Counseling Services
Access mental health support
Quick Links
Counseling Services for GU-Q Students
We provide holistic wellness services, individual and group counseling, and educational programs for GU-Q students through the Student Wellness & Counseling Center (SWCC).
The center’s services include prevention, psychoeducation, outreach, assessment, counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, and referral. We also provide student- and program-centered consultation and training for the GU-Q community.
How to Schedule an Appointment
New Clients
If you haven’t met with a counselor one-to-one before, follow the instructions below to schedule your first appointment. To log into the system, use your GU-Q NetID and password. Please note that you might see a brief error message initially, but the page will load properly after a few seconds.
You are considered a new client if you have never met with a counselor for counseling (e.g., attending a group, workshop, or brief consultation with a counselor does not count).
To schedule a meeting with your counselor, you will click the Online Appointment Scheduling System link (found below). Please go through the following instructions to ensure ease of access and completion of your appointment scheduling.
Log In
Click Scheduling for New Clients
Complete Identifying Information
Filter for a Specific Date
Filter by Date Ranges
Choose Your Appointment Time
Confirmation Screen
Existing Clients
If you’ve met with a counselor one-to-one at any point during your time at GU-Q, follow the instructions below to schedule a follow-up appointment.
You are considered an existing client if:
- you have been meeting with a counselor already and you are scheduling a follow-up meeting.
- you have met with a counselor at ANY time for counseling during your time at GU-Q, even if it has been awhile.
To schedule a meeting with your counselor, you will click the Online Appointment Scheduling System link (found below). Please go through the following instructions to ensure ease of access and completion of your appointment scheduling. You may see a brief error message initially, but the page will load properly after a few seconds.
Logging In
Click Scheduling for Existing Clients
Complete Identifying Information
Filter for Your Counselor’s Availability or a Specific Date
Filter by Date Ranges
Choose Your Appointment Time
Confirmation Screen
Counseling FAQs
Is the center accredited?
We are fully accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). You can review the full list of IACS Accredited Counseling Services here.
Who are the SWCC counselors?
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
Who is eligible for counseling?
All enrolled GU-Q students are eligible for Student Wellness & Counseling (SWCC) services free of charge.
How can I make an appointment for counseling?
- Use our Online Appointment Scheduling System.
- Email us at guqstudentwellness@georgetown.edu.
- When the campus is open, during office hours (9 AM to 5 PM), check in with the Student Affairs Assistant at the front desk on the first floor of the GU-Q Building.
Can I schedule multiple appointments?
No. Please schedule only one meeting at a time.
What if I need an earlier appointment?
Please go ahead and book an appointment using our Online Appointment Scheduling System even if it is later than you would like. Once you have a booked appointment, email us at guqstudentwellness@georgetown.edu and ask to be put on our waiting list. That way we will email you if an appointment becomes available.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
There is no online option for canceling your booked appointment. Please email us at guqstudentwellness@georgetown.edu 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 Appointment Scheduling System.
What if I need to talk to a counselor during office hours and can’t wait for an appointment?
- Email us at guqstudentwellness@georgetown.edu.
- Call us during office hours (9 AM to 5 PM) or leave a message: 4457 8330.
- Walk-in: Student Wellness & Counseling Center, First Floor, GU-Q Building.
- For 24/7 GU-Q Student Urgent Mental Health Support call: 4457 8111.
What if I need to talk to a counselor after hours?
For 24/7 GUQ Student Urgent Mental Health Support call 4457 8111.
Is counseling confidential?
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.
If I give permission to share my information with another university entity (e.g., deans or faculty), is it still confidential?
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 can I support students and refer them for counseling if needed?
- GU-Q CARE Team (Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation)
- How to Refer a Student to Counseling
- 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
What can I do in an emergency?
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
- Qatar Foundation Primary Health Care Center: 4454 1244 & 4454 1240
- Education City Security Control: 4492 7350
- Education City Helpline: 4454 0073
What if I have special needs?
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.
What kind of things can I talk about in counseling?
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.
What if my problem isn’t serious enough for counseling?
Most students who come to 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.
Who will know that I’m getting counseling?
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.
How many times will I need to meet with a counselor?
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.
How do I pay for counseling?
All services are provided free of charge.
What if my problems seem to be spinning out of control? Can counselors help with serious mental health challenges?
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.
What if I need medication?
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.