Our Counselling Service

What is counselling?

Counselling is a talking therapy which gives you the opportunity to explore issues which are causing concern or distress. The USP Counselling Service can give you the space to find a new perspective on a problem or think about options for change. We don’t tell you what to do but we will listen to you and help you find a way forward.

Common concerns that individuals seek counselling for include:

• Study, work and career issues
• Transition from secondary school to university life
• Adjusting to new cultural and social environments
• Communication and relationship difficulties
• Financial worries
• Peer pressure
• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Grief or bereavement
• Disasters and traumatic experiences
• Identity issues

What will my counselling consultation be like?

When you attend your appointment – either in person or online – your Counsellor will begin by making you comfortable. You’ll have the opportunity to share what has brought you to counselling. If possible, we recommend identifying one primary concern to discuss beforehand, to make valuable use of your time. Your Counsellor will listen, ask clarifying questions and work collaboratively with you to understand your feelings and experiences. They may suggest practical strategies or techniques that could help, or simply offer a listening and understanding ear. What we want from counselling may vary, so it could be useful to identify this before your consultation.

How long will my counselling consultation last?

Each consultation lasts 50 minutes and begins and ends at the scheduled times. If you arrive late, your appointment will still end at the planned time. Arriving more than 20 minutes late may result in the consultation being rescheduled, as there may not be enough time for meaningful work to occur.

What happens after my counselling appointment?

We encourage you to take some time to reflect on the work you and your Counsellor have done together in your counselling consultation. There could be some ideas or techniques for you to put into practice, which might help you to better manage your issue. You may want to take some action regarding your situation. You might realise you’re able to think about things differently, once a little time has passed.

How many appointments can I book?

We offer you one appointment at a time, as a single consultation may be all that you need, but we also do not limit the number of consultations you can access, for as long as they are helpful to you. Some students or members of staff come to see us only once, some come for several consultations once a week, fortnight or once every few weeks. We aim to be available when you feel the need to talk.

Can I cancel my counselling appointment?

If you wish to cancel an appointment, please give us as much notice as you can by contacting our office via phone or email. We have limited counselling spaces and we’d ask that you let us know if you cannot attend so that we can offer your space to another student or member of staff. If your counsellor needs to cancel your consultation, we will contact you on your preferred contact method as soon as possible before the time of your appointment.

Privacy and Confidentiality

The USP Counselling Centre respects your privacy in line with the USP Student Privacy Policy and related university policies. Your counselling consultations are confidential and will not appear in your academic or medical records. To ensure you receive the best possible support, Counsellors may review their work with a qualified external supervisor. This process is also confidential. Consultation details remain private unless we are seriously concerned about your safety or the safety of others. In such cases, we may need to inform relevant professionals to reduce risks and we will discuss this with you whenever possible. Occasionally, legal requirements such as court orders may compel us to share information. In such situations, we will involve you in the process whenever possible.

Urgent Care

The USP Counselling Centre operates primarily through scheduled appointments and may have limited capacity to address urgent or crisis situations. However, we evaluate urgent care needs on a case-by-case basis, considering:

1. The nature and urgency of the request.
2. The availability of a Counsellor at the time.
3. The appropriateness of our service for the situation.

If you live on campus and require immediate or after-hours assistance, we recommend that you contact University Security on 3232211, 9380035 or 720120, Ambulance/Fire on 910 and Police Emergency Services on 917.