A confidential service free to all City students.
The Counselling Service is a safe place to talk and think about matters that are troubling or distressing you. The members of our team have a lot of experience of working with students. We know that undertaking a degree or training, no matter what stage in your life, can be a momentous and challenging process, . Many students have travelled great distances from their home to come to City, sometimes leaving behind complex or painful family issues. Relationships with other people, personal as well as academic, can add to the challenges of studying.
How to access our service
Over the summer period, beginning Monday 23rd July 2018, all initial consultations must be booked in advance. If you have not used our service before, please complete our counselling registration form as usual, you can then book an appointment by calling us on 020 7040 8094 or emailing the service front desk.
At our daily Intake session, we make it as easy as possible for students to have an initial consultation with a team member. This is a brief session of up to 20 minutes, to let us find out what has brought you to see us and to discuss how we may be able to help. [Please note: We do not provide letters of support for Extenuating Circumstances, following an Initial Consultation.]
To access our service, follow these steps:
- Complete the Student Counselling registration form - this is accessible from your eVision homepage. You can do this on any computer, or complete the form on one of the iPads, in our reception area.
- Attend an Intake session - these run every Monday to Friday, at 1:00 pm. Students are seen, on a first-come-first-served basis, for an Initial Consultation with a member of our team.
- During the Initial Consultation, you will be told about services we can offer you. You will probably then be advised to spend a little time considering the options, before making an appointment for another session.
If you are unable to attend a lunch-time Intake Session, it may be possible to book an appointment for a time that is more convenient for you; however, there is likely to be a delay for such an appointment.
Alternatively, consider using the E-consultation service. For further information please contact our service front desk. Following your initial consultation you may be offered further support.
If you feel the need to speak to someone immediately please see our Crisis and Emergency and Helpline Support pages.
Forms of support
Once you have attended an initial consultation, if you require further support you may be offered one of the following:
- Group therapy
- Brief individual counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy
- Support with referrals to internal and external services
- Workshops and self-help resources
You must be registered with a GP before we can offer you ongoing support. To find your nearest NHS surgery, please visit www.nhs.uk.
We do not provide mental health diagnosis, psychiatric or long-term psychological treatment. We will not provide letters for extenuating circumstances if you are not currently engaged in support with us.
Immediate contact
If you feel the need to speak to someone more immediately please see our Crisis and Emergency and Helpline Support pages.
Confidentiality
All personal information that you share with the Student Counselling & Mental Health Service is considered sensitive under the Data Protection Act (1998). It will remain strictly confidential and will only be disclosed to relevant parties at your request and/or with your knowledge. Student Counselling & Mental Health Service staff attend external supervision and meetings of the City Multidisciplinary Team, similarly bound by confidentiality. The only exception arises where there is concern for the safety of individuals.
The Service is a member of the BACP and observes the BACP Code of Ethics.
