What is Counselling?

Counselling is:

• confidential - what you discuss with the counsellor will be kept private
• about exploring any anxiety, dilemmas, problem, feelings concerning you now or in the past
• purposeful
• a voluntary activity - no-one can be 'forced' to undertake counselling

Counselling isn't:

• compulsory
• a social chat
• an emergency service

Counsellors will:

• listen without judging
• accept who you are
• provide emotional support
• help you reach your own decisions
• explore making changes
• help you locate appropriate coping strategies

Counsellors won't:

• make decisions for you
• tell you what to do
• meet up with you socially
• refer to the counselling undertaken in other contexts e.g. if you and the counsellor happen to be in the same meeting or coincide socially professionally

Counselling offers an opportunity to think and talk, in confidence, about difficulties, experiences, feelings, fears, thoughts, anxieties and problems that may be concerning you now or have done in the past. Staff Counselling is available to all members of University staff.