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Counselling
The service provides professional counselling to individual students free of charge. Fully qualified and experienced Counsellors are available at each site.
Access to the service varies in order to best meet the needs of each campus. Sometimes it is appropriate to refer students to other sources of specialist help, either internally within the University (for example to welfare, disability or special needs provision) or outside agencies (such as your doctor).
Counsellors abide by the code of practice and ethics of BACP, BPS and UKCP.
What is counselling? How can it help?
Friends and family can be supportive during difficult times, however, they may have problems of their own. They may not have the time to help or we may not want to share our most intimate thoughts and feelings with them. It is at such time that it can help to talk things over in confidence, with an understanding and objective outsider.
Counselling can help you to express your thoughts and feelings. The Counsellor will try to help you to explore and understand your difficulties in greater depth. This can help clarify things and help you to make informed decisions or changes in your life. You will be encouraged to take responsibility in making your own decisions.
Counselling provides:
- Time to talk
- Freedom to explore
- Space to make decisions
Counselling could be helpful if:
- You feel confused and powerless, unsure what action to take
- You know what you want to do but can't see a way forward
- You are caught up in a vicious circle of thoughts, feelings or behaviours
- You are having difficulty managing events in your life
"A problem shared is a problem halved."
We all experience problems some time in our lives. Everyone feels worried, anxious or depressed every now and then. They are normal part of life, and we get over them. Many of us manage life's ups and downs by talking to someone, but sometimes we may not want to "burden someone else with my problems". A problem shared is often a problem halved.
Friends and family can be supportive in difficult times. However, they may have problems of their own; they may not have the time; we may not want to share intimate thoughts and feelings with them. It is at such time that it can help to talk things over in confidence with an understanding and objective outsider.
What sort of things can you talk about?
Students use the Counselling Service for all sorts of reasons, from issues related to their studies through to more personal concerns. Whatever the issues, we will listen without judging and take them seriously.
Some of the issues brought to us are:
- homesickness, difficulties settling into a new way of life, loneliness
- pressure of work and meeting deadlines
- anxiety
- depression
- family, relationship difficulties
- bereavement, loss or trauma
- lack of confidence, low self esteem
- physical and/or sexual abuse
- eating difficulties
- drugs, alcohol problems
- overwhelming feelings such as sadness, anger, panic
Even if you are unsure whether a counsellor is the best person to help you, you are welcome to make an appointment and talk about your needs. If the counsellor cannot help, s/he usually knows someone who can.
How long does Counselling take?
This depends ... on you, your counsellor and your concerns
You will be offered an initial consultation with the Counsellor to discuss your needs, how counselling might be able to help and decide how to proceed. It may take only a few weekly sessions to deal with a specific issue or longer to make broader changes to your life. Sometimes people find that a single visit gives sufficient help.
Individual counselling sessions last for fifty minutes and are usually held at the same time each week. It may be possible to work more flexibly but this will need to be agreed in advance with your Counsellor. The Student Counselling service is resourced to provide short term counselling (up to a maximum of seven sessions) but may be able to offer additional sessions in some circumstances or suggest alternatives for longer term or more specialist sources if appropriate.
At busier times of year when there is high demand for counselling, there may be a waiting list so do contact us as soon as possible.
We are happy to talk over any concern — nothing is too trivial!
Confidentiality
Helps provide a safe environment in which to talk
Confidentiality is taken seriously and is central to the counselling relationship. We offer a confidential service in so far as it is commensurate with existing legislation.
Counsellors will not pass on information about you to anyone - family, friends, doctor, tutors or other parts of the University without your permission.
The only reason someone else might be involved, would be in an exceptional situation when there are serious concerns about your safety or the safety of others. However, all efforts will be made to discuss with you beforehand.
Contact us
Canterbury - Student Counsellor
Karen Savage (Mon, Tues & Thurs)
01227 817387
ksavage.c1@ucreative.ac.uk
Epsom - Student Counsellors
Dawn Ashdown Harris
(Mon, Tues & Weds)
Heather Walker
(Thurs & Fri)
Room 04 (next to medical room)
Ground Floor
Student Development Services
Tel: 01372 202440 (confidential voicemail)
Email: epsomcounselling@ucreative.ac.uk
For further information see Introduction to Counselling . To arrange an appointment please complete a Counselling Request this can be dropped into the mailbox, delivered in person to the Student Development Services reception or sent by email. Once registered we'll contact you as soon as possible to arrange a time to meet.
Farnham - Student Counsellors
Ellen Evans (Mon & Weds)
eevans1@ucreative.ac.uk
Clare Pointon (Mon, Tues & Fri)
cpointon@ucreative.ac.uk
Sissel Marti (Thurs)
smarti@ucreative.ac.uk
Counsellors are available every weekday for consultations with students which will be followed up with appointments as necessary.
Call into Student services (or ring 01252 892614) to make the initial appointment, ring 01252 892618 (confidential voice mail)
Maidstone - Student Counsellor
Christine Crosbie (Thurs & Fri)
Room SO12 (on the way to the library)
01622 620122
ccrosbie@ucreative.ac.uk
Eszter Zaborsky (Weds) sessional Counsellor
ezaborszky.t1@ucreative.ac.uk
Counsellor on Associate Placement Laura Maclaren (Fri).
Rochester - Student Counsellors
Janet Ditchburn (Mon, Tues & Thurs)
01634 888768
jditchburn@ucreative.ac.uk
Karen Savage (Fri am)
ksavage.c1@ucreative.ac.uk
Counsellor on Associate Placement Karen Ashby (Weds).
Useful Organisations
Al-Anon (Family Support)
Tel: 020 7403 0888
www.al-anon.alateen.org
Alcoholics Anonymous
24 hour helpline: 0845 769 7555 (charged at local call rates)
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
B EAT Beating Eating Disorders
Information and help on all aspects of eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, binge eating disorder and related eating disorders.
Helpline
0845 634 1414
help@b-eat.co.uk
Youthline (up to and including 18 years of age)
0845 634 7650
fyp@b-eat.co.uk
www.b-eat.co.uk
Brook Advisory Centre
Tel: 0800 0185023
www.brook.org.uk
Childline
Tel: 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk
Cornerstone (Alcohol & Drug Information & Advisory Service)
Tel: 01622 690944
Cruse (Bereavement)
Help line 0870 1671677
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Depression Alliance
Tel: 020 7633 0557
www.depressionalliance.org
Family Planning Association
Tel: 020 7837 4044
www.fpa.org.uk
Gay & Lesbian Switchboard
Tel: 020 7837 7324
www.llgs.org.uk
KCA (Kent Council on Addiction)
Tel: 01227 454740
www.kca.org.uk
Medway Addiction Centre
Tel: 01634 830114
National AIDS Helpline
Tel: 0800 567123 open 24 hours, 7 days a week
National Drugs Helpline
Tel: 0800 776600
www.talktofrank.com
One in Four
One in Four is a user-led mental health magazine and a useful resource for students. The Autumn 2009 issue includes a feature article University Challenges - get through university without losing your head. http://www.oneinfourmag.org/
Relate
Tel: 01227 766094 — Canterbury
Tel: 01372 722976 — Epsom
Tel: 01252 324679 — Farnham
Tel: 01892 529927 — Maidstone
Tel: 01634 846914 — Medway
www.relate.org.uk
Samaritans
Tel: 0845 7909090 — Head Office
Tel: 01227 457777 — Canterbury
Tel: 01372 375555 — Leatherhead
Tel: 01622 674444/5 — Maidstone
Tel: 01634 730981 — Medway
www.samaritans.org.uk
Students Against Depression
The site has been developed in consultation with students who have been affected by depression, low mood or suicidal thoughts. Many of their stories and suggestions are included on the site, there is also a blogring on overcoming depression.
Includes information and explanation on how depression works, detailed self-help advice and an honest evaluation of the range of professional and other sources of help available see: www.studentdepression.org
Surrey Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (SADAS)
Tel: 01483 590150
www.sadas.org.uk
The Terence Higgins Trust (HIV/AIDS)
314-320 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP
Helpline: 0845 12 21 200
Open M-F 10am-10pm, weekends noon-6pm.
email: info@tht.org.uk
www.tht.org.uk