{"id":43042,"date":"2026-09-01T05:47:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T05:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/?page_id=43042"},"modified":"2026-09-01T05:47:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T05:47:11","slug":"division-of-university-psychological-counseling","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/division-of-university-psychological-counseling\/","title":{"rendered":"Division of University Psychological Counseling"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>About the Division<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Medical studies are among the longest and most demanding academic paths. Students face an immense body of knowledge, continuous assessment, and early exposure to patients, suffering and death, alongside the requirements of clinical training and the pressures that follow graduation. International and local studies alike have shown that medical students are among the university populations most vulnerable to psychological stress, academic burnout, sleep disorders and anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>It was on this basis that the Unit of University Psychological Counseling was established at the College of Medicine, University of Mosul, and subsequently upgraded to a Division under University Order No. (9\/3\/8600) dated 26 February 2025, so as to serve as the body responsible for providing psychological support and educational and academic guidance to the students and staff of the College.<\/p>\n<p>The Division operates across three integrated levels:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Preventive level: awareness and educational programs addressed to all students before problems arise, such as managing examination stress, time management, sleep quality, and adaptation to university life.<\/li>\n<li>Developmental level: cultivating students\u2019 skills, capacities and self-confidence, discovering their talents and reinforcing their strengths.<\/li>\n<li>Therapeutic and supportive level: early intervention in individual cases, and referral to specialist services when required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Division reports administratively to the Deanship of the College and coordinates technically with the Center for University Psychological Counseling at the Presidency of the University of Mosul, and with the counseling committees of the scientific departments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A safe and psychologically balanced medical learning environment, in which every student finds the support that enables them to achieve the best of which they are capable, both academically and as a person.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To provide professional, confidential and accessible psychological, educational and academic counseling services to all students and staff of the College of Medicine \u2014 grounded in scientific and ethical foundations \u2014 contributing to the promotion of mental health, the enhancement of academic performance, and the formation of a balanced physician able to give to themselves and to their community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Values of the Division<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Confidentiality \u2014 protecting the privacy of the person seeking counsel is the foundation of trust in the service.<\/li>\n<li>Non-judgment \u2014 receiving the student as they are, without blame or stigma.<\/li>\n<li>Respect and diversity \u2014 equality of service regardless of background, gender or affiliation.<\/li>\n<li>Professionalism \u2014 adherence to the ethics of the counseling profession and working within the limits of one\u2019s competence.<\/li>\n<li>Accessibility \u2014 a free and readily available service for all students of the College at every stage.<\/li>\n<li>Evidence-based practice \u2014 adopting scientifically supported practices and evaluating their impact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Objectives of the Division<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>To provide psychological support to students confronting psychological, social, family and academic problems.<\/li>\n<li>To help students overcome difficulties in academic attainment and to raise their academic efficiency.<\/li>\n<li>To prevent academic burnout, examination stress and performance anxiety, and to strengthen coping skills.<\/li>\n<li>To intervene early with academically struggling students and those with frequent absences, identifying and addressing the causes of their difficulties.<\/li>\n<li>To prepare and receive new students and familiarize them with the university environment and the regulations of the College.<\/li>\n<li>To develop students\u2019 talents and leadership abilities and encourage their participation in scientific, cultural, social and sporting activities.<\/li>\n<li>To hold educational workshops, lectures and discussion sessions within the College and in cooperation with other units and centers.<\/li>\n<li>To promote the values of academic integrity, professional ethics and adherence to university norms.<\/li>\n<li>To refer cases beyond the Division\u2019s scope of competence to the specialist medical and psychiatric bodies, and to follow them up.<\/li>\n<li>To conduct surveys and studies on the mental health of the College\u2019s students, and to evaluate and develop the impact of counseling programs.<\/li>\n<li>To raise mental health awareness and contribute to reducing the stigma associated with seeking psychological help.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>These objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 4 (Quality Education).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Services of the Division<\/strong><\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Service<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\"><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Individual counseling<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Confidential one-to-one sessions by prior appointment to explore the psychological, academic or social difficulties the student is facing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Group counseling<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Support groups and small skills workshops (anxiety management, self-confidence, communication skills).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Academic counseling<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Follow-up of underperforming students, design of individual study plans, and improvement of study habits.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Preventive programs<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Lectures, workshops and seasonal awareness campaigns, especially during examination periods and at the start of the academic year.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Orientation of new students<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">A reception program for first-year students during the opening week, introducing them to the College and its regulations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Referral and follow-up<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Transfer of cases requiring specialist assessment or treatment to the competent bodies, with monitoring of their progress.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Crisis support<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Urgent intervention in cases of traumatic events, bereavement or emergency crises.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"173\"><strong>Consultation for teaching staff<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"451\">Support for faculty members and academic advisors in dealing with student cases.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Beneficiaries<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Undergraduate students at all stages, postgraduate students, and members of the teaching staff and administrative personnel.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When Should You Contact the Division?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A \u201cmajor problem\u201d is not a prerequisite for seeking consultation. You may approach the Division if you experience any of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Persistent tension or anxiety, particularly before or during examinations.<\/li>\n<li>A sudden decline in your academic performance, or difficulty concentrating and studying.<\/li>\n<li>Disturbed sleep or appetite, or loss of motivation.<\/li>\n<li>A sense of isolation, or difficulty forming relationships within the College.<\/li>\n<li>Family, social or financial pressures affecting your studies.<\/li>\n<li>Hesitation regarding your academic path or professional future.<\/li>\n<li>A wish to develop your skills in time management or in coping with stress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Asking for help is not weakness; it is a skill that a physician needs more than most.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Confidentiality and Its Limits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Everything discussed within a counseling session is confidential. It is not disclosed to any member of the teaching staff, the administration or the family without the student\u2019s consent; it is not entered in the student\u2019s academic record; and it has no bearing on their assessment or grades.<\/p>\n<p>In accordance with professional ethics, the following are exceptions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The existence of a serious risk to the life of the student or to the safety of others.<\/li>\n<li>An official request issued by a competent judicial authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In such cases the student is informed of the action taken wherever possible, and disclosure is limited to the minimum information necessary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Duties of the Academic Advisor<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A number of faculty members are assigned the task of academic advising for each academic year. Their duties include:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Receiving new students and introducing them to the College, its scientific departments and support units, and the means of accessing their services.<\/li>\n<li>Familiarizing the student with the regulations of the University and the College, examination instructions, their rights and duties, and graduation requirements.<\/li>\n<li>Making the student aware of the academic difficulties expected at each stage, and helping them build a study plan and timetable suited to the nature of medical education.<\/li>\n<li>Following up academically struggling students and those with frequent absences, examining the causes of their difficulties and drawing up individual support plans for them.<\/li>\n<li>Advising students in their final years on post-graduation pathways: professional training, postgraduate studies, board certification and fields of specialization, in keeping with their abilities, inclinations and the needs of the community.<\/li>\n<li>Maintaining a counseling file for each student containing their academic data and follow-up notes, with due regard to confidentiality.<\/li>\n<li>Communicating effectively with students, listening to them, and involving them in planning their academic path.<\/li>\n<li>Promoting academic integrity, professional values and adherence to the norms of the university campus.<\/li>\n<li>Referring cases requiring specialist psychological intervention to the Division of University Psychological Counseling.<\/li>\n<li>Submitting a periodic report to the Division summarizing their work and the cases they have followed up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Liaison Members of the Division of University Psychological Counseling<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Prof. Dr. Waleed Ghanim Ahmed<\/li>\n<li>Eilaf Abdul-Wahab Hamdi<\/li>\n<li>Prof. Dr. Shatha Hani Mohammed<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Safiya Adeeb Ibrahim<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Zeina Makki Abdul-Kareem<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Raghad Khalil Ibrahim<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Zahraa Amer Asim<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Nawar Yahya Ahmed<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Alyaa Ali Abdullah<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Marwa Mohammed Salih<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Shaimaa Faisal Younis<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Rajaa Ahmed Younis<\/li>\n<li>Lect. Rawiya Tariq Qassab<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Heba Ahmed Suhail<\/li>\n<li>Israa Subhi Mallallah<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>The Psychological and Academic Counseling System in the College<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The counseling system at the College of Medicine rests on four graduated levels:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Level One \u2014 The Academic Advisor (Year Advisor)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first point of contact with the student. The advisor monitors academic performance and attendance, provides academic guidance, and detects early indicators of academic difficulty or psychological distress.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Level Two \u2014 The College Counseling Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Comprising the head of the Division and representatives of the scientific departments. It meets periodically, reviews referred cases, approves the annual counseling plan, and oversees the implementation of programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Level Three \u2014 The Division of University Psychological Counseling<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The body responsible for individual and group counseling sessions, for preparing preventive programs, for maintaining counseling records, and for conducting the psychological and educational survey at the beginning of each academic year in order to identify general and individual needs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Level Four \u2014 External Referral<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cases requiring specialist assessment or treatment are referred to the Department of Psychiatry \/ the teaching hospitals or to the competent health authorities, with the Division following the progress of the case with the student\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Records Maintained by the Division<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Case study record.<\/li>\n<li>Record of interviews and appointments.<\/li>\n<li>Record of referrals and follow-up.<\/li>\n<li>Record of counseling programs and activities.<\/li>\n<li>Record of the annual work plan and periodic reports.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>How to Access the Service<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Students may reach the Division by any of the following means:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In person: the Division office \u2014 Deanship Building, second floor, opposite the College library \u2014 during official working hours throughout the week.<\/li>\n<li>By email: education.guidance.hm@uomosul.edu.iq<\/li>\n<li>By internal telephone extension: 2644<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Head of the Division<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Mohammed Hashim Taha Sulaiman AL-Ogaidi \/ Educational Psychology<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About the Division Medical studies are among the longest and most demanding academic paths. Students face an immense body of knowledge, continuous assessment, and early exposure to patients, suffering and death, alongside the requirements of clinical training and the pressures that follow graduation. International and local studies alike have shown that medical students are among the university populations most vulnerable to psychological stress, academic burnout, sleep disorders and anxiety. It was on this basis that the Unit of University Psychological Counseling was established at the College of Medicine, University of Mosul, and subsequently upgraded to a Division under University Order No. <a href=\"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/division-of-university-psychological-counseling\/\"> [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-43042","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/93"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43042"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43043,"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43042\/revisions\/43043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uomosul.edu.iq\/en\/medicine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}