Personal Development and Counseling

Remember that with all of these opportunities on campus, you are not alone in your journey! The Office of Personal Development and Counseling Services offers a safe and confidential setting where you can discuss any aspect of your life, whether personal, academic, or related to your relationships with others, or brainstorm ways to improve your quality of life and well-being. 

Personal Development and Counseling Services promotes the success of the whole student and fosters the values of self-discovery, attainment of optimal mental health and wellness, and the removal of internal and environmental barriers that challenge students’ success. In order to assist students in achieving their personal goals and to ensure the quality of student life and learning, the department focuses on the combined efforts of academic support, personal counseling, and advocacy services.

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Health and Wellness Promotion

We want every Ram to thrive and flourish. Wherever you are in your well-being journey, we’re here to help you connect with the well-being options that are best for you. It’s important for each of us to find intentional ways to focus on our well-being daily. Practicing regular self-care can help prevent the negative impacts of stress or burnout. Just as washing our hands, staying home when we have symptoms of illness, or getting regular flu vaccines can help prevent us from getting sick, doing things like engaging in regular physical activity, getting annual wellness check-ups, getting enough sleep, and getting adequate nutrition can help keep us well.

Counseling Services

 Our Counseling Office is dedicated to supporting students through life’s challenges, offering a safe and confidential environment to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. 

Our one-on-one counseling offers you an opportunity to talk privately about personal concerns in a safe, confidential setting.  Every student’s sense of privacy is important to us.  We do not release your personal counseling information without written consent, except in emergency situations where information is needed to protect your health and safety.

Services are intended to help students with short-term problems as opposed to providing long-term intensive psychotherapeutic services. Some common concerns students seek counseling for include, but not limited to:

• Depression
• Coping with stress and anxiety
• Diversity and cultural differences
• Addictions
• Eating and body image concerns
• Grief or loss
• Adjustment to university life
• Academic difficulties

Personal Development

VCUQ’s Counseling and Personal Development Office is committed to fostering your growth both personally and professionally.We help provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve your full potential. We offer a wide range of personal development opportunities, including; skills building workshops, time management and productivity, mindfulness and meditation, career development and health and wellness.

Immunizations and Health Records

 VCU-Q requires all students to submit documentation of vaccination or immunity. Students should complete immunization requirements prior to the start of classes. Immunization forms provided by VCU are accessible via the VCUarts Qatar Intranet. The immunization record is included in the acceptance packet mailed to students from the Office of Admissions

This not only ensures a safe and healthy learning environment but will also prevent future registration holds.

Academic Accommodations and Disability Services

We are the campus office dedicated to ensuring that all students have equal access to the University’s programs, services, and activities. We offer support and services to any student with a disability or health-related impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities.

Disabilities and impairments we support include, but are not limited to: chronic health conditions (such as diabetes and arthritis), visual impairments (such as blindness and low vision), hearing impairments (ranging from moderate hearing loss to deafness), mental health conditions (including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety), traumatic brain injuries (including concussions), neurological disorders (such as ADHD and learning disabilities), developmental disorders (including Autism Spectrum Disorder), and mobility impairments (such as Cerebral Palsy and spinal cord injuries).

Personal Development and Counseling Services Peer Mentor Program

The Peer Mentor program provides all students at VCU with quality, well-informed, peer-led education on relevant health issues impacting student well-being. PDCS Peer Mentors strive to create an atmosphere of safety and learning to address current health topics, stay up-to-date on current research and trends in health promotion and wellbeing, encourage open and respectful dialogue, develop strong partnerships with other student organizations, empower students to explore personal identity and development, connect students to existing resources to support their success, maintain trusting, non-judgmental relationships to support student-driven behavior change, design educational and outreach programs that are inclusive and accessible for all students, and reflect the unique needs of VCU students.