Counselling is an opportunity to discuss issues that are concerning or distressing you in a safe and confidential environment. It is an active process which gives you the time and encouragement to explore your concerns more fully.
This can help you to see your problem from a different perspective, and to increase your awareness of yourself, your situation and the choices open to you. Counselling is not advice, but it is about working with you to find the best ways of understanding and resolving the issues which have been troubling you.
Coming to see a counsellor can sometimes seem like a big step to take, but there are times when all of us may need the support of someone else for things we are struggling with, and it is a sign of strength to recognise this.
The Counselling Service is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday throughout the year, except when the university is closed in the Christmas vacation. Counsellors meet with students on an appointment only basis, and the standard length of an appointment is 50 minutes.
You can make an appointment with the Counselling Service:
Your first appointment with a counsellor is intended to provide information which will help you in deciding whether to opt for ongoing sessions and in guiding allocation decisions. We aim to offer a first appointment as soon as possible after you have contacted us - hopefully within ten working days. You will be offered ongoing appointments as soon as possible thereafter.
Our service is confidential. Counsellors will not pass on personal information about students who use the service (clients) to anyone outside the Counselling Service, subject to the following exceptions:
In any of these circumstances the counsellor will normally encourage the client to pass on the information to the relevant agency/person. If this is not going to happen or the danger/crisis is acute the counsellor may pass on the information directly.
All counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their Ethical Framework. The framework is available on BACP's website.
