Volunteering at Mindset Institute: Participants' Perspective

Photo Credit: Mindset Foundation. All photos are the property of the Mindset Foundation and show the works created during workshops organized by the Foundation.

Working in psychiatric wards in Warsaw hospitals is one of the main areas of activity of the Mindset Institute — a foundation supporting children and young people experiencing mental crises and their families. Thanks to the use of art therapy methods and properly prepared and constantly updated training, volunteers can take a close look at psychological practice, as well as systematically expand their knowledge and competence.

An important element of the organization's operating model is to base it on the experience gained directly during work in psychiatric wards. It is the practice, developed and deepened with each subsequent month of activity, that forms the foundation of functioning Mindset Institute. The foundation was created from the personal experience of its founder — Magdalena Kowalska. In an interview with Jobs Door, she talked about her first contacts with the community of young patients of a mental hospital after graduating from psychology studies. As she herself points out, it was this experience — no longer theoretical, but a real meeting with young people — that influenced her decision to create a place that really responds to the needs of children, young people and their families, basing her activities on the constantly analyzed work carried out in the branches.

To become a Mindset Institute volunteer, you must be a psychology student or graduate. This is an excellent option for people who want to gain practical experience before starting work in the profession, as well as for those who want to deepen their knowledge even more. The requirement for psychological education is also due to concern for the safety of children and adolescents. At the same time, those who engage in volunteering undertake to participate in it for a minimum of six months. This allows a better understanding of the processes taking place, as well as building healthy and safe relationships with both young patients and the volunteer team.

Mindset Institute volunteers answered some questions about working in psychiatric wards with children and adolescents.

What was the biggest challenge but also the greatest value when volunteering? 

Karolina Karwacka - Ziemak, volunteer at the Mindset Institute: 

The biggest challenge for me has been confronting the enormity of the suffering of young people — especially in situations where their history has been marked by trauma, rejection or prolonged mental crisis. It was also difficult to accept my own limitations — knowing that as a volunteer I could not always help to the extent I would like.  Thanks to these challenges, I learned to be present — to be with another person without pressure or expectations. I have experienced the great importance of authentic relationship, attentiveness and small gestures. These meetings greatly deepened my understanding of youth in crisis and reminded me why I chose this profession. This is the greatest value of volunteering. 

Although the experiences of the volunteers differ from one another, one theme is regularly repeated in their statements: meeting with the suffering of young people requires a lot of attention, but at the same time allows us to see the meaning of seemingly small gestures and relationships built step by step.

Joanna Parasiewicz volunteer at the Mindset Institute: 

The biggest challenge for me is the sadness and suffering of often very young people who experience a mental crisis, trauma, loneliness or a feeling of lack of influence on their own lives. In children's closed wards, it is particularly evident how fragile the sense of security and agency can be in a child or adolescent. The challenge is also to accept that there are no shortcuts, sometimes it is not possible to quickly “fix” the situation or see the results of our work.  At the same time, it is in these difficulties that I see the greatest value of this experience. Volunteering shows how important seemingly small things become, such as time together, conversation without judgment, the child's ability to decide on color, form or idea for artistic work. For many children, this is one of the few spaces where they can experience something on their own terms, create something from start to finish, feel satisfaction, influence and agency. And this in mental health is of enormous value. 

Working in a psychiatric ward is a unique opportunity for future psychologists to gain experience outside the walls of the university. It is a space where theoretical knowledge meets the everyday life of patients, and the skills of building relationships become as important as knowledge of therapeutic methods.

How does the experience of this type of activity help in the professional practice of a psychologist? 

Carolina: Volunteering in a psychiatric ward gives you direct contact with the realities of functioning of young patients in crisis — not only in the office, but in their everyday life. Thanks to this, I better understand the dynamics of the ward, defense mechanisms, ways of regulating emotions or difficulties in peer relationships.  This experience also develops soft competences: patience, flexibility, attentiveness to non-verbal signals and the ability to build relationships in a short time. In professional practice, this translates into greater empathy, more accurate formulation of interventions and better adaptation of language to the young patient. In addition, it strengthens mental resilience and helps to better cope with the emotional burden of clinical work. 

The perspective gained during volunteering allows a better understanding of the recovery process of young people and the importance of the presence of supportive adults. It is an experience that remains valuable regardless of the further professional path.

Joanna: Volunteering teaches humility and presence. Clinical psychology is not solely about diagnosis or intervention, as it is often based on building relationships, safety, and trust. Volunteering in a psychiatric ward allows us to better understand the everyday life of patients, their limitations, emotional overload, but also needs that often remain unspoken.  This experience also teaches to look at the patient more broadly than through the prism of diagnosis. A child in a mental crisis still remains a child, he needs play, expression, contact, a sense of normalcy and a moment of breathing from the hospital reality. In professional practice, this helps to build a more humanistic approach, a greater sensitivity to the autonomy of the patient and the awareness that sometimes the greatest support is not interpretation or therapeutic technique, but an authentic and accepting presence. 

One of the most important tools used by Mindset Institute volunteers is art therapy. Creative classes not only diversify everyday life in the ward, but also become a way to express emotions and build a sense of agency.

Why is art therapy for children and adolescents in inpatient psychiatric wards important and necessary? 

Carolina: Art therapy gives young people the opportunity to express their emotions in a safe and non-verbal way — which is especially important when they find it difficult to talk about their experiences directly. For many patients, this is the first step to contact themselves and build a sense of agency.  In the department, where everyday life is monotonous and burdensome, creative activities introduce an element of freedom, creativity and relief. They help reduce tension, regulate emotions and strengthen self-esteem. In addition, art therapy promotes the building of relationships - both with the therapist and with other participants of the classes, which is of great importance in the process of recovery of young people. 

As the volunteers emphasize, artistic activities often open up space for conversation, help reduce tension and allow young patients to regain a sense of influence over their own experiences.

Joanna: Art therapy offers the opportunity to express emotions where words are not enough or too difficult. Children and adolescents hospitalized in psychiatric hospitals often face tension, anxiety, depression, autoaggression or traumatic experiences, and it is not always possible to talk about it.  Creativity then becomes a safe language of expression. It allows you to relieve tension, name emotions, help regain contact with yourself. Equally important, in a closed ward - where many decisions are imposed by procedures and priority of treatment - artistic actions can restore a sense of influence: “this is mine”, “I decided”, “I created”.  For many young patients, art therapy classes are one of the few available forms of pleasure and detachment from the difficult everyday life of the ward. Art can become a space for building emotional competence, social relationships and the experience of success, and these are elements that support the mental recovery process and strengthen the child's resources for the future. 

Volunteering that changes perspective 

The stories of Mindset Institute volunteers show that the support of children and young people in mental crisis is primarily based on presence, mindfulness and building safe relationships. For the participants of the program, this is not only an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, but also an opportunity to better understand the needs of young people. It is the combination of practice, reflection and commitment that makes volunteering an important element of both the recovery process of patients and the development of future professionals.

Through art to health, or how the Kaleidoscope program supports children and adolescents 

Original program of creative workshops Kaleidoscopes is an activity in the field of developmental art therapy, combining elements of psychoeducation, creative expression and psychological support. Its recipients are children and adolescents from 7 to 18 years old who are in stationary psychiatric wards. The program is based on scientific knowledge regarding the positive impact of creative activities on mental health. Through a variety of creative activities, participants have the opportunity to express emotions, develop creativity and build a sense of agency. Research indicates that art therapy can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce anxiety and tension, and support the process of psychological recovery.

The volunteers who conduct the workshop pursue psychological, social, behavioral and physiological goals. Such a broad approach is particularly relevant for children and adolescents in the hospital, for whom classes are not only a form of therapy, but also an opportunity to break away from the difficult everyday life of the ward.

Creating artistic work, undertaking new activities and establishing natural social interactions allow young people to experience security, openness and acceptance. In the long term, the program supports the development of emotional and social competence, helping participants regain a sense of influence over their own lives and build the resources needed in the recovery process.