Psychological and Counselling Service (PACS)
Taking Care of our Students’ Wellbeing
All Esade Business School and Law School students can turn to the Psychological and Counselling Service (PACS), a transversal, confidential, and free service Esade provides to help ensure students' psychological, physical, and social health and wellbeing.
In addition to psychological support and personalized care for those who need it, PACS launches multiple prevention initiatives, which seek to promote well-being and healthy practices, as well as make the Business and the Law School a respectful, friendly and safe environment.
If you’re an Esade student, don’t hesitate to contact PACS whenever you need it.
Service Areas
Individual Counselling
Personalized sessions to listen to students and provide them psychological support.
Wellbeing Ambassadors
Trained student volunteers who provide a confidential and non-judgmental space for Esade undergraduate students to talk and seek support.
Health Promotion
Workshops focused on students’ emotional and physical wellbeing.
Save Environment
Promoting a culture based on respect and caring for others.
PACS Team
Our Offices
Sant Cugat – Student Life Office
Located on the 1st floor of the University Building (Torre Norte)
Avinguda de la Torre Blanca, 59, 08172 - Sant Cugat del Vallès
pacs@esade.edu
Barcelona – PACS Office
Located in Building 2, to the right of the main entrance
C. Marquès de Mulhacén, 40-42, 08034 - Barcelona
pacs@esade.edu
New Esade Students
Starting university is an exciting challenge, though, at the same time, it can provoke certain fears or difficulties, especially if you come from another country or city and your friends and family are far away.
To help you settle in and acclimate to life at Esade and make sure your experience the first few months is as rewarding as possible, PACS provides a dedicated orientation service for new students. Our aim is to ensure you start this new stage in life just as you deserve: With excitement, full of hope, and a positive attitude.
First Year Experience Program
We have designed the First Year Experience Program transversally with Esade’s Identity and Mission team. The program’s aim is to help you find your place at Esade. It includes a series of proposed extracurricular activities and resources to help you integrate into campus life and meet other students and/or Esade community members.
In their own words
Learn from other students and their experiences
Individual Counselling
The individual Counselling service provides you the guidance you need to address personal and/or academic problems and situations that you may face while at Esade. These can range from difficulties adapting to university life, interpersonal problems, life crises, perfectionism, self-image, self-esteem, conflict management, anxiety-related symptoms, apathy, and the disruption of healthy habits, among others.
These sessions are free and completely confidential. They focus on listening to you and offering you the support and space you need to achieve specific, short-term objectives you define alongside our psychologists who are experts in this type of Counselling.
If you need additional guidance or more specialized care, we’ll put you in touch with external support providers.
Individual Counselling FAQs
What is the “individual Counselling service”?
In what situations is it advisable for me to make an appointment?
What can I talk about in these sessions?
How do I make an appointment?
Who can request an individual Counselling session?
What is the first session like?
How frequent are the sessions?
How many sessions can I have during a given academic year?
How long are the individual Counselling sessions?
Where are the sessions held?
Are sessions confidential?
Can I sign up for individual Counselling sessions if I’m already being treated by an external service provider?
Can I take part in sessions more than one academic year?
Who will I be doing my individual Counselling sessions with?
Curricular Accommodation
With the aim of ensuring equal opportunities and helping everyone achieve their educational goals, we support students who may be suffering from any given psychological condition, physical illness, or disability.
Consult here our curricular accommodation Policy on the PACS site.
Curricular accommodation FAQs
What is “curricular accommodation”?
How can I request this curricular accommodation?
Who can request this curricular accommodation?
What does the curricular accommodation process entail for Esade students?
What does the curricular accommodation process entail for incoming exchange students?
In what language should I send the medical and/or psychological report?
Is this curricular accommodation temporary or permanent?
When can I request this curricular accommodation?
How long does the entire curricular accommodation process take?
Can PACS diagnose my psychological condition?
Is the medical information I provide included in my academic transcript?
Peer-Groups
Peer groups share those difficulties we often experience, but do not usually express. The groups gather the concerns of each member, offer respectful and sensitive emotional support, and enhance individual resilience and resources.
These groups offer a safe space in which to work with other students who are facing similar challenges. By helping each other, members acquire new skills and expand the social and support network within the university.
Peer groups deal with a range of topics and continue for three sessions. Each group is supported by a PACS psychologist.
Wellbeing Ambassadors
Wellbeing Ambassadors are trained student volunteers who provide a confidential and non-judgmental space for Esade undergraduate students to talk and seek support. They are approachable and create a friendly and supportive atmosphere that makes it easy for students to seek help when needed. As mental health liaisons within the classroom, they may also direct their peers to Esade’s other specialized support services.
In addition to offering peer support, Wellbeing Ambassadors play a key role in raising awareness of the program. They are also active in organizing or participating in wellbeing events and outreach initiatives.
Training process
Wellbeing Ambassadors undergo training to develop skills in listening, questioning, and responding effectively. They also learn about the specialized support services offered at Esade and how to guide peers towards accessing additional resources.
This training helps Ambassadors offer informal, approachable, and supportive assistance to their peers and includes the following objectives:
- Define the roles and resources available for Wellbeing Ambassadors.
- Foster a sense of community among Ambassadors.
- Teach self-healing strategies and emotional self-regulation.
- Encourage self-awareness.
- Give firsthand experience with the program.
You can meet the Wellbeing Ambassadors for the 24-25 academic year here.
Health Promotion
We organize a variety of workshops and activities throughout the academic year to help you take holistic care of your own health and improve your wellbeing.
Wellbeing Days
Take part in the Esade Wellbeing Days. Each month you can take part in a free activity, designed to help you take care of your health and wellbeing.
Academics
Esade provides students a wide range of resources and tools to help you improve your academic performance and guide you during exam periods.
For example, you can take advantage of the following resources whenever you want: The immersive rooms in Barcelona and Sant Cugat developed with Esade Library, as well as other activities such as our meditation challenge or the resources available to help you achieve your full academic potential.
Mental Health Matters
Mental Health Matters is a program consisting of various sessions and workshops focused on prevention and health. Working alongside others, these sessions generally address issues related to mental health and how to protect and take care of yourself.
Consult the scheduled activities here
Safe Environment
Esade is a member of the Sistema Entorno Seguro (Safe Environment System) promoted by the Society of Jesus and implemented in all its universities and residence halls through the UNIJES Jesuit university network in Spain.
The mission of the Safe Environment System is to promote a culture based on respect and caring for others, ensuring that we create a safe environment that promotes the entire Esade community’s wellbeing.
The safe environment representative is Teresa Careta.
Safe Environment System Foundations
1. Create welcoming, respectful, and safe environments
2. Ensure community members care for and treat those around them well
3. Promote a culture of protection that helps and protects any at-risk minor or adult
4. Report any inappropriate practice or abusive behavior
5. Defend everyone’s individual values
6. Encourage people’s personal growth
Protocols to Address Harassment and Student Protection
Protocols to Address Harassment in the Academic Setting
Student Protection