Counseling Services
University Counseling Services (UCS) at American University of Sharjah provides free, confidential psychological support to students, faculty, staff and their families. We aim to promote positive mental health and well-being across our diverse community by offering services that are responsive to the individual needs and cultural backgrounds of our community members.
Individual Counseling
At UCS, our counselors help students explore a variety of academic and personal concerns. Common issues that lead students to seek support include adjusting to university life, identity concerns, relationship conflicts, anxiety, depression, grief and loss.
Our counselors are equipped to address a broad range of issues and work collaboratively with students to help them identify personal goals, develop coping skills and generate solutions to current difficulties.
What is Counseling Like?
For many students, a single session with a UCS counselor may provide enough clarity and guidance. Others may benefit from ongoing support, depending on their needs.
During your first session, the counselor will ask you to describe your concerns and gather some background information. Together, you and the counselor will decide if further sessions would be helpful and set goals for your progress. Counseling at UCS is problem-focused, flexible and culturally appropriate, with counselors employing different strategies based on individual needs.
You may feel anxious, self-conscious or unsure at first—that’s completely normal. Our counselors are experienced in creating a safe, accepting and non-judgmental environment where you can talk openly about your feelings. Sessions typically last 45-50 minutes and may occur weekly, biweekly or monthly, depending on your needs and the counselor’s availability.
Crisis Support
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency outside of UCS hours, please call +971 6 515 2100 and select option one to speak to an on-call nurse. In cases of immediate danger, contact local emergency services at 999.
Confidentiality
All counseling services provided at UCS are completely confidential. Your personal information and the content of your sessions will not be shared without your consent, except in rare cases where safety is a concern.
Psychiatric and Medical Referral
For community members who require more intensive or specialized services, or those with long-term psychiatric conditions, UCS will refer them to appropriate external mental health providers. Please note that UCS does not prescribe or monitor psychotropic or any other medications.
Wellbeing and Self-Care Resources
In addition to individual counseling, UCS provides resources that help students understand and manage the challenges they may be facing. These resources are often used alongside counseling to support growth:
TalkCampus: Peer Support at Your Fingertips
In addition to the counseling services offered by UCS, students can access TalkCampus, a global peer support network designed to help you manage your mental health anytime, anywhere. Whether you're feeling stressed, anxious, or just need someone to talk to, TalkCampus connects you with students around the world who are experiencing similar challenges.
Key features of TalkCampus:
- 24/7 support: Access support at any time, day or night.
- Global community: Connect with students from universities across the globe.
- Confidential and secure: Your identity remains private, and the app is a safe space for discussing your feelings.
- Free to use for AUS students: TalkCampus is available at no cost to all AUS students.
How to Get Started:
- Download the TalkCampus app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Sign up using your AUS email address.
- Start sharing your experiences and get support from a global student community.
For more information, visit the TalkCampus website or speak with a UCS counselor about how TalkCampus can complement your mental health journey.
Meet the Team
Danielle Hyland
Danielle Hyland is a licensed counseling psychologist with the Sharjah Social Services Department and a member of the British Psychological Society. Specializing in psychotherapy, mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, she is committed to empowering individuals to develop resilience and achieve personal growth through empathetic, client-focused care. Since joining AUS in 2019, she has worked closely with the AUS community—students, faculty and staff—empowering them to navigate life’s challenges and enhance their mental well-being.
Danielle holds a Master of Science from Keele University, UK, and has a wide range of experience supporting individuals in educational and community-based settings. Her approach focuses on integrating therapeutic modalities to foster coping strategies, emotional regulation and improved mental health. She is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and advocating for greater awareness and access to support.
Currently, Danielle is furthering her expertise by pursuing a master’s degree in neuroscience and the psychology of mental health at the University of Warwick. This advanced training deepens her understanding of the neurobiological aspects of mental health, allowing her to offer a more holistic approach to therapy and support.
Suhaila H. Mohammad
Suhaila Mohammad is a skilled social psychotherapist who has received clinical training at Rashid Hospital in Dubai and served as a counselor for over four years at Zayed University. Using an eclectic approach, she integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help her clients.
Suhaila holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychological Studies from the University of Glasgow and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD). She is dedicated to fostering resilience and growth in her clients through compassionate, person-centered care.
Carol Sibanda
Carol Sibanda is registered psychotherapist with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She is also registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) UK as a psychiatric nurse. She is a North Central London (NCL) Systems Leader Fellow in management and leadership.
She has over 20 years’ experience in psychotherapy and mental health. Her experience ranges from providing individual and group therapy. Her modalities of treatment range from psychodynamic psychotherapy, mentalization based treatment (MBT), dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) and group psychotherapy. She specializes in working with personality difficulties, psychosomatic presentations, anxiety, depression and group dynamics.
She holds a Master of Arts in The Foundations of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with the University of Essex, with The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London. She also holds a Higher Education Diploma in Mental Health Nursing with Thames Valley University (now University of West London). Her commitment is to provide evidence-based care to the community.
Inclusive and Culturally Sensitive Support
At UCS, we pride ourselves on providing culturally sensitive counseling services that respect the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our community members.
Contact Us
To schedule a confidential appointment with one of our counselors, please click here.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance.
Administrative Assistant: Farida Gad | [email protected] | +971 6 515 2679
- Monday | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Thursday | 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
