New International Peer-Counselling Organisation available at ELTE

11.06.2021.
New International Peer-Counselling Organisation available at ELTE
The all-new International Peer-Counselling Organisation (IPCO) was established by psychology students undergoing their MA degree in Clinical and Health Psychology, who aspire to improve students' mental health by offering peer-counselling services to all international students of ELTE.

This opportunity comes in handy during the exam period since the students can connect online with their peer-counsellor at their convenience in the comfort of their own home.

The service is free of charge. One can request an appointment until the 20th of June to use IPCO’s services over the summer by contacting them via e-mail: ipco@ppk.elte.hu.

THE MOST COMMON Q&A'S REGARDING IPCO’S FREE SERVICES:

What is a peer-counsellor?
A peer-counsellor is a student who has been carefully selected for the task and received professional training by licensed counsellors from ELTE. As students themselves, peer-counsellors are often familiar with many issues that international students may face, and you can discuss many different challenges with your peer-counsellor.

With what problems can I turn to you?
Common issues for students can be anxiety and stress related to studies and work, challenges related to self-esteem, or problems with friends, family, or romantic relationships. Students may also experience challenges with adapting to their new life abroad, which is something that a peer-counsellor can help you cope with.

How can a peer-counsellor help me?
Whatever the issue may be, as peer-counsellors, we aim to listen, understand, and help you manage the situation in a way that makes sense for you. By working together with your peer-counsellor, you can learn new ways of dealing with challenges while also learning more about yourself.  We can help you improve e.g., your problem-solving skills, coping strategies, self-esteem and your self-efficacy.

How many sessions am I offered?
We can offer six free sessions during each of your academic semesters. Each session has a duration of approximately 50 minutes. We recommend having one session per week, meaning that the peer-counselling is in total a 6-week process in total.

Can anyone apply?
The only condition is that you must have active student status at any faculty of ELTE.

Is peer counselling the same as therapy?
The services provided by IPCO are not a substitute for professional mental health or medical health services. Although all IPCO peer-counsellors receive training on how to conduct peer-counselling sessions, they are not certified counsellors.

Am I still able to trust the competency of a peer-counsellor being able to help me?
Absolutely! A peer-counsellor is a psychology student undergoing training in counselling and receives continuous supervision from licensed psychologists. The International Peer-Counselling Organisation operates under the working terms and regulations of the Counselling Centre at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of Eötvös Loránd University. All IPCO peer-counsellors are aware of, acknowledge, and adhere to the ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.