Counseling

We are fully accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). You can review the full list of IACS Accredited Counseling Services here.

Mahnaz N. Mousavi, Ph.D.
Director
1G18, Georgetown Building, PO Box 23689

Elena Lopez Khoury, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
1G19, Georgetown Building, PO Box 23689

Amy Walker, Ph.D.
Psychological Counselor & Inclusion Programming Lead
1G17, Georgetown Building, PO Box 23689

All enrolled GU-Q students are eligible for Student Wellness & Counseling (SWCC) services free of  charge.

• Use our online appointment scheduling system.
• Email us.
• When the campus is open, during office hours (9 AM to 5 PM), stop by the Student Wellness & Counseling Center on the first floor of Georgetown Building, room 1G9.

No. Please schedule only one meeting at a time.

Please go ahead and book an appointment using our online scheduling system even if it is later than you would like. Once you have a booked appointment, send us an email and ask to be put on our waiting list. That way we will email you if an appointment becomes available.

There is no online option for canceling your booked appointment. Please send us an email as soon as you know to cancel your meeting. This would allow us to offer the appointment to another student. Then, you can book another appointment using our online scheduling system.

• Email us
• Call us during office hours (9 AM to 5 PM) or leave a message: 4457 8330
• Visit us: First Floor, 1G09
• For 24/7 GUQ Student Urgent Mental Health Support call: 4457 8111

For 24/7 GUQ Student Urgent Mental Health Support call 4457 8111.

Yes. Whatever you share with the counselor stays confidential. No information will be shared with others without your direct permission except when there is an imminent and clear danger to yourself or others.  To learn more about our level of confidentiality and its limitations, please read our informed consent form.  Prior to initiating therapy, all students will be given a chance to read and discuss this document with their counselor.

Although other university personnel are not required to maintain confidentiality to the same extent as your counselor, other GU-Q employees are required to keep the information shared with them by a counselor strictly confidential and use it only for the purpose for which the student gave permission.

• How to Refer a Student To the Student Wellness & Counseling Center
• Recognize Students in Distress Resource Guide
• Introduction to Referring Student to Counseling Series
• Ensuring Students are Engaging in Self Care
• When Students Express a Lot of Emotion
• When Students Need to be Assessed due to Unusual or Concerning Behaviors
• When a Student is In Crisis

In case of life-threatening situations that need immediate response:

• If in Georgetown Building call 4457 8458
• If in Education City call 4454 0999
• If off campus call 999
• For 24/7 GUQ Student Urgent Mental Health Support call 4457 8111.

Education City

• Education City Security Control: 4492 7350
• Education City Helpline: 4454 0073
• Qatar Foundation Primary Health Care Center: 4454 1244 & 4454 1240

GU-Q is committed to integrating students with physical, psychological, and learning disabilities as fully as possible into all aspects of university life. The Office of Academic Services in collaboration with the Student Wellness & Counseling Center assists and supports students with special needs to access reasonable services and Academic Accommodations.

Juggling the demands of a rigorous academic course load, responsibilities of home and family, while taking care of one’s health and wellness can be challenging. The SWCC provides a safe, non-judgmental space to work through issues that many students face.  SWCC Staff are trained to assess, educate, and support students as well as address a full range of topics to maintain and improve their well-being.  No issue is too large or too small.  Some of the topics that can be addressed include, but are not limited to, personal growth, health and nutrition, smoking cessation, communication skills, anxiety and depression, time management, homesickness, conflict with family and friends, alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders and body image, trauma, suicidal thoughts, other topics of concern to students.

Most students who come to the counseling seek someone with an objective ear outside their family and circle of friends to talk to. Counselors don’t offer advice or tell you what to do. Instead, they are specially trained to help you meet your challenges head-on before they become serious problems. The Student Wellness and Counseling Center provides a safe, non-judgmental space to work through issues that many college students face. Counseling helps you to deal with personal, relationship and environmental barriers that prevent you from functioning at your best in school and personal life.

Counseling is confidential. Because therapy is most effective when a student can be direct and honest with a counselor without fear that personal information will be divulged, the Student Wellness & Counseling Center does not release information about a student without that student’s written permission, except in the case of imminent danger to self or others. No information about your visits will ever be connected to any of your administrative or academic records without your request or permission.

The Student Wellness & Counseling Center provides counseling to discuss any personal concerns students may be facing and work with students to develop new ways of resolving problems. Some students may need to see the counselor once or several times. Most problems are resolved within eight sessions, often less. There is no limit on the number of sessions students can meet with counselors, though a student may require more intensive or specialized treatment than the Student Wellness & Counseling Center can provide. In these cases, the Student Wellness & Counseling Center will assist you in finding a local treatment provider who better can meet your needs.

All services are provided free of charge.

Counselors are trained to diagnose and help you manage a full range of psychological issues including depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, trauma, and thoughts of suicide.  In cases in which a student may require more intensive or specialized treatment than the Student Wellness & Counseling Center can provide, we will assist students to find a provider who better can meet their needs.

Student Wellness Counselor does not prescribe medication. The purpose of counseling is to empower students to improve their lives. In some circumstances the counselor may advise you to see a physician or a psychiatrist for further evaluation and possible medication. In that case, the counselor will provide you with suggestions and referrals.