Good morning

Silvan welcomes us to the Beverin Clinic in Cazis on a beautiful spring morning. The 35-year-old has been working here as a psychologist for four years. In the psychotherapy ward, he supports people in the latter half of their lives.

“My career at the PDGR (Graubünden psychiatric services) began back when I was a student, when I did an internship at the addiction centre for three months and ended up staying here,” Silvan recalls. With the PDGR, he has found a place of work where he can combine the things that are important to him: trusting and personal cooperation with people and their individual life stories at a workplace in his home canton.

“My everyday work in the clinic is highly varied, requires flexibility and focuses primarily on a holistic approach to the psychological well-being of the patients. Every day offers new challenges and brings with it a diverse variety of tasks,” explains Silvan. A protected space, a safe setting and trust are important elements for the supportive discussions. Every now and then he will head out to the clinic’s spacious park to chat. It lies at the foot of the Heinzenberg.

“It’s not standard, but with some of my patients, I feel it’s beneficial to have conversations on the move,” says Silvan. “Fresh air, a calm atmosphere, free space: all of this can have a positive impact on the recovery process – and at the Beverin Clinic, we have it right on our doorstep, so to speak. I really value and enjoy the proximity to nature and the mountains – both at work and in my spare time.”

Together for a better quality of life

Graubünden has a long and successful history as a site for relaxation and treatment. The PDGR ensures that this continues. The company employs 1,300 staff members who are spread across the entire canton. Needed psychiatric support is often provided regionally at the various regional psychiatric centres.

As a decentralised organisation with different sites, cooperation among PDGR employees can be a challenge, but personal exchanges between the various professional groups are maintained. “We all bring our experiences with us and create new ones every day. Thanks to our interdisciplinary cooperation, those seeking treatment, as well as their relatives and us as employees, can benefit from a broad range of knowledge. If I have any questions, I can contact colleagues at any time and benefit from their expertise, which goes beyond the boundaries of the clinic and hierarchy. Collaboration and exchanges for the benefit of patients is an important value within our corporate culture.”

Bon appetit

At lunch in the Beverin Clinic’s La Plazza restaurant, Silvan addresses the most common issues his patients are facing: “It’s usually depression and anxiety. For many people, the transition to retirement isn’t easy, as some begin noticing initial cognitive limitations, and others feel alone and worry about the future. The number of older individuals who have problems with alcohol or develop a dependency on medication is also increasing.”

The psychological problems are complex, as are the people he treats. “My everyday work is highly varied as a result, which I enjoy.” Something that Silvan also likes about his work is the sense of purpose he gets from the job: “To hold people’s hands through difficult phases of life, to offer support in crises and to provide psychotherapeutic guidance on their journey is such a valuable task for me.”

Home time – and maybe see you soon?

Specialists who would like to pursue a meaningful role at the PDGR are in demand, as the need is constantly growing. “The need for treatment has increased enormously in recent years. New colleagues are therefore very welcome,” says Silvan just before the end of his workday. “This applies to all specialist departments and all locations in the canton, because we want to continue to providing the best possible treatment for everyone. Interested in joining our treatment team? Just let us know.”

Around half past five, Silvan makes his way home. A varied working day lies behind him.