For English Counseling Service
*Make the appointment online: COUNSELING SERVICE SYSTEM
*Telephone：(02)2736-3266
*We are located on the 3rd Floor of Front Building
**Individual Counseling Appointment Procedures**
1. **In-person**: Visit the Student Counseling Center (located on the third floor of the front building of the Medical Comprehensive Building) to schedule an initial counseling appointment.
2. **Phone Appointment**: Call 02-2736-3266, and the staff at the Counseling Center will arrange an initial appointment or conduct a phone consultation. You can also call 02-2736-1661 and dial extension 2230 or 2237 for assistance.
3. **Online Booking**: You can make an appointment online by using the Counseling and Guidance Services e-system (http://counseling-osa.tmu.edu.tw). Log in with your TMU account, and provide your personal information, and a counselor from the Counseling Center will schedule an initial appointment and respond via email to your student email address.
Additionally, if you require a consultation with a psychiatrist, Director Hong Shan can assist you in scheduling an appointment. These appointments are typically available during Wednesday afternoons, but you will need to submit an application to the Counseling Center in advance.
**Guidelines for Individual Counseling Services**
1. **Confidentiality**: The content of your sessions with the Counseling Center staff will be kept confidential and will only be disclosed with your consent, except in the following three special circumstances:
(1) When there is an immediate and clear threat to your own or someone else's life, freedom, property, or safety.
(2) In cases involving legal obligations, such as child welfare laws, juvenile welfare laws, eugenics health laws, and civil or criminal laws.
(3) When your situation requires collaborative assistance from medical institutions or collective support through professional psychologists.
2. **Free Services**: The center provides counseling services to students of this university at no cost.
3. **Counseling Sessions**: Before counseling sessions, an intake session will be arranged by the Counseling Center, lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. The purpose is to understand your counseling needs and match you with an appropriate counselor. Formal counseling sessions are typically 50 minutes long and are scheduled once a week. In special cases, an increase in the weekly frequency can be arranged upon consent by the Counseling Center.
4. **Cancellation**: If you are unable to attend a scheduled session for any reason, please call or visit the Counseling Center to cancel at least one day in advance. Counseling Center extension numbers: 2736-1661, extensions 2230-2233, or call directly at 02-2736-3266. The number of missed sessions is counted toward the total number of sessions (6). If you miss your session without prior notice for more than 3 times or cancel without notice 2 times, we may close your case, and you have to reapply after closure.
5. **Recording Consent**: In order to assist you more effectively in problem-solving, Counseling Center staff may request to record audio or video during sessions. Your consent will always be sought beforehand, and you have the right to decide whether to agree.
6. **Special Needs Counseling**: If you are seeking counseling based on a request from a course instructor or for the purpose of gaining experience in counseling-related courses, please inform the psychologist you are meeting with in advance. Thank you.
**Crisis Management**
If you are experiencing a psychological crisis (such as thoughts of self-harm, suicide, harm to others, or impulsive actions), and it is outside of the Counseling Center's operating hours, please call the Campus Security Center at (02) 2736-1100. They will assist you in contacting the appropriate teachers or resources to provide immediate help and support.
**Counseling Q&A**
Q: Who can access the professional services and resources at the Counseling Center?
A: The primary beneficiaries of the Counseling Center's services are students of this university. The Counseling Center may also provide counseling and assistance when it involves teachers, other staff, or parents assisting students.
Q: When do I need psychological counseling?
A: Generally, when you face difficulties in life that have affected your mental and physical health, and you are unable to resolve them on your own or need someone to talk to, you can seek assistance from psychological counseling.
Q: How is psychological counseling different from general chatting?
A: In addition to offering acceptance and support, psychologists also assist individuals in clarifying their concerns and expectations during the conversation. They assist in the discussion of important issues and accompany you in adjusting and personal growth.
Q: What is the background of the professionals providing psychological counseling?
A: The professionals at the TMU Counseling Center are certified counseling psychologists and clinical psychologists with required licenses.
Q: How does psychological counseling help me solve my problems?
A: Counseling can help you view and understand problems from different perspectives, discuss concrete steps for acting, and enhance your problem-solving skills.
Q: How long does it take to receive psychological counseling, and can I solve my problems in one session?
A: Typically, each counseling session is 50 minutes long, scheduled once a week, with a general guideline of up to 6 sessions at the Counseling Center. A deeper understanding of the issues usually takes more time, and the number of sessions required varies based on individual needs and the complexity of the problem. This should be discussed with your counselor.
Q: How does the first session proceed, and what should I say during the initial meeting?
A: The first session, also known as the intake, lasts approximately 30-45 minutes. During this session, the psychologist will inquire about your basic information, the issues you'd like to discuss, your expectations from counseling, your family background, and past experiences to understand your situation and assess any crisis.
You can discuss the problems that trouble you during this session and learn about the services offered by the Counseling Center that match your needs. It's also an opportunity to clarify what kind of help can be provided through counseling.
Q: What can I do in individual counseling sessions?
A: In addition to bringing personal issues and concerns to discuss with the psychologist, there are two important counseling guidelines you should be aware of:
(1) Continuity: Generally, you can only have individual counseling with one psychologist at a time. If you wish to seek the opinion of another psychologist, please discuss it with the psychologist you are currently seeing.
(2) Terminating the relationship: You have the right to end the counseling relationship, but you must discuss it with the psychologist first.
