The presentation discusses the importance of becoming aware of and managing one’s feelings, needs, and values for performance, career development, and overall well-being through the lens of software testing.

Drawing on his professional background in IT recruitment, research in technology organizations, and counseling for IT professionals, Povilas Godliauskas conceptualizes the relationship between a therapist and a client as a form of pair testing, where the therapist provides the client - as the tester - with tools for better self-understanding and greater resilience in the face of psychological challenges and adversity, such as procrastination, workplace conflicts, layoffs, cyber threats, and AI ambivalence.

Some of these tools may include “debugging” techniques, such as overcoming psychological defenses, or running test cases, such as going through dialogues or situations through visualization in a safe space.

Participants will leave the presentation with a higher level of psychological literacy and a realistic, down-to-earth understanding of therapeutic work and self-development.