ULusófona Psychology Days Highlight Emerging Issues in the Field

On the 29th and 30th of April, the Grand Hall of Universidade Lusófona – Centro Universitário do Porto hosted the second edition of the Psychology Conference: Practices and Applications. Aimed especially at undergraduate and Master's students in Psychology, the event promoted an in-depth reflection on the main theoretical, practical, and ethical challenges currently facing the discipline.

The opening session featured an address by Inês Jongenelen, Director of the Faculty of Psychology and Education. This was followed by the panel “Emerging Topics in Psychology”, moderated by Professor Alexandra Figueira, which brought together three distinguished guest speakers.

Artemisa Rocha Dores, lecturer and researcher on the Master’s in Clinical Neuropsychology, addressed the issue of excessive and dysfunctional internet use in a talk entitled “Problematic Internet Use vs. Digital Health: Present-Day Challenges”. She emphasised how intensive use of digital technologies can evolve from recreational activity into behavioural addiction, especially among adolescents, with significant impacts on wellbeing and mental health. Preventive strategies and intervention models based on scientific evidence were also discussed, in the context of the European project Bootstrap (Boosting Societal Adaptation and Mental Health in a Rapidly Digitalising, Post-Pandemic Europe).

The next presentation was delivered by Andreia Soares from the University of Coimbra, who introduced the Mind Project, focused on psychological interventions for cancer patients, underlining the importance of emotional support and psychological adaptation throughout the illness journey.

Closing the morning panel, researcher Marina Pinheiro from the University of Minho offered a reflection on psychopathy and emotional processing in women who have committed crimes, highlighting gender-specific aspects of criminal behaviour.

In the afternoon, Marta Alves, representative of the Portuguese Psychologists' Association, led an informative session on the Junior Professional Year.

This was followed by a sharing and networking session between students and university researchers in a “Speed Dating” format, during which ongoing research projects were presented.

The second day of the event, 30th April, focused on the practical application of Psychology in various professional contexts. The panel “Psychology in Practice: Contexts and Challenges” was moderated by Andreia Geraldo, Diogo Carreiras, and Marta Sousa.

The session included a dynamic roundtable discussion, where the moderators posed questions to the invited speakers, promoting a direct and enriching exchange of ideas. This format encouraged critical reflection on the concrete challenges of the profession, bringing students closer to the practical realities of Psychology and fostering dialogue between academia and professional practice.

During the session, Carolina Paixão from the Casa de Saúde Santa Catarina shared her experience in the field of Clinical and Health Psychology within institutional settings. Teresa Silva from the University of Minho discussed the challenges faced by Justice Psychology professionals, particularly when working with vulnerable populations. Finally, Isabel Almeida from the Gaia Professional Rehabilitation Centre presented the role of Clinical Neuropsychology in the reintegration and rehabilitation of individuals with cognitive impairments.

The afternoon was dedicated to thematic workshops with limited participation, offering practical and in-depth training in the fields of Justice Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Clinical and Health Psychology.

The 2nd Psychology Conference established itself as a dynamic space for training, debate, and the sharing of experiences, reinforcing the connection between academic research and professional practice.

View the Event Photos on ULusófona's Facebook

Photography
Sofia Pereira and Catarina Machado

Editing
Catarina Machado

Coverage
Sofia Pereira and Catarina Machado

News Report
Sofia Pereira