Frequently Asked Questions
How does the counseling process help me?
In the counseling process, your counselor provides you with a safe environment in which you can recognize your thoughts and feelings. Therefore, you can better understand yourself, your feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Facing difficulties and problems rather than ignoring them brings a certain amount of relief and hope.
How do I decide if I need psychological counseling?
You can benefit from psychological counseling services for all current problems that interfere with your daily life and education. For example
If you have difficulty coping with emotional problems such as stress and anxiety,
If you are working but not succeeding,
If you have been indecisive for a long time,
If you have thoughts that you can't get out of your mind,
If you believe that you have feelings and thoughts that you cannot tell anyone but feel the need to share,
If you are worried about the future,
If you feel that something is wrong in your life,
If you want to communicate more effectively with people and express your feelings and thoughts effectively,
If you feel that you have difficulties with self-confidence and assertiveness,
If you have difficulty adapting to university life, etc. you can apply for support from our center.
Why should I tell someone I don't know about my problems?
The time you share with your counselor is entirely yours and is meant to discuss what is important to you. The comments and suggestions of your friends and family may be biased and prejudiced, whereas counselors are impartial and uncritical, only trying to understand you and your situation in the best possible way. This is done in a confidential manner.
Who can benefit from counseling services? What is the fee for psychological counseling at PDRM?
All services at our center are only for Mersin University students and are free of charge.
Are online counseling sessions as effective as face-to-face sessions?
Online counseling can be as effective as face-to-face counseling in the appropriate environment and conditions. The work will be more beneficial if you can provide an environment where you can protect your privacy, where you will not be overheard and interrupted.
Are positive or negative notes written about the applicants to psychological counseling in their academic files? Are conversations shared with others?
Confidentiality is essential in the psychological counseling relationship. All kinds of information are kept confidential. In our center, ethical rules are followed when information and records need to be stored, destroyed or shared with others. All records related to the counseling relationship (interview notes, test data, correspondence and any other documents) are used for professional purposes and are not disclosed to others without the student's permission. They are not included in academic records. Only in case of a situation that may endanger the life of the person or someone else, the relevant information is shared with the competent authorities.
How can I make an appointment?
All you need to do is to send an e-mail to pdrm@mersin.edu.tr with your name, surname, the department you are studying in, your student number, your phone number and a photo of your student ID.
After your application, an appointment will be made with one of our center's experts for the nearest time. During busy times (before finals, at the end of the semester, etc.) it may take some time to make an appointment.
What does your psychological counselor do?
At the beginning of the counseling process, he/she listens to you, makes the necessary assessments and starts working with you in a confidential and professional relationship in line with the goals you have set together.
The counselor is the person who helps you to understand yourself and your problem better so that you can solve your problem more effectively. They do not solve your problems for you or give you advice on how you should live. Because only you know the details about the processes and challenges of your life best and you can decide on the most appropriate solution and implement it.
Listens to you carefully, objectively and without judgment.
Listens to you with sincere interest and asks questions to get to know you better.
He/she tries to be unprejudiced and sensitive to your beliefs, values and thoughts.
The counselor provides a safe space for you to understand yourself better, to start solving your problems and to develop the necessary skills.
She/he may refer you to other specialists when deemed necessary for your benefit.