Odysseus group helps not to lose course

Young Synapsa – a competition for those who change psychiatry

The young Synapsa is simply a peculiar edition of the prestigious Golden Synapsa plebiscite. The competition organized by Medforum aims to appreciate people, teams and institutions that contribute to the improvement of Polish psychiatry.
The awards are awarded in 3 categories:
-The future of Psychiatry – for those supporting the improvement of psychiatric care and fighting for patients' rights;
-The most crucial article on psychiatric subjects written by authors working in Poland;
-Psychiatric Innovation of the Year – for the most innovative organizational solutions in the psychiatric care system.

It was in this second category that the Odysseus Group was victorious.

ADHD in adults – more than a problem with concentration

Although ADHD is mainly associated with children, modern psychiatry and psychology increasingly realize that symptoms of this disorder frequently persist in adulthood. Difficulties with focus, planning, organizing time, controlling impulses or regulating emotions can importantly affect the quality of life, social relations and professional functioning.

The situation is peculiarly complicated erstwhile ADHD is associated with neurotic disorders or personality disorders. In specified cases, classical forms of therapy do not always respond to all patients' needs.

Where did the thought for the Odysseus Group come from?

The program is targeted at adult patients aged 18 to 50 years with suspected or diagnosed ADHD and associated neurotic disorders and personality disorders. Its initiators are the drug. Justyna Sabela, Head of the Department of Day intellectual Disorders of Psychiatry Clinic, and Justyna Gielerak, scientist and Psychotherapist liable for patient qualification and group leadership.

As the programme's creators emphasize, the experience gained while working with patients of the regular Branch was inspired. Many of them, despite their motivation for treatment, faced additional difficulties due to attention deficits, executive dysfunctions, and problems with the organisation of time and space. These factors made it hard to accomplish another therapeutic objectives.

A solution was needed that would not only aid to better realize ADHD, but, above all, will teach applicable ways to deal with its symptoms.

Therapy as a training of everyday life

Working in the Odysseus Group focuses on equipping participants with circumstantial tools to support regular functioning. Patients learn, among another things, more effective organization of time, planning tasks and priorities, self-regulation of impulses, identifying their own operating patterns, techniques to reduce the impact of distraction stimuli, strategies to deal with ADHD symptoms.

However, effective therapy of people with ADHD requires a decently adapted form of work. Therefore, classes are conducted according to a transparent structure, with frequent reminder of the rules and the usage of active methods involving participants.

An equally crucial component of the programme is the anticipation of exchanging experiences between those facing akin difficulties. specified an environment promotes the normalization of life, reduces the sense of loneliness, and helps to build a more realistic and friendly self-image.
Self-acceptance is 1 of the most crucial pillars of the programme. For many people with ADHD, many years of experience of failures, criticism or misunderstanding lead to reduced self-esteem. The group gives space to rebuild religion in its own capabilities.

First specified program in Poland

The Odysseus Group is the first program in Poland to comprehensively cover the care of adults with ADHD as part of the National wellness Fund funding.
This is peculiarly crucial due to the fact that the diagnosis and treatment process of ADHD in adults frequently involves advanced costs for patients. Through public funding, specialised assistance becomes available to a much wider group of people.

The programme's creators stress that its creation was besides possible thanks to erstwhile experience gained during the lead of the Leonidas Group – a program aimed at highly functioning people in the autism spectrum. The success of that initiative showed that the creation of dedicated forms of support for neuroatypical people responds to the real needs of patients.

Why Odysseus?

The group's name is not random. Odysseus, the hero of Homer's ancient epic, after the end of the Trojan War for many years tried to return to the native Itaka. His journey was full of obstacles, unexpected events, and the request to constantly adapt to changing conditions.

The creators of the program saw in this communicative the correct metaphor of the experience of ADHD people.
In everyday life, the “rejs” frequently disturb abruptly emerging distractions, emotional impulses, or the requirements of the environment. Like the legendary King of Itaki, the participants of therapy learn to admit obstacles, correct the course, and return to their goal.
The symbol of Odysseus reminds us that effective operation is not about avoiding difficulties, but about developing the ability to return to the right way in spite of adversity.

Team success
The Odysseus Group would not have been created without the engagement and work of a full squad of psychologists and doctors who provided patients with professional care and therapeutic support. Thanks are besides due to the Head of the Clinic of Psychiatry, Combat Stress and Psychotraumatology and the Head of the Department of the regular tense Disorders of the WIM-PIB Psychiatry Clinic.

Innovation That Changes Lives
The Psychiatric Award Innovation of the Year 2026 is not only a discrimination for a circumstantial therapeutic program. This besides proves the increasing importance of modern, specialized forms of support for neuroatypical people.
The past of the Odysseus Group shows that effective psychiatry is not limited to diagnosis and treatment of symptoms. Its aim is primarily to aid people find their way – even erstwhile everyday life resembles a challenging cruise through the rough sea.
And as Odysseus' communicative teaches, not always the most crucial thing is how rapidly we get there. Sometimes the top value is learning how to get back on course.

Odysseus Justyna Olga Gielerak, the leader of the Odysseus Group, completed a uniform master's degree in psychology in 2022 at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. A year later, she began 4 years of psychotherapist training in cognitive-behavioral diving, conducted by the Poznań Institute in Warsaw.

Since February 2023 he has worked at the Military Medical Institute – the State investigation Institute. She gained clinical experience in the regular Division, 24h Division, intellectual wellness Advice, in the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Division of Traumatic Stress-related Disorders, and in the Application and Coordination Point of the Center for intellectual wellness for Prague-South.

In 2023, she participated in the pilotage of the humanitarian aid programme, jointly implemented by the Republic of Poland and the Kingdom of Jordan, aimed at refugees from Ukraine. She provided intellectual support to those in request and their families.

From 2024, he has consulted patients and accompanied them in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer as part of the comprehensive care of the Prostate Cancer Unit, conducted at WIM-PIB.

In 2025, while working at the 24h Division, she coordinated a squad implementing long-term piloting to prevent the suicide behaviour of CLASS. The program was subsequently introduced as a standard for treating a patient at the suicide hazard group in the home clinic. Her professional interests focus on working with neuroatypical patients, in peculiar patients experiencing ADHD-related difficulties and concomitant anxiety disorder.

For information, delight contact 261 818 003
https://wim.mil.pl/clinic-psychotraumatology-and-psychotraumatology-clinic-psychiatry-stress-and-psychotraumatology/odd/group-dyseus/

Text: WIM