A scientific symposium titled "Principles of Educational and Psychological Counseling"

Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Medicine - Al-Nahrain University, Professor Alaa Ghani Mubarak, a specialized scientific symposium for faculty members was held on the topic of "Principles of Educational and Psychological Counseling" last Thursday, 31/12/2019, in the college conference hall. The symposium aimed to help faculty members understand the basic principles of educational and psychological counseling and to overcome the difficulties faced by students.

The symposium included several topics addressed by Assistant Professor Dr. Uday Khalid Abdul Jabbar, Head of the Educational Counseling Unit and Head of the Psychiatry Division - Department of Internal Medicine, who defined counseling and discussed the real difficulties in the counseling process and how to deal with them. Lecturer Dr. Makhoola Hussein Qasim, a member of the Counseling Unit at the college, gave a scientific lecture highlighting the main qualities that a counselor should possess to help students face problems, whether within the college or at home. 

Lecturer Dr. Nahidh Moussa Talfaah, Head of the Counseling Division at the Presidency of Al-Nahrain University, participated with a scientific lecture discussing the importance of educational and psychological counseling for students, along with an overview of counseling theories.

At the end of the lectures, faculty members discussed the difficulties encountered during the counseling process in the first semester, including:

1. Some students' reluctance to consult their assigned counselor.

2. Whether counseling should be mandatory or optional for students.

3. Compatibility between the counselor and the student in terms of gender and culture.

The attending faculty members concluded the symposium with the following recommendations:

1. The need for regular meetings between the members of the Counseling Unit and students during the designated counseling hour to clarify the concept of counseling, with an agreement to hold these meetings during the last weeks of the first semester.

2. Issuing a simple brochure or booklet that explains the basic principles of counseling and the necessary steps for the counselor to follow.

3. The importance of monitoring the student card held by the assigned faculty member to follow up on the student's behavior and intervene when necessary.

4. Conducting surveys among students to understand certain facts, such as the student's preference for a particular faculty member and their stance on the counseling process, to overcome and facilitate difficulties.

5. Including graduate students in educational and psychological counseling.