- What is counselling?
- Who are we?
- What do we offer?
- Support Sessions
- Workshop Programme
- Making an appointment
- How to find us / opening times
- Other emergency and support services
- Accessing your Records
- Equality Statement
- Worried about Someone
- What Students say about our Service
- Self-help links, Podcasts and APPS
- Information Handouts
What is counselling?
Counsellors are trained to listen non-judgementally to your worries and problems, to help you understand better what is happening and to then support you in finding ways to improve your situation. Sometimes students find that just talking things through helps get difficulties into perspective.
Many people are nervous at first in what is a new and different environment, but these feelings soon diminish. It can be hard to take that first step, but whatever your problem, however big or small, you will be made welcome here and listened to with respect.
Counselling is available for all students who are experiencing some difficulty or problem in their life and who feel that they cannot for the moment solve this difficulty on their own.
There are many different types of problems for which students seek our help. They can be long-standing problems, such as family difficulties, or past abuse and recent problems to do with academic issues or homesickness and difficult settling in to student life. There can be worries over alcohol or drug use and difficulties with relationships and sexual identity. Some students come to see us with worries over depression, anxiety and other mental health issues and with difficulties in dealing with physical illness.
Counselling is suitable where there is the time to reflect on current difficulties. It is not necessarily appropriate when an emergency response is necessary in a crisis. You will find contact details on our homepage for other services which may help in a crisis. Nonetheless, if you come to us in an emergency, we will always guide you towards other help if we feel you need either different help, or extra support whilst being in counselling.