Counselling Appointment Information
Appointments for one-on-one counselling sessions can be booked through the Counselling Services and Wellness office.
By email: student.counsellor@aku.edu
By phone: 021 3486 4456/4301 (within AKU dial ext. 4456 or 4301)
Appointments are available Monday - Saturday and are generally scheduled within one week of contacting the office. Urgent counselling appointment is provided on the same day or within 24 hours.
The number of sessions required depends upon the nature and severity of the concerns brought to the counsellor, and on the counselling goals and progress. Most students require less than ten sessions.
Managing Online Appointments
For a Zoom appointment, the counsellor will send you a link to join the meeting via email, usually a few minutes prior to the session. The meeting will be initiated promptly at the appointment time. It is important that you are available at the given time or inform us well in advance if there is any change in your schedule. If you do not join the meeting within ten minutes of the mutually agreed start time, the meeting will be closed and considered a missed appointment. Please ensure that you have a strong internet connection and you are at a place where you can talk privately.
Urgent Counselling Support
An urgent counselling appointment is provided on the same day or within 24 hours by the student counsellor when students indicate the need themselves or are referred for immediate support for a mental health emergency. Such situations may include, but are not limited to:
- Talking about harming oneself or others, or evidence of self-injury
- Experiencing a recent traumatic event that requires sensitive attention
- Serious noticeable changes in mood, thoughts, perceptions and/or behavior
Please refer to Section 2 of the mental health crisis algorithm for further understanding of situations requiring urgent intervention.
All information collected by our counsellors is confidential and will not be a part of the student’s academic records. There are some exceptions by law (e.g., a threat to your life or someone else’s, or a serious risk of vandalism etc.). In the case of a referral, the referring party is only informed whether a person has had a session or not. No other confidential information is shared.
The Counselling Services and Wellness Office upholds AKU’s commitment to maintaining a campus culture that enables students and trainees to thrive personally and professionally. When an environmental stressor affecting students' or trainees’ mental health is identified, it is forwarded to the relevant authorized personnel. However, personal information is never revealed, and the confidentiality of students/trainees is strictly maintained.
