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FAQs about the Counselling Service

What kinds of services do we provide?
What are my rights as a client of the counselling service?
Who are the Counselling Service team?
How do I make an appointment to see a counsellor?
What about confidentiality?
Why use the Counselling Service?
What kinds of things do students come to see us about?
Self help resources?
Referral options?
Should I see a counsellor?
Where is the Counselling Service located?

Our Aims
Our Mission
Our Values


What kinds of services do we provide?

The Counselling Services provide many opportunities for students to develop and enhance their psychological skills and general resilience. There are many ways that these skills give students an advantage in their current studies and in their career preparation.

Via Counselling Services students are able to access free and confidential services including:

  • individual counselling
  • specific programs, workshops and seminars for skills development
  • self help resources so that students can help themselves at a time that suits them to information and resources that promote wellbeing and adjustment to university life and academic expectations.

For UNSW staff we also provide services that assist you in your engagement with students. These services include:

  • consultation services on matters related to specific students or general student issues
  • training programs for initiatives such as the Peer Mentor Scheme or Campus Care Program which includes our Students At Risk seminar and Mental Health First Aid Workshops
  • specific workshops for your Faculty/School students can be tailored to suit specific purposes and groups of students. These workshops are usually offered in scheduled class time.

If any member of staff would like confidential personal counselling they may contact the UNSW Employee Assistance Program provider, Davidson Trahaire on 1300 360 364.

We also have a team of psychologists who provide the professional expertise to all the programs and services.

All the counsellors are registered psychologists with postgraduate training and an interest in student well being and development. As a team we are dedicated to providing a high quality professional service for the students and the whole UNSW community.

Psychologist Intern Program:

Postgraduate students in counselling and clinical psychology can apply to undertake their field placement experience under the supervision of our experienced counsellors. To find out more about this opportunity contact the Intern Program Coordinator on 9385 541

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How do I make an appointment to see a counsellor?

We have offices at Kensington and COFA campuses.

Call 02-9385 5418 to make an appointment at the Kensington Campus and 02-9385 0733 at the COFA campus.

You can also Drop-In to the Kensington Campus to discuss the best way to get a first appointment.

Location:

Kensington Campus - Level 2, East Wing, Quadrangle Building.

COFA Campus - Ground Floor, G block, Room 05.

What about confidentiality?

All the personal counselling we provide is confidential - for more detail see http://www.counselling.unsw.edu.au/about_us/your_rights.htm

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Why use the Counselling Service?

Here's some of the reasons we think are good ones - why not see if you 'qualify' for any of these!

Students may want:

  • someone to talk to who's professional, confidential and separate from their friends/family
  • help with a tricky problem
  • advice or information about something to do with uni, or something personal
  • to read some self-help information or books that we recommend
  • to obtain short term counselling because something is upsetting them in some way
  • to enhance life skills such as how to communicate more effectively or explore techniques for problem solving
  • to further develop their leadership skills, psychological resilience skills or EQ (emotional intelligence)
  • moral support in attempting something challenging
  • information about what other services are available to them
  • a chance to volunteer for programs like the Peer Mentor scheme and gain valuable experience and skills for their career and employment prospects
  • or something else - in which case, just ask if we can help!

Staff may want:

  • guidance in how to best advise a particular student
  • a workshop or seminar for a particular group of students
  • information to pass on to students about referral options
  • to discuss ideas for a school or faculty based program
  • a Campus Care program workshop designed to help staff in dealing with students at risk
  • an Academic Advisor training workshop
  • or something else - again, please ask

What kinds of things do students come to see us about?

Students use us for a variety of reasons. Everyone finds themselves in difficult circumstances at some time in their lives. When students first start at university they commonly encounter a number of issues which can cause distress:

  • academic or administrative problems
  • choosing the program that's right for you
  • study difficulties
  • making the transition from school or work to uni
  • balancing work, study and life

On top of this, students may have personal difficulties such as:

  • relationship problems with peers
  • family issues
  • difficulties managing emotions
  • problems with anxiety, stress, shyness, depression, low self esteem or other concerns that make life or study harder than it needs to be.

Our counsellors are well equipped to provide student with skills that enable students to help themselves in difficult situtions. Our psychologists help students to bring effective thinking and behaviour skills and other personal resources to the fore to manage many common and uncommon problems. Lerning to apply psychological skills often makes for a greater feeling and experience of achievement and satisfaction.

Students also come to see a psychologist to focus on positive areas of personal development and life skills which can greatly increase enjoyment, performance and satisfaction with uni and other important areas of their lives.

Development of skills like:

  • efficient time management
  • communicating and relating skills
  • how to grow your own self esteem
  • creative thinking and insight
  • developing the researcher in you

can make a big difference to the experience of academic life.

Self help resources?

Don't forget to check out our collection of online self help information sheets and our resource library of self help books which are on display here in our Self Help Area. We are currently building our collections so let us know if you have a good suggestion or if what you're looking for is not there.

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Referral options?

Sometimes we may also refer students to other services either within the University (student support services) or out in the community (such as specialist private psychologists or counsellors or community services).

So as you can see, we do lots of different things in order to help students have a great experience at UNSW!

Should I see a counsellor?

Sometimes students are unsure about whether a visit to the Counselling Service to see one of the psychologist is the best course of action in their circumstances. If this is you, we suggest you give us a try anyway! Why not make an appointment or come to drop-in , talk to one of the team and find out for yourself.

Most times within the first appointment you and your counsellor would discuss what might be a useful next step. It's up to you to decide whether you think the counsellor can be of any further help to you after that initial session or whether you might prefer to tackle the issue on your own or see someone else. Or you might choose a combination of these approaches.

And if we cannot help you we can usually point you in the right direction of someone who can. Of course if you have friends and family you feel you can talk to we highly recommend doing this as well. Finding someone who will listen to you or asking for help from someone you trust can be a much greater sign of inner strength than trying to do it all yourself all of the time!

Where is the Counselling Service located?

On the College of Fine Arts (CoFA) campus we have a counselling office on the ground floor of G Block, Room 05, Tel 9385 0733.

On main campus at Kensington we are just off the Basser steps on Level 2 of the East Wing of the Quadrangle Building. Have a look at the map or give us a call on 02-9385 5418 if you can't find us!

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Our Aims

We provide counselling and personal development opportunities for students. We actively promote the overall mental and physical health and well being of our students to help them get the most out of their time at UNSW, participate fully in campus life and intelligently prepare for life outside of uni. We aim to consult with and support schools, faculties and academic and administrative staff in the very important job of helping their students.

Our Mission

To provide high quality, cost effective and relevant services free of charge to UNSW students and assist students to find their full academic potential.

To assist the University to achieve its strategic objectives through program planning, and development, consultation with Faculties and administrative units and participation in the implementation and evaluation of student support strategies, policies and programs.

Our Values

  • Values of professionalism (especially with regard to empathy for the student, both collectively and individually), ethical behaviour, ongoing professional development and learning are embraced by the staff of the Counselling Service
  • Recognition of the creative power of the individual, and of cultural, social and religious diversity within communities
  • Recognition of the contributions of staff in both individual and team contexts
  • Respect for the process of self-actualisation (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_actualization) and the capacity of the individual for independent learning
  • Commitment to the principles of continuous improvement.
  • Accountability and transparency in the workplace
  • Recognition of the creative, social and educational impact of the UNSW community within society
  • Accessibility and flexibility in higher education
  • Supporting equity and access initiatives
  • Creativity and innovation in service design and delivery
  • Maintenance of emotional and physical health

 

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UNSW COUNSELLING SERVICE