“We can’t eliminate stress entirely, but we can learn to respond to it with resilience.”

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How do you remain resilient in a world that is constantly changing? And how can everyday habits help foster greater connection and wellbeing? These are the central questions explored in the Together Towards Wellbeing workshop series. As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, Maastricht University is supporting initiatives that strengthen connections between the university and society through the Join UM50 fund. Together Towards Wellbeing is one of these initiatives. Founder Nathalie Nolden, psychologist and Maastricht University alumna, explains how her own experiences inspired her to develop this initiative.

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Passing on resilience

Nathalie graduated with a degree in Psychology from Maastricht University in 2021. During her studies, she found great value in workshops on topics such as stress, self-confidence and resilience “Adjusting to university life, with its demanding workload and numerous exams, took some getting used to. I spoke regularly with my study adviser and fellow students, who helped me learn how to manage stress and become more confident. My years at the university taught me to be more resilient and helped shape the person I am today.”

Inspired by her own experiences, Nathalie now enjoys helping others lead more resilient and authentic lives. As a holistic psychologist, she supports clients with issues such as stress, resilience and mindfulness. She also delivers preventive workshops for organisations. “I love being able to pass on everything I’ve learned, both during my studies and through my own experiences.”

Positive psychology

All of the workshops are rooted in a positive approach. “During my Master’s in Positive Psychology, I learned to focus on people’s strengths and possibilities. Rather than looking only at problems or symptoms, we explored what helps people feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. That’s why I’m passionate about prevention in my work, whether it’s stress management, mindfulness, building resilience or developing better communication skills. How wonderful is it that, whether or not you’re experiencing difficulties, you can learn to live in a way that is both authentic and resilient?”

The workshop series explores topics such as developing healthy habits, strengthening resilience and bringing more mindfulness into everyday life. “The themes are based on recurring topics that come up in conversations with my clients and during my training sessions,” Nathalie explains. “We live in a time that can be highly stressful, whether because of global events, personal challenges or difficulties in our relationships with others. We can’t avoid stress altogether, but we can learn how to respond to it. That’s exactly what we’ll be exploring during these workshops.”

Learning together

Nathalie is looking forward to the first workshop on 8 September. “The sessions will be highly interactive. Participants will work on exercises in small groups, so this certainly won’t be a lecture where you simply sit and listen.

We’re not here to tell people what they should do. Instead, we want to encourage them to discover and develop approaches that work for them. Think of it as a buffet: I’ll offer a wide range of ideas, and you choose what suits you best.”

Text: Romy Veul