There are many reasons why a person seeks help from a counselor: some people feel uncomfortable or dissatisfied in many areas of their lives, others have problems with friends, family, are worried, feel inadequate, overwhelmed by the situation in which they are, they feel sad or anxious without knowing why.

      In general, counselling means a process of personal OPTIMIZATION. Starting from what we have at some point we try to get the best results. We are often tempted to think about the reasons why a person uses psychoeducational counselling as a PROBLEM. When we look at counselling as an optimization process, we don't necessarily think about certain issues.

      However, accessing counselling services (vocational or psychoeducational) is done especially at times when the person is aware of the existence of problematic situations.

      Counselling is a tool that helps you cope not only with a problem, but in a broad sense, with the hardships you can't get out of your life.

     Here are some warning signs that may indicate that you need counselling:

       - Decreased academic performance - is felt most prominently in the form of low concentration, avoidance and postponement of academic tasks, lower exam scores, dissatisfaction and confusion about what you want to do in the future.

       - Changes in personal relationships - the death of a loved one, difficulties in the relationship, problems in relationships with other family members, differences in relationships with friends.

       - Feelings of sadness without explanation - prolonged feelings of sadness, despair, unhappiness, withdrawal from relationships with others, loneliness, homesickness, loved ones, loss of interest in previously pleasant activities, changes in eating behavior, despair and lack of hope.

       - Excessive anxiety or fear - unexplained nervousness, panic attacks, sleep problems, avoidance of activities and/or situations, excessive shyness, constant worries, excessive fear of public speaking, making new acquaintances or presenting material .

     - Changes in personality - sudden changes in mood and behavior, anger and aggression, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use

     - The desire to talk to a neutral person

There is every reason you should seek advice from a counselor.

The access to the psycho-educational counselling sessions offered by CICOC-UAB is free (for students, graduates and high school graduates) and is done by scheduling the sessions at: cicoc@uab.ro

Both the content of the discussions and the fact that a student receives psychological counseling are confidential.