We offer all students currently enrolled at UCA the opportunity of receiving some counselling support during their studies. We offer a range of services including:  

• Short term individual counselling   
• Group workshops on various topics  
• Art Therapy groups  

We offer an initial assessment to any student who is referred to us following a UCA wellbeing appointment. Please note that we operate a single point of access, so students cannot refer themselves directly to counselling.    

If ongoing therapeutic support is appropriate, we may offer you a contract of counselling with us. In some cases, we may refer you to another UCA service or for external support. We offer in-person sessions on campus or online sessions via Teams.  At certain times of the year, we may operate waiting lists for ongoing counselling due to high demand.   

As we are not a crisis service, we’re unable to offer emergency support at any time it is needed. We are unable to offer support for mitigation or appeals when a student has not been engaged in using our services.  

Your assessment session is a chance for you to begin to explore your situation with us. It lasts about one hour and is a space for us to decide together whether counselling is appropriate at this time. You will also be given ample opportunity to ask any questions you may have about therapy at UCA. 

If counselling is offered, we will agree how many sessions we are able to offer and when it will happen. If counselling is not appropriate, we will explain why, and will refer you to services that would more likely fit your needs at the time.  

We ask that you provide contact details of your GP before counselling begins; it is a requirement that you are registered with a GP for the duration of your counselling contract. Your GP has overall care for your wellbeing, and it is essential you are registered in case you need support during or after your counselling contract is completed.

Ongoing counselling sessions last approximately one hour each and usually take place at the same time and on the same day of the week with the same counsellor on campus or online. Most students attend weekly sessions but there is some flexibility depending on your needs and our availability. 

If for any reason you are unable to attend, please contact the service to cancel in advance, giving as much notice as possible. If you do not attend an appointment without previously contacting us, this will count as a missed session and be taken from your allowance. If your counsellor cancels an appointment for any reason, this will not count against your agreed contract.

Personal data and information you share with us will be processed in line with the University’s Data Protection Policy and relevant Privacy Notices. Private and sensitive information will be subject to additional consent to share protocols, and we will also work within the terms of the Academic Services Confidentiality Statement.

All counsellors are required to undertake supervision by an external, independent supervisor who provides professional support regarding the counsellor’s clinical work. 

There are some circumstances when remote counselling may not be appropriate for you. During your assessment with a student counsellor, we will discuss your suitability and if we feel online counselling is not appropriate, we will explore other options with you. 

If you do not have a suitable device or a private space to access online counselling, we can arrange for you to use a room on campus and computer equipment if needed. If you have any difficulties using any of the formats available, please let us know so that we can find a way to support you according to your needs. 

Before any counselling begins, we will ask you to provide details of your emergency contact(s) and your GP surgery name, address and phone number. This is to ensure we can get help to you quickly in the case of an emergency.

To protect your privacy and confidentiality, please think about your surroundings. You need to be in a private, quiet space with no distractions or interruptions and where you cannot be overheard. It is not possible to provide counselling to you if others are present or if you are in a public space.   

It is important to be fully focused on the counselling session in progress so please do not perform other tasks during your appointment. Please also turn off notification alerts on your device.   

If you are on video, please wear appropriate clothing as you would if you attended your counselling session in person.   

The University’s normal Policies and Procedures apply during all online counselling sessions as well as on university premises. Please do not attend any sessions under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs. 

If you are unable to log into an online video call, please email your counsellor directly to let them know so they can advise on how to proceed. If either party experiences technical difficulties during a video/online session, your counsellor will try ringing your phone on the number you have provided on MyRecords. If re-connection is not possible, and you cannot be reached by phone call then another appointment will be scheduled when a time slot is available for you. 

You must not record any telephone or online sessions with your counsellor unless agreed in writing beforehand. Please do not share any personalised material, including written exchanges between yourself and your counsellor, with others.

Allow yourself some time to reflect on what you have discussed and the feelings you are left with. Have some space to relax and ready yourself for what lies ahead during the rest of the day and week. Focus on your self-care and wellbeing; you may want to journal, exercise, eat a healthy meal and take a break after your online counselling session before continuing your day.