Psychological Counseling Center
Introduction
Psychological, educational and specialized counseling centers in universities are fundamental to supporting mental health and improving students' educational conditions. Universities are not only a place to transfer specialized knowledge and skills, but also provide an environment in which students face numerous psychological, social and educational challenges. Increased psychological stress, anxiety about the future of work, social problems, family crises and even financial problems are among the issues that can negatively affect students' academic performance and personal growth. Meanwhile, university counseling centers provide a platform to support students by providing specialized and diverse services. The center plays a multifaceted role in promoting a healthy environment, increasing the mental, academic and professional well-being of students. Counseling centers are not only effective in solving students' psychological and emotional problems, but also help strengthen students' personal and social abilities by providing educational solutions and life skills training. Given that university education is a sensitive and influential period in life for many students, the existence of such a platform can help students to navigate their academic and professional careers with greater peace of mind. The center also plays a preventive role in preventing dropout, academic burnout and student morale. The center helps students better cope with the various psychological, social and academic challenges they may face during their studies.
Finally, it can be said that university counseling centers, including the counseling center of Ghor Institute of Higher Education, not only play a role in improving the psychological and academic situation of students, but also contribute to the comprehensive development of students by providing effective solutions and specialized support. In which students can achieve their goals with greater ability and confidence achieve their education. Therefore, attention to the development and improvement of the services and facilities of this center (counseling center) can be raised as one of the main and basic priorities of Ghor Institute of Higher Education in order to support students.
Therefore, the Psychological, Educational or Specialized Counseling Center of Ghor Institute of Higher Education is operated by members of the academic staff of the Department of Psychology and under the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and in coordination with the General Management of Student Cohesion and Services and is ready to provide counseling services to students.
Purpose
The aim of the Educational, Psychological or Specialized Counseling Center of Ghor Institute of Higher Education is to promote the mental and academic health of students, increase the quality of life and contribute to their personal and professional success. The center helps students to continue their education with more confidence and better manage the challenges of this era. The main objectives of the center are as follows:
1. Maintaining and promoting the mental health of students
2. Prevent students from dropping out of school by holding seminars and providing counseling services
3. Increased motivation and confidence in students
4. Supporting students with special needs (learning disabilities, mental problems and social maladjustments)
5. Strengthen social life skills in students
6. Increased self-awareness and personal growth
7. Improving students’ academic performance
Identifying students with mental health problems
Diagnosing mental problems in students requires careful observation and the use of various assessment methods. The counseling center and its teachers can effectively identify students who may have mental problems using specific tools and techniques. Some ways to diagnose these problems include:
1. Reports from teachers and classmates
2. Psychological assessment by counselors of Ghor Institute of Higher Education Counseling Center
3. Student self-reporting
Signs and symptoms of students who may have mental problems
1. Sudden or gradual decline in academic performance (drop in grades, frequent absences from class, inability to complete class projects and assignments, lack of motivation to complete homework)
2. Not participating in trade union activities
3. Weakness in concentration of senses
4. Being depressed.
4. Disruption of lesson and classroom order
5. Lack of learning skills
6. Feeling weak and inferior
7. Severe anxiety and stress
8. Constant fatigue
9. Incompatibility with classmates and learning environment conditions
10. Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
11. Having trouble making decisions and solving problems
12 . Changes in sleep and appetite habits (sleep and eating disorders)
Counseling center measures
The counseling center takes the following measures for students with mental health problems.
a. Preliminary Works
1. Counseling Schedule
2. Study student characteristics through their family and classmates
3. Monitor student activities in the institution environment
4. Questionnaire design to detect student problems
5. Study of student’s family environment and social life conditions
b. Consulting form
1. Sharing themselves to the properties of the student who have psychological difficulties in learning knowledge.
2. Providing the student with the necessary information about their problem
3. Counseling the student's family on making changes in their behavior
4. Explain and explain motivational stories to improve student health
5. Assistance through the student's classmate, assigning extracurricular tasks to the student after doing the introductory work
6. Continuous monitoring of student activities, inside and outside the classroom
7. Evaluation of changes achieved with counseling from family, classmates and teachers,
The Counseling Center of Ghor Institute of Higher Education is ready to provide counseling services to students with a psychologically safe environment every day of the week from 8:30 am to 4 pm.