fuhsing counseling office FAQ

campus counseling services and mental health resources

A Q&A session with the school psychologist, Henry Wu

Overview

Who is School Psychologist Henry Wu?

My title is a counseling psychologist (school psychologist), I spend most of my time at school doing individual consulting/counseling and assisting students, parents, or teachers seeking information or help about mental health related issues. I also regularly conduct mental health seminars and psychological testing in all grades and classes. As a school faculty member, I also need to assist with miscellaneous events and activities on campus, so it shouldn't be too surprising seeing me patrolling hallways or receiving guests on schooldays.

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What is counseling?

Counseling is giving yourself the time and space to organize your thoughts and to understand your feelings through dialogue, activity cards, etc. with a professionally trained psychologist. These sessions are usually scheduled to be weekly and take around one class period (during morning self-study period, naptime, or afterschool), but they are flexible and can be adjusted to individual circumstances. In terms of individual sessions, it’s important to keep in mind that the effect of counseling isn’t immediate, so the result of single sessions will have its limitations.

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What types of struggles does the counseling office help with?

From my experience doing counseling, most of the cases I get have to do with interpersonal relationships, academic pressure, family conflicts, career planning, depression, mental illness, etc. But at the end of the day, it is still important to keep in mind that each person’s struggles or needs often differ, and so the general theme among people who seek counseling doesn't really mean much. It is always still advised for those struggling to give counseling a try themselves instead of judging their personal needs based on those of others.

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What types of resources does the Counseling Office provide?

The Counseling Office mainly takes charge of individual counseling services, mental health education on campus, and periodically hosts events and themed lectures for parents and teachers on topics such as mental health, gender equity education, bullying, etc. We also regularly keep in check with other mental health institutions off campus (psychiatric institutions, mental health facilities, etc.), and so we compile lists of resources for students and parents that want to know more about their options for mental health resources outside of school.

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What resources does the Counseling Office provide for students with disabilities?

The Counseling Office can definitely assist students with individual needs relating to psychiatric disorders or learning disabilities, but the processes and regulations involved with special accommodations and other curricular flexibility are quite complex; we would still recommend students, parents, and teachers come talk to us about their concerns, just to get a more comprehensive explanation for areas Fuhsing’s Counseling Office can assist with.

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What if students don’t know what to talk about/what they need help with?

It would definitely be helpful if you prepare or at least think about what you would like to talk about beforehand, but also from my experience as a school psychologist, a lot of people learn about the root of their problems through counseling sessions themselves, and oftentimes it becomes that their original assumptions and conclusions are different from what they realize from counseling. Before trying to come up with everything you want to talk about though, it is more important to make sure you are ready and comfortable sharing these things with us.

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Will parents or teachers be contacted about students’ counseling sessions?

In situations involving self-harm, harming of others, criminal behavior, sexual assault/harasssment, or domestic violence, relevant personnel (whether it be parents, teachers, or in certain cases, legal departments) would have to be notified due to safety concerns. But regardless of the situation, we will always talk to the student before taking actions of any sort, to clarify the situation and take into account any worries or concerns of the student.

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Is the Counseling Office LGBTQ+ friendly?

Everyone’s opinions and stance on issues like gender or sexuality differ, that is also to say everyone’s understanding of such topics are different too. No matter your position on such issues, counselors of the Counseling Office all hold the same position to listen, to respect, and to have an open conversation about whatever it is you are struggling with. The goal of counseling is also to help students clarify their own thoughts and feelings, and to support them through the perils and pitfalls that may come along the decisions they make (eg. external pressure, views of others)

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Can the Counseling Office give diagnoses or prescriptions?

No, Diagnoses and prescriptions in Taiwan can only be given by doctors/pediatricians from psychiatric or psychosomatic units (eg. clinics or hospitals). But the Counseling Office can help evaluate your condition during sessions, and if necessary, we might advise you, or with the company of a parent/guardian, to seek medical assistance.

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Can students bring company to counseling sessions?

If you are really nervous or scared because it's your first time doing counseling, you can definitely bring a classmate or friend as a company. But after you get more comfortable with the environment and dynamics of counseling, we would still advise talking one-on-one with us for better results.

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