FITK UIN Jakarta’s "Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah" Provides Safe Space for Student Mental Health Support
FITK Building, UIN Online News — Behind the demands of university life, many students face academic pressure, personal challenges, and social issues that are often difficult to express openly. To address these concerns, the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta has established Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah (Tarbiyah Counseling Corner), a counseling service dedicated to supporting students' mental well-being through accessible and confidential assistance.
Officially launched on July 27, 2023, Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah is located on the fifth floor of the FITK Building and currently serves undergraduate (S1) students within the faculty. The initiative provides a safe and welcoming environment where students can seek guidance for academic, personal, social, and emotional challenges that may affect their university life.
According to Solihin, M.Pd., Head of Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah, the service was designed to provide early intervention for students facing a wide range of difficulties—not only academic performance but also broader issues that influence their learning experience.
"Pojok Curhat was established to support students who need immediate assistance with academic-related challenges. However, academic concerns are not limited to grades alone—they also include personal circumstances that affect students' ability to learn and thrive," he explained.
The center's primary approach is based on Psychological First Aid (PFA), offering initial psychological support before students are referred to professional mental health services when necessary. Counseling is organized around five key areas:
Academic concerns
Sexual violence prevention and response
Career guidance
Personal issues
Social relationships
These services aim to help students navigate challenges while maintaining their academic progress and overall well-being.
Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah offers two counseling formats to ensure greater accessibility. The first is the Counseling Clinic, which provides face-to-face sessions with faculty counselors following an appointment. The second is the Weekly Counseling Session (SKM), conducted online to accommodate students who may feel more comfortable seeking support virtually before attending in-person counseling.
"Our Weekly Counseling Sessions are designed for students who may not yet feel ready to meet a counselor face-to-face. By providing online consultations, we hope to make mental health support more accessible and less intimidating," Solihin said.
The counseling team consists of volunteer faculty members, several of whom have received specialized training in Psychological First Aid (PFA). Although most counselors do not come from clinical psychology backgrounds, they regularly participate in training and collaborate with UIN Jakarta's Center for Gender and Child Studies (PSGA) to ensure appropriate early psychological intervention and referral when needed.
Each counseling session generally lasts around 30 minutes, although the duration may be adjusted according to individual needs. Confidentiality remains a fundamental principle of the service, with every student's personal information and discussions treated with the utmost privacy.
"Professionalism and confidentiality are our priorities. Before each session begins, we explain the counseling guidelines and ensure that students understand their privacy will be fully protected," Solihin emphasized.
Since its establishment, Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah has provided assistance to nearly 100 FITK students. Beyond helping students overcome immediate challenges, the program seeks to cultivate four long-term outcomes: stronger mental resilience, improved academic and extracurricular achievement, better career readiness, and the development of Islamic character and values.
Although the service continues to face challenges, particularly in expanding professional counseling capacity, FITK remains committed to strengthening mental health support on campus. Pojok Curhat Tarbiyah is expected not only to benefit students within the faculty but also to serve as a model for similar counseling initiatives across other faculties at UIN Jakarta, reinforcing the university's commitment to student well-being and holistic education.