The Clinical Psychology Unit offers a regular consultancy service by professionally trained and experienced clinical psychologists. This service is offered free to the University staff and also open to public on nominal rates. Under this service, in-depth assessment and therapeutic guidance is provided by trained and experienced Clinical Psychologists.
The service was set up in December 2005 following the earthquake offering free service to victims and their relatives. Later, it was extended to victims and their relatives of bomb blasts. Now a standby service is available to all trauma sufferers free of charge. We also offer counselling service to the members of 1122 rescue service.
The Unit also offers a comprehensive consultancy service to all students of GC University. A full- time qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist is available to help the university students with all kind of emotional and psychological problems in a totally confidential way. Individual and group counselling is available on demand. The mode of counselling is short term, focal and problem solving. Preventative groups are also held for common problems like exams anxiety, class room presentations and fostering other academic, personal and special skills. The unit provides a full back up service to the Campus Counsellor as and when required.
Research is an integral part of our training program. To date approximately 386 projects have been completed on Clinical issues of children, adults and the elderly as well as in School Psychology. A series of cognitive and achievement tests for school children, checklists to asses behavioral and emotional problems have been developed. These tools are used regularly in our clinical work. GCU funded project on the development of Students' Problem Checklist has been standardized and it is being used in setting up the Campus Counseling Service and in other researches pertaining to Student Mental Health. A three-year HEC funded project on the Parent Child Relationship report has been completed. New projects are being planned.
In keeping with our aim of developing indigenous clinical psychology we have developed a number of tests and scales for school children. The GCU Assessment Battery includes tests for assessing scholastic abilities, intellectual functioning, memory and learning, as well a number of scales for assessing emotional and behavioural problems, self esteem, resilience, anxiety and depression. The tests with manuals are available to qualified professionals. (Some conditions apply)
The Unit has also offered consultancy and training services to outside agencies. We had three groups of Pakistan Air Force comprising Pilots, Trainers and Psychologists. Last year the unit completed a one year modular course on Counselling Techniques for the 10 PAF Psychologists. In 2011 one week workshop was conducted on Introduction to Counselling with PAF Officers and Trainers.
We are also engaged in developing personality profiles of the NGO's and their response to training. We are a signatory of an MOU with the 1122 Emergency Service. We have on-going joint research projects with 1122; we are helping the service in improving their selection procedures as well as offering counselling service and assistance in training.
The Ravians Society of Clinical Psychologists (RSCP) has been formed following the tradition and motto of the Clinical Psychology Unit “We Train Professionals.” The key objectives behind formation of this platform have been:
We are hoping to increase the faculty strength and offer more part-time professional and specialist training courses to other professionals in the allied fields to help develop and enhance their skills. The unit also organizes regular workshops and seminars for fellow professionals for continuous professional development. Clinical Psychology unit has recently formed Ravians Society of Clinical Psychologists (RSCP) for its trainees to represent themselves and to have different training programs and have collaboration with other stake holders in the field. Recently Clinical Psychology has had a memorandum of understanding with Fountain House Lahore and also a collaboration with The Punjab Schools. We are looking forward to having more collaboration with different schools and hospitals and other stake holders to expand the research and training horizons. We are also at present involved in community work on different platforms and are working on expanding the awareness and provision of community mental health.
Some faculty members, qualified Clinical Psychologists, provide volunteer input into a local psychiatric half way house and outpatient outlet and NGO's.
The Alumni Association of the Clinical Psychologists for Clinical Psychology Unit was formed in 2009. One of the main objectives was to develop a culture of Continuing Education for Clinical Psychologists.
The Clinical Psychologist is a biannual bulletin published by the department giving the members an opportunity to publicize their news, views, and articles of general and professional interest.
Ravians Society of Clinical Psychologists is society that is working towards creating awareness of mental health and making it available for the public. It is working towards the training of the trainees and professionals in the fields as well as organizing different events and representing the Clinical Psychology Unit on different platforms.
