[475 Clip] Dongguk’s Counseling Center Aids Self-Exploration

   Dongguk University’s Counseling Center serves as a strong pillar of support for students struggling with college adjustment, emotional issues, interpersonal relationships, academics, and career concerns. Counseling Center helps students prevent and healthily overcome difficulties they may encounter throughout their academic and overall life. With the goal of “helping Donggukians lead fulfilling university lives, and further, grow into healthy and desirable members of society,” the center operates a variety of professional counseling programs.

   The Counseling Center’s main programs include individual and group counseling, as well as psychological testing. Individual counseling consists of 50-minute one-on-one sessions with a professional counselor to identify and resolve personal difficulties related to personality, relationships, emotions, and career paths. Applications and psychological tests can be completed both online and offline, and the counseling sessions themselves can be conducted face-to-face or remotely via phone or Webex. The psychological tests included in this process are provided free of charge. 

   Group counseling involves small gatherings of around 10 students with similar concerns who support each other as they grow. These groups meet once a week for two hours, for a total of five to ten sessions, covering diverse topics such as improving interpersonal relationships, self-growth, and presentation anxiety, and for art therapy and psychodrama. Program announcements can be found on the center’s homepage or through portal notices.

   Psychological testing enhances self-understanding by objectively assessing personality, interests, and aptitudes. After completing the test, participants must attend a mandatory professional interpretation session lasting about 40 to 50 minutes. Other simple self-diagnostics for anxiety and depression are also available on the center’s homepage.

   Currently, the Counseling Center is offering the “2025 Online Psychological Test Program” through December 31st. This program is open to 150 enrolled Dongguk students and students on leave, on a first-come, first-served basis. Through the Self-Regulated Learning Test (SLT), students can assess their adaptation to college life and identify the strengths and weaknesses of their learning strategies. Applications can also be submitted through the Counseling Center notice in the general announcements section of the Dongguk University homepage.

   Meanwhile, the center is implementing a range of programs to promote students’ mental health. These include a special lecture on “Adult ADHD” scheduled for October 31st in collaboration with the Jung-gu Mental Health Welfare Center, a series of in-depth MBTI interpretation lectures offered online (via Webex), such as “Self-Understanding and Career Type Exploration Using MBTI.” These programs provide a good opportunity for students to better understand themselves through the MBTI Form Q test results and explore career paths that align with their personality types.

   The Dongguk University Counseling Center is located on the 1st floor of Gyesan Hall A, next to Haklim Hall. During the semester, it operates from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on weekdays and from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. during vacation. The lunch break is from 12 P.M. to 1 P.M. Psychological tests are available by appointment on weekdays from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. For more detailed inquiries, contact 02-2260-3932 or email dgusc@dongguk.edu. 

   Through its systematic counseling system and various customized programs, the Dongguk University Counseling Center serves as a dependable shoulder for Donggukians to lean on. If you find yourself facing challenges that are difficult to manage alone, from everyday concerns about college life to complex issues such as career choices and relationships, consider reaching out to the center. Receiving professional help not only aids navigate current difficulties but also provide a chance to understand yourself more deeply and grow, serving as a meaningful first step toward a happier university life.