The history of the Department of Clinical Psychology at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is connected with the start of classes conducted by prof. Zenomena Płużek in the Department of General Psychology, which was then directed by Fr. Prof. Józef Pastuszka (1958).

In 1972 newly established Department of Clinical and Personality Psychology was entrusted to prof. Zenomena Płużek, who directed it until her retirement in 1997. At that point prof. Piotr Oleś took over a role of a chair of the department.

In 1997, within the Department of Clinical Psychology and Personality three subordinate structures were distinguished: Sub- Department of Psychology of Personality - headed by prof. Peter Oleś; Sub-Department of Children and Youth Clinical Psychology - headed by prof. Leszek Szewczyk and the Sub-Department of Adult Clinical Psychology- headed by prof. Stanisława Steuden. 

Further development and expanding of the team faculty and increasing number of doctoral students (who were also conducting classes), and above all increase in the autonomy of the scope of its scientific programs resulted in separation in 2004 into two independent departments: the Department of Psychology of Personality - headed by prof. Peter Oleś and the Department of Clinical Psychology - headed by prof. Stanisława Steuden.

 

 

Today the Department of Clinical Psychology consists of two sub-departments. 

 

The first team, led by prof. Maria Oleś, worksin the field of children and adolescents clinical psychology. Members of his sub-department are: Elżbieta Talik, Ph.D, Małgorzata Łysiak, Ph.D and Elżbieta Januszewska, Ph.D.

 

The second team, led by prof. dr. Stanislawa Steuden, implements a program of teaching and research in the field of adult clinical psychology. As a members of the team working together are: Katarzyna Szymona-Pałkowska, Ph.D, Maria Gałkowska-Bachanek, Ph.D, Bernarda Bereza, Ph.D, Dorota Mącik, Ph.D and Fr. Paweł Brudek, Ph.D.

Department staff is actively involved in scientific research and knowledge. Results of testing conducted by our staff, as well as in collaboration with other research centers are published in renowned Polish and international scientific journals and in the form of peer-reviewed monographs.

 

Beside of scientific activity members of the department staff also run their psychological practice dealing with psychological counseling, psychological diagnostics and therapy.

 

Current fields of interests in our research are:

 

In the Sub-Department of adult clinical psychology:

• general quality of life,
• old age, wisdom, dignity;
• parental loss;
• retirement;
• satisfaction with marriage,
• forgiveness;
• life longings;
• anger issues;
• psychotherapy;
• validation of diagnostic methods for the study of adults;
• projective methods for the study of personality;
• quality of life of people with somatic diseases,
• stress and coping;
• psychosocial factors in the development of disorders in gynecology and obstetrics.

 

In the Sub-Department of children and adolescents clinical psychology:

 

• clinical problems of developmental stages: anxiety, depression, pessimism, loneliness;
• assertiveness and psychosocial skills in children and adolescents;
• quality of life and self-concept in children and adolescents with impaired vision;
• the quality of life in childhood and adolescence;
• quality of life health in chronic diseases at certain developmental stages;
• psychosocial functioning and coping with stressful situations;
• psychological issues of bonds and attachment;
• the risk factors and protective factors and quality of life in the period of early development;
• post-traumatic development of adolescents after suicide attempts;
• validation of diagnostic methods for the study of children and adolescents;
• diagnosis, therapy and prevention of neuroses in children, adolescents and their parents;
• issues of behavioral disorders and emotion in children and adolescents in relation to the parental relationship (enuresis nocturna and diurna, encopresis, Adipositas, anorexia nervosa, trichotillomania, hyperkinetic disorder, anxiety disorders in the form of phobia in childhood);
• diagnosis and prevention in functioning of children and adolescents with borderline disorders in family and peer environment;
• disorders and psychosomatic illnesses; the relationship between somatic symptoms and personality traits in children and adolescents;
• ways of coping with difficult situations and crises among children and adolescents;
• translation of psychological questionnaires for the study of children and adolescents concerning children's fears, somatic complaints, ways of coping with stress;
• specific stressors and coping strategies in different periods of development,
• inclusion of religion in the process of coping with stress;
• constructive and destructive role of religion in human life;
• the positive aspects of negative life events (stress, crisis, trauma);
• formation of identity in adolescence;
• professional pre-orientation of adolescents.

 

(Adam Falewicz)