Integrity Stories

INTEGRITY STORIES

I PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE

PSYCHOLOGIST TOMÁŠ MERTIN HELPS EMPLOYEES TO ORGANISE IDEAS AND FEELINGS

omáš Mertin works as a psychologist for the Mladá Boleslav plant and provides 15 to 25 consultations per month to company employees. “I really appreciate people who come to me, often when they are faced with difficult life situations”, says Mertin, who also works as a senior consultant, coach and psychotherapist at Centrum dohody. It leads employees to organise their ideas and feelings and to look for ways to make decisions. “I have to be prepared to respond to all topics. But I also have to be humble to admit the fact together with the client that not knowing what is right is sometimes normal”, he adds. He considers a psychological consultation successful when clients begin to perceive the situation from a different angle or increase their zest for life. Sometimes, a request pops up during the consultations that would exceed the defined limits of the service provided (e.g. the time limit or the client’s wish for the psychologist to be directly involved in a process). At that moment, it is necessary to observe the limits and direct clients to another solution. “In order to keep up the safe haven function of the psychological counselling centre, I have to be able to say no”, he adds. In connection with the topic of integrity, he recommends the concept of “everyday life”, where one looks for even small dilemmas in order to refine decision making. “If you want to have the capacity for such training, take care of your life and emotional needs. At the end of the day, however, you have to be able to return to your home environment, where you can relax and recharge your batteries”, Mertin concludes. Helena Fričová