STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES

Visit our new regularly updated Psycho-Education and Resources pages for coping tips and tricks

Check out our book list and borrow the one of your choice!

Topics range within Mental Health and Self-help books. Email scs@kaust.edu.sa to reserve and collect your book.

How to refer someone to Mental Health Services?

Are you concerned about a student? Email scs@kaust.edu.sa to make a referral

Scope of Services

The role of Student Counseling Services (SCS) is to help graduate students and their dependents enhance their academic and personal well-being. Through confidential personal counseling, educational workshops, and community outreach the team at SCS seeks to ensure the holistic health of KAUST's graduate students. SCS offers free prevention, intervention, information, and referral services to all KAUST students and their dependents. The most common service provided by SCS is individual private counseling. In addition, SCS also routinely provides educational workshops, psychological assessments, crisis support, and referral services. Lastly, SCS also provides consultation and education to faculty and staff to assist them in addressing the psychological needs of the graduate student community.

What to expect in Counseling

Counseling is an interactive process of talking with a trained professional. Sometimes the goal is to help you see and feel more clearly those things which are preventing you from reaching your potential. Together, you and the counselor can identify and practice new strategies to reduce the barriers to your progress. Other times, it simply helps to express yourself about painful or hurtful situations that have been upsetting you. Your counselor is a neutral and experienced person who will not judge or pressure you but will work with you to move towards the goals that are important to you. Helpful Tips o Clarify your goals o Arrive on time o Don't miss your scheduled appointments o Be open and honest o Let your counselor know if you are feeling worse o Your safety is our priority - Be honest about safety concerns o Make time to think about the things you have discussed with your counselor in between sessions

Confidentiality

All services of the Student Counseling Services are strictly confidential. SCS staff typically will not release any information regarding clients, or the services they receive, to anyone outside of the SCS program without the written permission of the client. This protection of privacy for counseling services is a strict part of the professional code of ethics in all mental health professions and the University has a strong practice of safeguarding students’ personal records. When you come to SCS for your first appointment, your counselor will discuss with you SCS’s policies and practices in regards to confidentiality and record keeping.