What makes working at U-center fun, educational and challenging? Read the blog of our basic psychologist on our international team here: Frederike Vrancken.
About me
Introducing
I am Frederike, 26 years old and I live in Maastricht. Originally, I come from Antwerp. After several years of experience in international relations, I noticed that I wanted more satisfaction from my job. I wanted to see on a daily basis that I was helping people. After starting as an intern at U-center in 2018, I applied as a basic psychologist within the international team. Since I had obtained my bachelor's degree in health sciences, I decided to further specialize as a psychologist. I am extremely happy with this choice. It is my passion to provide good care and I get so much in return every day.
Why do you work at U-center?
For me, U-center is an inspiring and dynamic place to work. In the treatment center, you work together with many different professions: healthcare staff, hotel staff, kitchen staff and colleagues responsible for a warm welcome. In my experience, this creates a unique and harmonious daily working atmosphere. In addition, I have a great affinity with the target group and also learn a lot from the clients who come to us during their process. I also very much believe in the model U-center uses to deliver care. I am happy that I can contribute as a professional to provide this care to my clients. We believe in a holistic approach, in which we not only look at the psychological symptoms of the client, but also at what surrounds them and what other factors (including biological and social factors) have an influence.
Quote
Because you work so closely with different specializations every day, you learn a tremendous amount every day. This is also how you always feel supported as a professional.
Frederike Vrancken
Multidisciplinary team
From the moment we think we have a realistic picture of a client, we also focus our treatment holistically. For example, we also consider a client's daily rhythm, diet, physical health, leisure activities, social network and taxability as part of the treatment focus.
Achieving this requires good cooperation within a multidisciplinary team. Because you work so closely with different specializations every day, you learn an enormous amount every day. This is also how you always feel supported as a professional. You do this work together, as a team, and you also take care of each other in the process. Finally, I work in the international team. For me, this combines both my backgrounds a bit. I work every day with clients and colleagues from all over the world. This is hugely inspiring for me.
Daily rhythm
Group therapy
Also, as therapists, we often provide group therapy to clients. This varies by psychologist, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT). As an elementary psychologist, you are also a mentor. This means that together with a directional therapist, you are responsible for two to three clients from your team. Together, you keep an overview and monitor the care process of a client in the dynamic environment.
What does a workday at U-center look like?
For the clients, the program consists of an individual part and a comprehensive group program. The clients then follow different therapies within their own group. My day as a basic psychologist is therefore divided into two parts. One part of the day consists of client contact and is filled with individual sessions with my clients. The second part of the day consists of team meetings, work meetings or client-focused work. Think of intake of new clients, preparing treatment plans, contacting referrers or writing a discharge letter when clients go back home.
Opportunities and challenges at U-center
U-center offers many opportunities to specialize. First, you get to know and sample different types of treatments. Then you get the chance to further educate yourself in the treatment focus you find interesting. For example, a specialization in trauma therapy, schema therapy, ACT or follow-up courses in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
The multidisciplinary approach can also be a challenge, although that's also one of the reasons I love working at U-center. Since everyone has their specialization, it can be chaotic at times. I have found that this requires good communication and flexibility. Also, you should not be afraid to ask for things yourself sometimes. For me, it is immediately a good exercise to set boundaries. One of the biggest challenges for me is to work intensively with my clients for 7 weeks and then leave the care for these clients to the referrers. Often our clients leave for another country. Then it is not possible to follow up on how someone's care trajectory is progressing and how someone is developing further.
Working in our treatment center
Are you looking for a learning workplace in a unique treatment center with a client-centered approach within a close-knit team? Then I would definitely come and check us out. Not one day is the same and it is very special to be part of such a unique unit.