08/12/2022

More than fifty UIC Barcelona students participate in workshops on building healthy relationships

The UIC Barcelona Equality and Inclusion Unit cooperated and supported the workshops organised by Belén Zárate, lecturer for the Faculty of Law and the Institute for Advanced Family Studies (IESF) Workshops in the two editions held brought together from students from ADE, Communication, Architecture, Law and Humanities on the Barcelona Campus, and from Psychology and Medicine on the Sant Cugat Campus.

The programme, designed in the context of the new research and teaching line started by IESF, approached the following subject areas: How to build a partner relationship with a future, by Juanjo Sanz and Núria Marcet, experts in affective-sexual training; Keys to identifying toxic relationships, by Claudia López and Adela Berrozpe, lecturers for the Faculty of Psychology and experts for the UIC Barcelona Clinic Support; and Resources for building healthy interpersonal relationships, by María Mateos.

The format, two workshops lasting one hour and a half over two weeks, was designed with the idea of adapting to the class rhythms and schedules, and for the students as an opportunity to meet other students from other degree programmes. The objective was to go deeper into different aspects of personal self-knowledge, relationship quality and success, and also to participate in group dynamics in the discussion and resolution of cases.

Student satisfaction surveys were very useful for designing upcoming workshop this year. From the comments provided, some stand out: “It was a good opportunity to get to know myself a little better (…) it helped me to consider another perspective on the subject.” “The teachers managed to combine theoretical and practical contents.” “This should become an additional university activity that could be followed up on (…) I think it is important that more of this type of workshop be carried out; UIC Barcelona shouldn’t be a just place for professional education, but also a place for personal growth; I learned to see the other person as they see themselves." "I really liked the practical part and the examples proposed. The only drawback is the time; it is too short to hear all the different opinions, but everything else is very good”.

The teachers of the programme have extensive experience. Nuria Marcet, architect, and Juanjo Sanz, PhD in Medicine and otorhinolaryngologist, are the coordinators of sexual affective training for the Terrassa Diocese in Barcelona. They both hold a Master’s Degree in Studies on Marriage and Family from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute, and for fifteen years have been facilitators for the "Fent Camí" family group linked to the Terrassa Diocese.  They are pre-marriage course organisers for the South-Central Archpriestate of Sabadell (since 2003 to present) and are monitors of affectivity and sexuality in the parish, family, school and university setting. They have given numerous affective-sexual training talks aimed at adolescents, young people and parents. Juanjo and Nuria are married and have four children.

Adela Berrozpe holds a degree in Psychology from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and a Master’s Degree in Systemic Family Therapy from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. She has been director of the Master’s Degree in Systemic Family Therapy of the Sant Joan de Déu Healthcare Park. Currently, she is the principal investigator in Catalonia of the PEPE (psycho-educational training) project, and educator in mental health facilities throughout all Spain. She is also manager of the Comprehensive Care Program for Families and coordinator in the areas of Prevention and Psychological Support at the SUPPORT Psychology and Psychiatry Clinic (UIC Barcelona).

Claudia López is a psychologist (Universidad Panamericana, Mexico) and is specialised in Health Psychology. She holds a master’s degree in Health Science Research and a PhD in Education and Psychology (University of Navarra, Spain). Trained as a psychotherapist in Rational Emotive Therapy at the Institut RET, Barcelona, currently her research work is focused on the skills that favour positive development and well-being of the so-called "emerging adults” (age 18-29 years).

María Mateos is a personal and executive coach. Her basic training is in the health field and is complemented by studies in Humanities. This passion has led her to support people on their life journey and more fully understand themselves so that they can achieve results using their own resources. After completing her studies at the University of Navarra, she worked in different hospitals (public and private) as a nurse, and later as a medical specialist clinical trainer. She is currently executive and personal coach at UIC Barcelona and at the Institute of Neurosciences Applied to Education (INAE). She is certified as Executive Coach by the European School of Coaching (EEC) and the International Coach Federation (ICF).

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