Masterclasses offered by the PhD Psychologist
All (co)promotors, daily supervisors or PhD mentors are invited to attend one or more of the masterclasses to enhance their skills in supervising or mentoring PhD candidates, not only in terms of content and process but also in supporting them as individuals.
Planning 2026
Timeslot: in person sessions on Tuesdays 15:00-17:00.
Location: Bestuursgebouw, Heidelberglaan 8, Science Park, room will be announced later Trainer: P.C.M. Meesters (Paula), PhD-Psychologist Utrecht University.
Dates and topics
| 24 February | How to touch on a problem: to signal, to communicate and to refer. |
| 31 March | Dealing with neurodivergent PhD candidates. |
| 28 April | Dealing with feedback/critisism and stress of your PhD candidate. |
| 30 June | How to motivate your PhD candidate and autonomy support. |
| 22 September | Effective supervision and coaching: the mentoring cycle of Lois Zachary. |
| 24 November | Influencing communication and (group) interaction: Leary's Rose. |
Masterclass description
The masterclasses consist of three elements:
- Intervision: sharing difficult cases supervising PhDs. As a (co)promoter, daily supervisor or PhD mentor, you are in a perfect position to notice personal issues of your PhD candidates that might influence the PhD trajectory. This might even worry you.
- Topics:
- How to deal with personal issues, unwell being and social unsafety feelings of your PhD candidate?
- How do PhD candidates develop their (professional) autonomy? Experienced autonomy is one of the main facets in preventing ill-being, stress and drop-out.
- How to give effective supervision given the developmental phase your PhD candidate is experiencing?
- How to prevent risks of PhD candidates quitting, or firing your PhD candidate?
- Skills training:
- Specific skills to give proper feedback and criticism.
- Coaching strategies (Lois Zachary) and situational leadership.
- The axiom’s of communication (Watzlawick, Leary’s Rose, Core Quality Quadrant of Ofman).
- Motivational conversation.
About the trainer
Drs. P.C.M. Meesters (Paula) is licensed psychologist (GZ-psycholoog). She works as PhD psychologist at Utrecht University. Paula is available for supervisors for individual consultation when worries exists about PhDs. She advices supervisory teams, PhD mentors, HR advisors, social welfare officers, confidential advisors. She also provides workshops for PhD councils, PhD/ECR research groups, departments or (international) collaboration groups. Her core task being a PhD psychologist is treatment of PhDs who deal with high levels of pressure and stress, anxieties, mood issues, demotivation or communication issues which results in, or are the consequence of delays in the PhD trajectory. Paula provides both individual treatment and group treatment. She is educated in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Short Term Therapy, Mindfulness Based Therapy, EMDR, ACT CFT, ST.