Centre for Counselling and Psychological Services

1. Executive Summary

The proposed creation of the Centre for Counselling and Psychological Services in the School of Liberal Arts at Dr. D. Y. Patil Dnyan Prasad University, Pune, is meant to meet the urgent need for more complete psychological care and counselling in higher education. The Centre will be an important part of the institutional framework for promoting overall health and well-being by offering private therapy, psychometric tests, and structured mental health programs. Its services will be available to all students and staff on all campuses. The goal is to improve academic performance, build resilience, and support personal growth. The Centre wants to create a supportive academic environment that normalises and prioritises mental health through an integrated model that includes individual therapy, group interventions, and preventative outreach.

2. Vision Statement

To be known as a top university-based centre for counselling and psychological services that are accessible, ethical, and based on evidence, and that is dedicated to promoting resilience, emotional intelligence, and personal growth throughout the academic community.

3. Mission Statement

• To offer the university's students and staff private, professional, and research-based psychological services.
• To help people grow personally, emotionally, and academically or professionally through individualised interventions.
• To give psychometric, personality, and behavioural tests that help us give personalised help.
• To keep the highest standards of data protection, professional ethics, and privacy.
• To raise awareness, educate, and remove the stigma surrounding mental health in the institutional community.

4. Objectives

1. Accessible Counselling Provision: Make sure that everyone can get individual and group counselling quickly and easily for a wide range of mental health issues.
2. Psychometric Assessments: Use structured tests of personality, aptitude, and behaviour to help with accurate diagnosis, self-reflection, and targeted treatment planning.
3. Therapeutic Interventions: Plan and run workshops, seminars, and interventions on how to deal with stress, build resilience, improve your social skills, and do better in school.
4. Confidentiality Protocols: Make sure that strict systems are in place to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all service users.
5. Comprehensive Record-Keeping: Keep your digital and physical systems safe for keeping records of assessments, treatment plans, and sessions.
6. Awareness and Destigmatisation: Run campaigns and workshops to make asking for help more normal and lower the stigma around getting mental health care.
7. Institutional Collaboration: Collaborate with faculty and administration to make mental health services a part of the larger academic framework.

5. Scope of Services

The Centre will deliver a comprehensive suite of interventions:

• Individual Counselling: One-on-one private sessions to talk about problems with emotions, school, relationships, and work.
• Group Counselling/Therapy: Led sessions that encouraged peer learning and support.
• Psychometric Assessments:
• Personality Profiling: MBTI, Big Five, DISC, etc.
• Behavioural Assessments: Coping strategies, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution styles.
• Aptitude and Career Inventories: Supporting career decisions and academic pathways.
• Crisis Intervention: Immediate psychological assistance in cases of severe distress.
• Workshops/Seminars: Topics will include resilience, stress management, mindfulness, time management, and interpersonal communication.
• Referral Services: Linkages with specialised external services where indicated.
• Consultative Support: Advice for faculty and staff on how to deal with student welfare issues.

6. Operational Framework

6.1 Staffing

• Head of Centre: A licensed clinical psychologist or senior counselling psychologist who has worked in both academia and the field for at least five to seven years.
• Counselling Psychologists/Therapists: Professionals who have a master's or doctoral degree in psychology or counselling and are certified.
• Administrative Support: An assistant who handles scheduling, record keeping, and other administrative tasks.
• Supervised Interns (Optional): Chosen postgraduate students from the School of Liberal Arts Psychology program.

6.2 Infrastructure

The primary Centre, alongside satellite facilities, will be equipped with:

• Private, soundproofed consulting rooms.
• Group therapy and workshop rooms.
• A designated assessment room with psychometric resources.
• Secure administrative offices and client waiting areas.
• Digital record systems, relaxation tools, and standardised test kits.

6.3 Operating Hours and Appointment Protocol

• Service Hours: Monday to Friday, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Booking System: Hybrid online and manual appointment mechanisms, with emergency walk-ins accommodated.
• Initial Assessment: All clients will undergo a structured intake consultation to establish therapeutic needs.

7. Confidentiality and Record Management

7.1 Confidentiality Protocols

• Following the ethical codes of the APA, BACP, and the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists.
• Procedures for informed consent that explain the scope of the service, its limits, and how private it is.
• Staff training in confidentiality and data security.
• Secure storage of physical and digital records.
• Anonymised aggregate reporting for institutional purposes.

7.2 Record Management

• Digital Systems: Digital platforms that are password-protected and follow the rules.
• Physical Records: Locked, access-restricted storage.
• Record Content: Information about demographics, assessments, session summaries, treatment plans, and referrals.
• Retention & Disposal: Records kept and thrown away in a way that is legal and moral.

8. Promotion and Outreach

• Orientation Integration: Presentations during induction programmes.
• Digital Visibility: Dedicated website section and targeted social media campaigns.
• Print Materials: Informational brochures, posters, and displays.
• Workshops: Department-level introductory sessions on well-being.
• Faculty Engagement: Training staff to identify and refer students in distress.

9. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ways for clients to give feedback on a regular basis.
• Data on how often people use the service, their demographics, and their concerns.
• Keeping track of ethical outcomes using pre- and post-intervention measures that have been shown to work.
• Staff meetings to talk about reflective practice and improve protocols.
• Each year, institutions must report on anonymised data and suggestions.

10. Budgetary Framework (Indicative)

• Personnel: Salaries for clinical and administrative staff.
• Infrastructure: Furnishings, IT systems, and soundproofing.
• Assessment Tools: Purchase/licensing of psychometric instruments.
• Professional Development: Ongoing staff training and supervision.
• Awareness and Outreach: Materials and events.
• Software/Licensing: Secure record management systems.
• Contingency Fund: For unforeseen operational requirements.

11. Conclusion

The opening of the Centre for Counselling and Psychological Services is a major step forward in making mental health a top priority at Dr. D. Y. Patil Dnyan Prasad University in Pune. The Centre will make a big difference in building a strong, caring, and high-achieving academic community by making professional, ethical, and easy-to-access mental health services a part of the institution.