Counselling

People talk to Counsellors about whatever is of concern to them in their lives, which may be preventing them from being how they want to be.

"My counsellor has always been patient and understanding. She has certainly helped me through a difficult time in my life, for which I am very grateful"

Counsellors can:

• Help people explore whatever concerns them; make sense of their world; identify patterns of thought and behaviour and, if necessary, change patterns which have outlived their usefulness.
• Help people come to terms with past experiences, seek new perspectives and alternative strategies for living.
• Offer the opportunity to explore and express your thoughts and feelings without criticism or judgement, and at your own pace. You decide what is talked about and your concerns are the focus of attention.

Your counsellor will not tell you what to do.

What to expect from our Counsellors

If, after attending a STAR appointment, you are referred for short-term counselling at the university, you will be invited to an initial session with your Counsellor. During this initial appointment, you and your Counsellor will clarify the counselling goal you want to work on and develop a plan of support that may include self-help resources, external sources of help and/or individual Counselling.

In normal circumstances, anything that is said in counselling is confidential, and nothing will be revealed to anyone outside the C&MH Service without your permission. On rare occasions, breaking confidentiality is considered when there is a potentially serious risk of harm to yourself or others, but even in such circumstances, your counsellor would normally try to speak with you first before speaking to anyone else. The counsellors provide further information about this policy when you make an appointment and at the start of your first session. Please ask if you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality.

The University of Worcester Student Counselling Service is an Accredited Service of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and as such adheres to the standards and ethics of the BACP as laid out in their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.