Scope of Services
Wellness counselling is one of the major services that we offer here in the Student Wellness Team. We provide free-of-charge counselling and psychological services to students in need under the faculty. These services mainly include the following:
1. Assessment and testing
An accurate assessment provides the opportunity to understand your needs through an integrative angle. For all service users, we conduct psychological and risk assessments at the beginning and throughout the process. In some situations, we provide specific testing to gain insight into your unique circumstances. This approach enhances the effectiveness of our treatment planning.
2. Crisis intervention and management
We understand that life is full of uncertainties and we may face challenges that are extremely distressing at times. We offer assistance to manage suicide or homicide risk, mental fluctuation, acute life stressors, traumatic or critical incidents, or other unpredictable circumstances that may post your safety at risk. Safety planning is crucial especially in the course of counselling. In some situations, we discuss the possibility of a more advanced level of care with you when it exceeds the capacity of our current setting to handle effectively.
3. Psychotherapy, counselling and consultation
We believe that a safe space is necessary for everyone to explore freely around their needs and wants, and to tackle existing issues that might be coming into the way of achieving bigger goals. Through counselling, we work with students to tailor a plan in counselling to better manage pre-existing issues and to develop skillsets essential to pursue the ideals. Our counsellors and psychologists are trained in different professional subspecialties to provide the right level of support to your needs.
4. Referral services
There are situations where we may need more than counselling and/or psychotherapy services. Student Wellness Team recognises the benefits of a multidisciplinary team approach in assisting students at times of distress.
At HKUMed, we are liaised with renowned and dedicated doctors and professors who are experts and leaders in the field of Psychiatry. They offer psychiatric consultation services to our students. We are also supported by psychiatrists in the private sector and the University Health Service to provide our students with affordable psychiatric support services.
In some situations, we offer case management support to students who might need extra resources from the school or the community. These include but not limited to finance, housing, or other welfare related matters. We believe that systemic support is significant to supporting one’s overall wellbeing.
The Student Wellness Team will assist in referring these services to students when appropriate.
5. Performance enhancement and coaching
This specialized consultation service is tailored to address the unique challenges and pressures faced by medical students. By utilizing evidence-based techniques and mental skills, such as goal-setting, positive self-talk, efficient time management, stress reduction, and performance routine, we are dedicated to empowering you with the tools and strategies needed to excel in your studies, clinical rotations, and beyond.
Meeting Modalities
We offer to meet with students individually or as a group. Whether or not you are struggling with some private issues, conflicts with peers or significant other, or long-lasting family concerns, we can offer a safe space for you and/or your closed ones to come in and explore further on ways to resolve the presenting issues. We offer individual counselling, couples’ counselling, family counselling and group counselling to support needs at different levels. Generally, we prefer to meet face to face but in some situations we offer to meet on video conferencing platforms to accommodate your needs.
Confidentiality
All information collected after you begin counselling will be treated as strictly confidential within the Student Wellness Team at HKUMed as required by the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) in Hong Kong unless you provide a verbal or written release of disclosure to a third party (e.g. staff, partner, family, friends, etc.). Although the Student Wellness Team is part of the faculty, information gathered throughout is not accessible by any members of the faculty outside of the team.
Limitations to the confidentiality agreement including the following:
- Suspicion of imminent harm to self or others; or
- The information is mandated by court.
Please be aware that all counsellors and psychologists receive regular supervision to ensure quality of service delivered and to maintain a standard of “best practice”. Identifiable information will not be used to ensure client privacy in consultation related discussions.
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