Annual Report on Campus Counseling
Services (CCS) July2008-June 2009
Background:
The history of GCU campus counselling service goes back a
long way. However, the reorganization of the service along professional
lines started in 2006 when it formally became a part of the Department
of Clinical Psychology. In 2007 a qualified clinical psychologist from
GCU clinical training programme was appointed as the Campus Counsellor,
with a remit to develop a comprehensive counselling service for the
students of the University. Working under the administrative and
professional supervision of the Head of the Department of Clinical
Psychology, GC University, the foundation of a service was laid along
professional lines. In 2008 the services were located in the newly built
Student Counselling Centre.
It took a few months to complete the spade work for the
service. Information leaflets were prepared and distributed throughout
the University to publicize the new locale and the operation policy. A
generic brochure along with the service development plan, information
leaflets for the students on common problem faced were prepared.
Guidance and information material was prepared on study skills and
strategies, time management, improving concentration, self motivation,
presentation skills, dealing with exam anxiety, problem solving,
decision making managing moods and this is an on going process.
The Mission Statement:
Our aim is to provide a readily accessible campus
counselling service to all students of GC University with emotional,
psychological and behavioural, social and academic problems and help
them improve their level of functioning in all areas with proven
techniques and skills.
The service:
The Campus counselling service is essentially a
self-referral service open to all students of GCU. In addition, any
one from the teaching staff or the medical staff can refer with the
student’s consent. It is important that the student should contact the
counselor directly for appointment.
At the initial assessment meeting every student is
interviewed and asked to fill in a generic Problems Checklist developed
for the Service by the Department of Clinical Psychology. The students
may be asked to fill in other questionnaires if necessary for
assessment. At this point a decision is made whether a particular
student needs individual and /or group counselling. Individual session
can start immediately which lasts about 60 minutes, and is followed by
revision and documentation process which takes half an hour at least.
Individual sessions are continued on weekly basis and normally 6-8
sessions are offered to each client. A thorough and regular record
keeping is maintained on every student and all data are collated and a
monthly report is submitted to the Head of the Department of Clinical
Psychology for scrutiny.
Counselling approaches used are focal, short term and
active. The techniques used in the service have efficacy demonstrated by
research. Cognitive behavioural techniques along with social skills
learning in a crisis intervention mould have been found to be very
effective.
To-date 120 students have been seen on individual
basis altogether for 950 sessions.
Group Counseling
Group counseling is not only a more efficient way of
meeting the ever-growing demand for counselling it is also more
effective and more appropriate with a number of problems. The most
common of theses are Class Presentations, Exam Anxiety, Time Management
and Effective Study Skills. The group counselling sessions planned on
monthly basis and the schedule is publicized well in advance and
students are invited to register for the group of their choice. A
typical group consists of 8-10 students with similar problems briefed
and assessed at the start of the group session and it may last. A group
session lasts for two hours, group preparation takes 4-5 hours and
evaluation of the outcomes requires three hours. All formats and the
contents of the group counselling session are planned and discussed with
the Supervisor.
To date 40 groups have been held totally attendance of
150 students.
Service monitoring:
The service is regularly monitored for efficiency and
effectiveness. Record keeping and monthly reports are prepared and
presented to the Supervisor. A Service Evaluation Form is already in use
for the student as the pre and post assessment of the problem is used
with every client that also includes service satisfaction. The active
feed back system has been incorporated with the service.
Supervision:
The professional quality and service efficacy are
regularly and supervised by Dr Zahid Mahmood. Cases are discussed and
data are collated and checked on monthly basis.
Teaching and Training:
The success of the service can be gauged by the fact the
Campus Counselling Services has been incorporated into the M S in
Clinical Psychology training programme. The service has generated a lot
of interest in the trainee clinical psychologists and this year they
have been offered Campus Counselling as an option in the course. Six
trainees opted for placement in the Campus Counselling Service for a
Semester. They were given lectures and workshops by the Campus Counselor
and a Clinical Psychologist and both organized all the clinical work and
supervised case management. If this facility is repeated every year it
will expand the scope the service.
The Future:
It seems that as the service and it contribution is
getting better known among the students and staff, the number of clients
is increasing and we may have to plan for a wider range of services. The
list of issues and problems for which students are seeking help is
lengthening.
For the details of the related documents please see the
Appendices.
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Dr. Zahid Mahmood
Director Clinical Psychology
GCU, Lahore |
Ayesha Majeed
Campus Counselor
GCU, Lahore
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