Counseling Services

University Counseling Services (UCS) at American University of Sharjah provides psychological support to students, faculty, staff and their families as they pursue their personal goals, and to enhance the quality of each community member’s experience at AUS. We aim to support the healthy environment of the university by promoting positive mental health for the community through counseling, crisis intervention, consulting, assessment and referral that are responsive to the individual, cultural and demographic diversity of our community.

Download our brochure.

Services for Students

University Counseling Services (UCS) provides psychological services that are designed to help students achieve their educational goals, learn the process of problem solving and decision making, develop the capacity for satisfying relationships, and learn to make full use of their potential for continued growth beyond their educational experience. Services at  UCS can include any member of the student's family or significant person that the student wishes to include in the process.

Individual Counseling

Counselors at UCS help students explore any academic or personal problems or concerns that they may be experiencing. Some common issues that bring students to UCS include adjusting to university life, time management issues, confusion about life or career goals, identity concerns, relationship conflicts, eating issues, anxiety, depression or dealing with grief and loss.

Our counselors are prepared to deal with a multitude of issues or concerns and encourage students to identify personal goals and help them develop coping skills and generate solutions to current difficulties. Students may receive help for any social, emotional, educational or vocational issues. Students who have been counseled at home or off-campus may also wish to continue with counseling at the university.

Self-Help Resources

We have extensive self-help resources in the form of written handouts, books and videos on many topics. Examples of topics include coping with stress, depression, sleep disturbance, loneliness, anxiety, eating disorders, grief and loss, substance abuse, relationship building, assertiveness, career and course choices, study skills, concentration and memory, motivation, time management and test-taking strategies. These resources are useful in helping students understand issues they are facing and are often used alongside individual counseling. We have a wealth of self-help handouts, brochures and flyers on topics related to student life and more.

We maintain a self-help library, which is a resource library of books, pamphlets and audio, video and computer-based information. Self-help resources are available on topics such as reducing stress, improving academic skills, developing healthy relationships, managing money, developing your career and more. Students can always visit the center and look at some of the self-help books and enjoy the quiet reading room.

Wellbeing and Self Care Resources:

• Ways to motivate yourself to study
• How to boost your confidence
• Cyberbullying
• Maximizing remote learning
• Managing burnout
• Positive steps to wellbeing
• 10 ways to stop overthinking
• Mindfulness exercises to help deal with stress and anxiety

Support Group Counseling

What it is and what to expect

Support groups can be a powerful and valuable venue for healing and growth. They are single-session, open groups that anyone can participate in. There are two planned groups, one for students, and another for faculty and staff. It is a safe environment that is nonjudgmental, respectful and confidential, which will be created and maintained by both the facilitator(s) of a group and its members. The primary therapeutic relationship is maintained in mutual empathy, respect and trustworthiness.

Participating in the group can produce a number of benefits for you, including a better understanding of your personal goals and values, improving personal relationships, and resolution of specific problems you are facing in your life. Participation in the sessions is voluntary and you will only be asked to share what you are comfortable with. Participation is a form of group dynamic that helps and creates an environment for growth and change.

The groups will be conducted by University Counseling Services counselors, with separate groups for students and faculty/staff that meet every other Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

The meetings take place at the Health Clinic waiting area. Please use the side door to enter the building.

Remember, the more you give of yourself during these sessions, the more you allow for insight and growth.

For group registration, please click here.

To see the poster, click here.

Consultation Service

Private consultation is available for faculty, staff and students who would like advice about how to assist a student through a difficult time. Our counselors give advice on how to help the individual or refer them to an appropriate service.

University Counseling Services Appointments

In order to schedule a confidential appointment, please select the schedule of one of the counselors below and complete the form.  Once completed, you will receive an email confirming your appointment

Hours

UCS is open Monday—Thursday, 8:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. (On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we offer service until 7 p.m.)

You can also book an appointment through the following link ucsappointments.youcanbook.me

About University Counseling Services

University Counseling Services (UCS) provides students, faculty, staff and dependents free, confidential counseling services in support of positive mental health and well-being.  Our male and female counselors can help with a variety of issues such as:

• Anxiety
• Exam anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship Concerns
• Stress management
• Motivation
• Self-esteem
• Loss and adjustment to life changes
• Difficulty managing time
• Family issues

Family Counseling

We are available for consultation with parents by phone or by appointment. We invite parents to call if they have concerns about their son or daughter. Parents frequently have questions about the specific services we provide that may be beneficial to their child at AUS. We can also help parents secure referrals to services outside of AUS for their sons and daughters.

Crisis Management

A counselor is available for a student in crisis, (suffering from suicidal tendencies, psychosis, death of a loved one or the like) and can provide same-day services, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. Students, faculty/staff and parents can contact our office to consult about a student who might be in crisis.

Psychiatric and Medical Referral

Clients who require more intensive or specialized services or those with long-term psychiatric conditions will be referred to the appropriate outside mental health providers. The UCC does not prescribe or monitor psychotropic or any other medications.