psychopedagogical counseling to all active students of the institution.
This work prioritizes the student’s biopsychosocial, scientific, and professional development, aiming to contribute satisfactorily to the teaching-learning process and to student performance. In addition, the college is concerned with the health and well-being of students, professors, and other staff.
Why take part in the NAP?
At this stage, while you are pursuing your undergraduate or postgraduate degree, difficulties may arise in balancing work, family, and studies. Often it is a draining period in which you feel overwhelmed, and these situations can harm your emotional well-being in various ways.
Do you believe all of this affects your performance? Or do you even feel anxious thinking about the future and what to do when you finish your course? Are you afraid of starting a business of your own?
And faced with all these thoughts surrounding your mind, do you believe that talking to professionals about your mental health in general, about your anxiety over all of this, could help you? After all, are you tired, unmotivated, discouraged, and/or lost?
The NAP is the tool that extends a hand to help you see situations clearly and better understand the paths you have chosen to follow.
Through active and specialized listening, specific actions, pedagogical support for academic practices, study activities, and cognitive and emotional monitoring and development, the Center seeks to provide a better quality of life and intellectual and emotional development, completely free of charge.
Points to be worked on at the NAP
Psychopedagogical guidance addresses issues essential to students’ overall development and to structuring a career plan. Through consultations with the institution’s psychologists, Dr. Raquel R. and Dr. Bianca G., students can work on the following points:
- Self-knowledge
- Self-esteem
- Blocks
- Conflicts
- Skills
- Motivations
- Personal goals and projects
- Future plans
- Learning difficulties
- And others.
All of this because the project seeks to prevent dropout and low academic performance, while contributing to satisfactory professional and social performance.
Examples of cases handled at the NAP
The psychologists say they have already seen a student who felt very insecure about her career choice at the height of her 50s, since she had spent her whole life working in the same bureaucratic field and has now decided to change fields. However, she is torn between doing what she likes and doing what people consider her good at.
Another case is a young woman who is extremely attached to her parents, to the point of being unable to make her own decisions, even to get married. Every time she manages to move away and follow her own path, something happens and she returns to be near them again.
The psychologists have handled these and other cases, and sessions can be individual or in a group, depending on each case.
How to take part in the NAP
As we mentioned at the beginning of the text, the NAP is located within the Student Portal, and appointments to receive counseling are scheduled there in advance.
In addition, this psychological counseling complies with the following regulations in force: CFP Resolution No. 011/2018 and CFP Resolution No. 004/2020 of the Federal Council of Psychology.
Group sessions of up to 10 people take place every Friday, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Individual sessions will be held on Thursdays, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments will be every 15 days, alternating between postgraduate and undergraduate students.
