University of Chichester Counselling Service
Our Counselling Service is here to try and help you gain understanding and insight into what you may be experiencing.
Counselling provides a safe, impartial and confidential space to explore personal issues and gives you the opportunity to focus on your feelings, experiences and behaviours with a goal of facilitating positive and meaningful change.
What counselling is
The university offers short term counselling with an initial assessment session followed by, in most cases, four subsequent sessions. This is usually enough to help you start moving forward with your life. Depending on availability and personal preference sessions will either be face-to-face, by phone or via MS Teams.
Talking and thinking collaboratively with a professional counsellor often allows for more clarity and new perspectives which can lead to viewing and dealing with things differently. It can help with longstanding concerns, new difficulties or if you simply have a feeling that something ‘isn’t right’.
We all experience difficult times in our lives and each one of us will feel moments of sadness, pain, and isolation. Such emotions are part of the human experience and are usually balanced with other feelings of happiness, wellbeing and contentment.
Sometimes, however, difficult feelings and behaviours can become overwhelming and do not seem to pass with the usual ups and downs of life. It can be a relief to tell someone who is impartial, about difficulties you are struggling with on your own.
Your counsellor will listen and try to understand in a non-judgmental way. Sometimes the counsellor may gently challenge you, but will always respect your values, choices and lifestyle. Counsellors won’t tell you what to do or prescribe medication but can help you start to make sense of difficulties you are having and work with you to identify ways to cope and live which are more helpful.
The University Counselling service provides support for a wide range of emotional and psychological issues including:
- anxiety
- depression
- family concerns
- bereavement
- work and study related problems
- worries about drugs and alcohol
- eating difficulties
- physical or sexual abuse
- Relationship difficulties
To get the most out of therapy, it’s important to have a clear idea of your goals. You'll also need the time and motivation to attend regular sessions.
Criteria for Counselling
The Counselling service is not an emergency service.
To be accepted for counselling, it is crucial for students to be in the right place to benefit from the short-term model of therapy we offer.
Due to the nature and the length of the counselling service provision, this intervention may not be suitable for everyone. In some cases, longer-term and/or more specialised therapy will be recommended as a result of your initial assessment with a counsellor. We recognise that when you are in distress, it may be upsetting not to be able to access the service, but we will do our best to signpost you appropriately.
Self-referral for counselling
If, after reading the above information you would like to refer yourself for counselling, please complete the online self-referral form. This will automatically be sent to the Counselling Service who will contact you to arrange an assessment.
Please note that during busy periods there may be a waiting list for counselling, which is allocated on a first come first serve basis.
If you would like support but decide that short term talking therapy is not right for you at this time, please book yourself into a Wellbeing Advice and Guidance appointment to discuss alternative support.
Our Counsellors
All our counsellors are fully qualified members of the BACP and adhere to BACP ethical guidelines.
All counsellors are committed to practising counselling in ways that are inclusive, accessible and affirming to students from all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicity, beliefs, sexualities, abilities, gender identities and socio-economies. The Service promotes and enhances inclusivity through ongoing training commitments.
