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PhD Psychologist

Last updated on 20 October 2023
The PhD psychologist is available for all PhD students at VU Amsterdam who experience psychological problems during the PhD trajectory.

This may concern:

  • Feeling insecure or not good enough
  • Feeling depressed or anxious
  • Difficulty in managing stress levels or feeling overstressed
  • Procrastination or working too many hours
  • Problems with assertiveness 

In 2022 Victor Kraak started at VU Amsterdam. He is a licensed therapist (GZ-Psycholoog) and has extensive experience in treating a wide range of psychological problems. He has worked in several mental health services and practices, also with (international) PhD students. He offers treatment with elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapies. In his approach he focuses on one’s personal background and highly values good assessment and appropriate treatment. He speaks Dutch, English and Spanish.

Registration and procedure

You can register by sending an email to Victor Kraak together with the completed registration form. He will then contact you for a short screening by phone and schedule an intake interview. Sessions are free of charge and take place at the VU campus Transitorium 0D-28 or online. If after intake it appears that different treatment is needed other than the PhD psychologist can provide, then the PhD psychologist can advise what form of treatment is more appropriate elsewhere. Treatment is not offered for problems such as severe suicidality, addiction, eating disorders or trauma. For these problems you can contact your GP who will refer you to a suitable healthcare provider.

PhD support group

While doing a PhD, you may encounter several bumps in the road. How do you ensure a good work-life balance that fits you? How do you deal with the inevitable setbacks, irregularities or doubts of the PhD process? What sources of stress do you encounter and how can you best cope with them? In this group, we talk about what we encounter during the PhD process and in what ways we can find support to feel less stressed and more resilient.

Date: Bi-weekly on Thursdays 10:30-12:00 a.m.
Location: Transitorium 0D-28.
Sign up by sending an email to Victor Kraak via v.c.kraak@vu.nl.

Privacy

Everything you discuss with the PhD psychologist will be treated in the strictest confidence. This means that the PhD psychologist can only provide information to third parties only after your written consent.

As a licensed psychologist (GZ-Psycholoog), the PhD psychologist is bound by the Professional Code of Psychologists. This professional code can be downloaded from the website of the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP). The Medical Treatment Agreement Act (WGBO) also applies to psychological treatment.

Further information about privacy and about how data is processed in the context of the GDPR can be found in the privacy statement

Resources

How to Thrive and Survive your PhD - York Graduate Research School, University of York

Golden-rules-phd-supervision.pdf (universiteitleiden.nl)

What I wish I had known about doing a PhD (July 21, 2022) - YouTube

Growing up in science (nyu.edu)

Academia and mental health

Levecque, K., Anseel, F., De Beuckelaer, A., Van der Heyden, J., & Gisle, L. (2017). Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students. Research Policy, 46(4), 868-879. 46(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008

Nicholls H, Nicholls M, Tekin S, Lamb D, Billings J (2022). The impact of working in academia on researchers’ mental health and wellbeing: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis. PLoS ONE 17(5): e0268890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268890

Sverdlik, A., Hall, N. C., McAlpine, L., & Hubbard, K. (2018). The PhD Experience: A Review of the Factors Influencing Doctoral Students’ Completion, Achievement, and Well-Being. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 13, 361-388. https://doi.org/10.28945/4113 

PhD Psychologist

Wednesday - Friday 08.30 - 17.00