• CAPS
    Free your mind

About  Counselling and Psychological Services

CAPS aims to strengthen the psychological wellbeing of our students by effectively providing a supportive, engaged and holistic community. Our work revolves around.

• One-on-one Clinical Interventions 
• Wellness-Based Group Activities 
• Research and Data Work 
• Training a New Generation of Experts

Meet The Team

  • Dr. Tahira Haider
    Head of Department
  • Rabia Sajjad
    Operations Lead
  • Aneeza Khan
    Clinical Lead
  • Sabeen Khan
    Student Counsellor /Student Engagement Specialist / Workshops & Social Media Coordinator
  • LUMS
    Aiza Imtiaz
    Student Counsellor
    CAPS
  • LUMS
    Maha Iftikhar
    Clinical Assessment Specialist
  • LUMS
    Zainab Muazzam
    Clinical Assessment Associate
    CAPS
  • Momina Naveed
    Student Counsellor
  • Hooria Jamil
    Operations Coordinator
  • Hania Batool
    Student Counsellor
  • Hareem Jamil
    Student Counsellor
  • LUMS
    Hafsa Azam Butt
    Student Counsellor
  • Haffia Amsal
    Emergency Student Counsellor
  • LUMS
    Munaza Abbas
    Student Counselor
  • LUMS
    Hamna Butt
    Emergency Counsellor

Our Mission

We are a free-of-cost campus support service, which aims to strengthen student success by minimizing the disruptions caused to learning by mental health issues. Our therapists endeavor to offer therapy in an environment that is inviting and comfortable for our students. Our goal is to enhance the lives of our students by increasing resilience by providing high-quality clinical services and assisting them in developing the skills required to function optimally during university and beyond. 

Holistic Living

Holistic Living

A primary objective of CAPS is to encourage its students to lead healthy, well-rounded lives in all aspects of their experience at LUMS. The focus is not only on addressing mental health and wellbeing related concerns of students, but also on assisting them actively achieving a good and fulfilling life. Academic success is not only tied to performance-based abilities and skills, but also on overall health and wellbeing.

Tips

Developing certain habits can bring a positive change in our lives. Some skills needed to acquire overall well-being include:

1. Stress management

2. Time management

3. Social connection

4. Resilience

5. Gratitude

6. Self-compassion and self-love

7. Sufficient sleep (6 to 8 hours)

8. Healthy eating

9. Regular exercise (at least 4 days a week)

10. Career planning (visit the career service office)

 
 

 

Common Myths About Counselling

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Common Questions

Counselling is defined as the acute and timely assistance given to those needing psychological aid and assistance. This can be further broken down to areas such as aided self-reflection, guided problem solving, crisis mitigation and more than anything, providing a safe, validating space to vent and talk about emotions, feelings and events.

What to Expect?

The counselors at LUMS are expected to:

  • Be completely present in the session and openly and empathically listen to your issues and interests.
  • Provide a non-judgemental atmosphere exuding unconditional positive regard towards you.
  • Help you understand and manage your concerns effectively.
  • Take all your ‘small’ and ‘big’ issues seriously.
  • Every counselor employs their own set of strategies to assist clients. Some may choose to listen more and speak less during sessions, while others may assign homework to be completed between sessions. If you feel that something is not working for you, it is best to communicate it with your counselor. If you have any doubts or questions regarding the progress of your therapy, it is always advisable to simply ask and your concerns will be addressed accordingly.
  • Counselors prioritize maintaining complete confidentiality within the limits of your complete safety and wellbeing. If you have any inquiries regarding the limits of privacy, please ask your counselor.
  • Attend regular sessions that are scheduled for you.
  • Try to discuss things that are troubling you with consistency and openness.
  • Complete any assignments or homework assigned to you on a regular basis.
  • Notify your counselor in advance if you are unable to attend a session.
  • Be open-minded when your counselor suggests trying something different or new.
  • Be honest with your counselor and let them know when things are going well or when you feel like you're not making progress. Provide feedback if necessary.
  • Yes, all information shared during the sessions is strictly protected with confidentiality by the LUMS counselors.
  • Some important aspects of privacy, including ethical and moral considerations, are as follows:
  • Maintaining strict confidentiality except in instances where it must be breached for the safety of the client.
  • Maintaining the right to warn if a client is reporting signs of causing bodily harm to another person.
  • Writing and maintaining detailed and documented client records in the form of history and progress notes which cannot be shared with anyone without the client’s explicit permission and/or in the case of any violation of safety for the client.
     

We are extremely careful about protecting the confidentiality of our students as well as their records. Our records are only available to a limited number of staff members.

Limits of Confidentiality

There are a few exceptions to confidentiality between counselors and students. These exceptions include the following:

  • If you inform the counselor of your intention to cause life-threatening harm to yourself. In such cases, the counselor must take necessary actions to protect you from harm.
  • If you inform the counselor of your intention to cause life-threatening or actual harm to someone else and identify that person. In such cases, the counselor is obligated to take any necessary actions to protect the other person.
Your Responsibilities:

You can expect the counsellors at LUMS to:

  • Listen effectively to your interests.
  • Help you get it and manage your concerns effectively.
  • Open to analyze any request or stress that strikes your psyche (regardless of how questionable it is)
  • Treat all your little and huge issues in a serious way.

The counselors maintain brief records of each session, which are strictly confidential and only accessible to them. They cannot disclose any information about you or the reasons for seeking help without your consent.

What are the office hours of the counselors?     
The counselors are available 24/7 from Monday-Sunday. Please find below a detailed breakdown of our timings:    
Counseling and Psychological services that are offered include:     
Office Hours:     
•    Morning timings: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Monday - Sunday)     
•    Evening timings: 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Monday - Friday)     
•    Night timings: 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM (Only for after-hours emergencies)     
•    Weekend Shift: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (Saturday & Sunday)

How do I meet with the counselors?     
Our top priority is to book an appointment for the student as soon as possible. It is our pleasure to inform you that we now have two e-mail addresses. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you according to your availability.   
•   For regular counselling appointments, you can drop an email to student.counselling@lums.edu.pk      
•   For petitions and academic accommodations, you can reach out at assessments.caps@lums.edu.pk     
The number of sessions depends on the student and the severity of the issue. Many students benefit from one or a few sessions. Based on the individual needs of the student, the counselors determine the maximum number of sessions. The goal of therapy is to help each student become independent and address their concerns on their own.

How many sessions do I get?     
This depends on the student and the seriousness of the issue. Many students benefit from one or a few sessions.The counselors, in light of the individual need of the student, choose the maximum number of sessions for each. The objective of therapy is for every student to become independent and tackle their concerns all alone.

What should I do if I believe a friend or fellow student needs assistance?     
Have a polite, open-minded conversation with your friend about counseling. If they are reluctant, inquire about their reasons for not wanting to visit the counselor. You can book an appointment on their behalf and accompany them to their first session. Alternatively, you can send an email to the counselor regarding the student needing support.

Under what circumstances can an academic withdrawal be processed, and what is the procedure?      
Academic withdrawals can be processed for students who are unable to cope with academic stress due to their mental health condition. In such cases, the student requests a withdrawal at the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and meets with the available counselor. The counselor assesses the student's condition and forwards the petition for approval when justified.

 

Resources for Students

Students

CAPS has developed a self -help toolkit for students enrolled at LUMS.

The toolkit provides guidance on the services available, as well as education on ways of resolving personal difficulties. This is done through skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will enable students to take full advantage of their experiences during their time at LUMS.

Please find a detailed overview of signs and symptoms to look out for and how best to find and receive the best possible support for yourself under the ‘My Mental Health Toolkit’ section.

Resources for Parents

cps

Parental support is an important part of each child's life, but sometimes the problems faced by your child may require a more professional form of support and assistance. A counselor can help your child navigate through the changes they are encountering and the adjustments they are having to face in college. When students become overwhelmed by the demands of college life, they sometimes employ risky strategies to reduce their stress such as using alcohol or drugs. At such stressful times, seeking counseling may be helpful as it would teach them new and adaptive strategies to manage their current and possible future sources of stress.

Please find a detailed overview of signs and symptoms to look out for and how best to support and encourage your child under the ‘Resources for Parents’ section.

Get Help:

If you are experiencing these or other issues, help is available. All correspondence and personal information is confidential. For any question or inquiry, please do not hesitate in dropping an email at: student.counselling@lums.edu.pk.

Contact information:

CAPS Emergency Number:+92 307 0247704

CAPS Email Addresses: 

Please note that we have three separate e-mail addresses where we can respond to your concerns in an efficient, tailored manner. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you according to your need and availability. 

Office Hours:

  • Morning timings: 10:00AM to 5:00PM (Monday-Sunday)

  • Evening timings:  3:00PM to 9:00PM (Monday - Friday)

  • Night timings:     9:00PM to 9:00AM (Only for after-hours emergency)

  • Weekend Shift:   10:00AM-5:00PM (Saturday & Sunday)

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