The main objectives of the Counseling and Career Guidance Center (CCGC) are facilitating the decision-making process regarding one’s career choice through educational coaching, professional guidance and psychological counseling activities for students within the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, as well as increasing motivation and the optimal management of academic challenges.

The CCGC specialized psychologists provide psychological services to students, aiming to achieve well-being from both emotional and motivational perspectives through this process. Therefore, for this purpose, the following programs with psychological implications are offered to our students:

Educational coaching and workshops for professional development

These activities are carried out in groups of four to eight students, aiming at the development of essential skills required both throughout the academic process and future profession. The workshops involve specific topics focused on promoting effective learning and time management skills, along with increasing the level of assertive communication and overall emotional balance. These can be largely achieved by improving academic stress management skills and identifying the strengths of the person, as well as using problem-solving and motivational techniques. This approach is also based on a collaborative, personalized and goal-oriented process between the psychologist and the student.  

Career Counseling

It consists in assessing the personal abilities and personality of the student for creating a complex psycho-attitudinal profile that will help the student in choosing the future specialization/profession. This evaluation will then be followed by career counseling which refers to establishing the degree to which the wishes and aspirations of the student are concordant with the personal characteristics involving one’s abilities and personality type. Based on this approach, students can discover which are the most suitable specializations/ professions according to their personal characteristics, already during the training period. The CCGC career counseling process relies on the use of professional psychological tests, approved by the Commission of Methodology, within the College of Psychologists in Romania (CPR).

Psychological counseling

It involves a psychological approach for self-knowledge and personal development, by guiding the student throughout the process of identifying professional values and improving the general adaptation to the academic environment. In addition, this program aims at providing specialized support to students experiencing difficulties related to the occurrence of intense emotions and burnout syndrome

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a scientifically validated intervention option for situations when a significant distress level generated by the onset of anxiety and/ or depression states occurs, addressing thoughts, dysfunctional emotions and attitudes associated with these manifestations. As granted through the international training finalized by the psychologists within the CCGC, these dysfunctional psychological states are managed by embracing a humanistic approach based on compassion and collaborative attitude.

Psychological First Aid

It involves primary intervention in the case of students who develop an existential crisis with a profound impact on psycho-emotional functioning, characterized by a very high level of distress. Students can access this service by sending an e-mail to: counseling.medicina.en@umfst.ro, following which the sending of a proposal related to programming by the CCOC psychologists will be carried out within 24 hours.

Educational and integrative counseling for students with special needs

The educational and integrative counseling service is addressed to students with special educational needs, aiming to ensure equal access to education and full integration into the university community. Activities include individual counseling, identification and application of adapted learning strategies. The main goal is to create an inclusive academic environment, which values diversity and supports the formative path of each student, in accordance with the principles of equity and respect for individual needs.

Counseling and remedial activities for students at risk of dropping out

This service aims to support students who are facing academic or adjustment difficulties that may lead to the risk of dropping out of university. Interventions aim at both individual counseling and the implementation of remedial activities and programs to develop learning and emotional regulation skills. Through a complex approach, focused on the student's needs, the aim is to strengthen academic motivation, increase confidence in one's own resources and facilitate reintegration into the educational process.

The remedial cognitive-behavioral intervention protocol for students with disabilities at risk of dropping out was developed within an international team of specialists in the field, which included Psychologist Dr. Robert Hindman, from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, United States of America. Remedial Cognitive-Behavioral Psychological Intervention Guide for Students with Disabilities at Risk of Dropout

All these services are provided by psychologists in accordance with the rules of organization and operation of the CCGC.