Support from study psychologists

Study psychologists have accumulated plenty of knowledge on study-related problems and facing and overcoming them. Our goal is to work with the other members of the university staff to ensure that the university can offer students the best possible environment for learning and studying. We participate in pedagogical development work and conduct research on learning.

Forms of collaboration between study psychologists and university staff

• personal consultation and discussion
• staff training
• cooperation courses and training events
• research cooperation
• materials to support teaching and supervision

Study psychologists meet students in small groups and individually when they need special support for their studies. Instructions for seeking out the study psychologists’ services are available in the instructions for students. Also, have a look at the guidelines for individual arrangements.

• Are you worried about a student?
• Do you feel you have reached the limit of your skills as a supervisor?
• Have you encountered students with a learning disability?
• Does the student need individual arrangements?
• Would you like to motivate your students or promote their well-being?
• Are you looking for new ways to guide and encounter students?
• Are you looking for materials or tasks that you could use to support the students’ learning?
• Would you like to conduct research on topics related to study psychology?

As an employee of the University of Helsinki, you can call or send an e-mail to a study psychologist if you want to discuss your students’ problems. We have divided the faculties and campuses among the study psychologists so that each psychologist has a faculty that they collaborate more closely with. The division of responsibilities can be found at the end of this page. You can contact your faculty’s appointed study psychologist or the study psychologist you are used to dealing with, or whichever of us happens to be available.

You can also contact us when you need a discussion or cooperation partner for your teaching or supervision development work. Themes we are familiar with include especially problems with studies concerning motivation, self control, stress, coping, anxiety or learning problems, but we are also familiar with the mental development of young adults as well as their mental health problems. We will work with you to discover ways for you to support a student or a group of students, or to develop their learning environment. We cooperate with the university’s pedagogical experts so, when necessary, we can also refer you to them for help.

The work of study psychologists includes individual arrangements. Our objective is to participate in developing accessible learning environments and pedagogical solutions that prevent the need for individual arrangements. If individual arrangements are needed, you can consult the study psychologists and direct to us students who need the arrangements.

Study psychologists participate in university-wide staff training events, such as the training on challenging supervision and guidance situations, which we organise annually with other experts at the university. We also take part in courses in university pedagogy. You can ask study psychologists to organise staff training on topics such as supervising and encountering students, accomplishing things, motivation, stress, anxiety, or learning difficulties and their relation to teaching arrangements. Training events should be agreed on well in advance, as a large part of the study psychologists’ job is directed at counselling students and consulting teachers.

Study psychologists have produced videos that you can watch together with students as an introduction to the services provided by study psychologists or in various settings where the theme is student well-being and learning. If necessary, please ask for more directions on how to use the videos.   

SMART - a tool for breaking down study tasks and assignments

Problems in studying for a doctorate? Study psychologist services for doctoral researchers

You can contact the study psychologists by phone or by e-mail, either to the psychologists’ personal addresses or the joint study psychologists’ e-mail at opintopsykologi@helsinki.fi. Please note! If your message contains any confidential or identifiable information, use the encrypted e-mail.

City centre campus

Faculty of Arts: Mónica Iriarte-Lüttjohann and Janna Pöntinen

Faculty of Educational Sciences: Mira Aaltonen and Johanna Björklund

Faculty of Law: Seppo Hiltunen

Faculty of Theology: Janna Pöntinen

Faculty of Social Sciences: Mónica Iriarte-Lüttjohann and Johanna Björklund

Swedish School of Social Sciences: Johanna Björklund

Kumpula campus

Faculty of Science: Emma Vilppo and Anu Lehtinen

Viikki campus

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: Jasmin Kurkaa-Kivelä

Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences: Jasmin Kurkaa-Kivelä

Faculty of Pharmacy: Seppo Hiltunen

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Jasmin Kurkaa-Kivelä

Meilahti campus

Faculty of Medicine: Mira Aaltonen 

Doctoral researchers

Johanna Mikkonen

Other division of responsibilities

Lead for study psychology services: Anu Lehtinen

Individual arrangements: Anu Lehtinen ja Johanna Mikkonen and faculty’s appointed study psychologist