How do I book an appointment?

First, you need to register online. The administration team will contact you to offer an appointment usually on your university email.  In that email they will explain how the service works and how you can be supported. They will book an appointment for you to be assessed in the next available appointment.

How long will it be before I am seen?

You will receive your email offering you an assessment appointment within 5 working days. 

Waiting times depend on many factors, for example: time of year and your availability. Your assessment will be held within 2-3 weeks, and is booked when you register. 

Can I book an appointment for someone else?

It is not possible to book an appointment on behalf of a student – even if you are a family member or close friend. Appointments must be booked directly by the student

We are able to offer you a limited number of appointments and this will include missed sessions and late cancellations.  To avoid forfeiting an appointment please provide 2 working days’ notice if you wish to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

We will always try to reschedule your appointment when you request this – but there may be a delay in offering another appointment during busy periods.

If you miss or do not attend two consecutive appointments, we assume that you no longer wish to receive support and cancel any future sessions.  If this happens for reasons beyond your control and you would like your support to continue please do get in touch with us.

Ethical guidelines

The Counselling and Wellbeing service adheres to the ethical framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the University Mental Health Advisors Network (UMHAN).

Read our confidentiality and data protection statement.

What will my assessment appointment be like?

Our assessment sessions are usually 50 minutes but can be longer particularly as this is a one-off session during which a self-support plan and next steps are agreed.   We are a solution focused support team, and so our aim in that first meeting is to try to help you to resolve the issues you are presenting.  You are likely to be signpost to other services and you may be offered some sessions with one of our Counsellors or Mental Health Advisors.

How long are sessions?

Please check with your practitioner, routine sessions are usually between 20-50 minutes depending on the purpose of the session.  As a guide counselling sessions are usually 50 minutes and wellbeing sessions are usually 30 minutes.  

How many appointments can I have?

Students can register and access the service for short term counselling,  once per academic year.  We offer short-term solution focused support with the goal of enabling you to access your academic commitments here at the university.  Support could be one assessment session with a follow up appointment or a few sessions to help get you through your time here. On average students who are allocated to a therapist/mental health advisor are allocated four sessions.

Are the appointments confidential?

Confidentiality is an important aspect of our service and we will not share what you talk about in our sessions without your consent.  The exception to this is where we believe that you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, in line with the university’s policy on sharing information.  In this situation we would always try to talk with you first to get your consent. 

What are counselling sessions like?

Our practitioners come from different training backgrounds but we all work in a similar ways. Each session lasts 50 minutes during which time your counsellor will listen calmly and empathically, without judgement. You may wish to discuss a wide range of topics, from your relationships, your childhood, your emotions, your thoughts and behaviour, to situations that you find currently find difficult. You may be offered some suggestions about a way forward. Your counselling sessions will take place with the same therapist each week, you will be offered sessions at the same time each week until the completion of the sessions.  Please try to avoid cancelling sessions to ensure that you get the full benefit of counselling.  If you are struggling to attend each week please discuss these difficulties with your counsellor.

What is a mental health appointment like?

Mental Health Advisors (MHAs) similarly come from different training backgrounds. Some are mental health nurses while others are social workers. A mental health advisor appointment will typically include some exploratory work around your current difficulties, perhaps discussing the past if necessary to look at patterns of behaviour. You will work  your MHA to plan actions and practical solutions to help you manage the challenges you are facing. MHA sessions are can be spread over a longer period of time allowing you to arrange your sessions for times when you may most need them across the academic year.

What is a Mental Health Adviser? - YouTube

How am I likely to feel after an appointment?

It's quite common to feel relief at having managed to speak openly perhaps for the first time. You may also feel strong emotions and that a lot has been stirred up inside you. Working on ourselves can mean confronting feelings that we have previously avoided, this may feel uncomfortable.  If you are struggling to attend your sessions for any reason please talk to your practitioner and they can support you with this.

What if I don’t like my practitioner?

Not everybody gets on with everybody else so if you are struggling to open up to one of our practitioners please get in touch and we shall offer to support you with this. 

Where are the appointments held?

We offer in-person appointments in the Carrington Building on Whiteknights campus.  We are also able to offer appointments online via MS Teams.

At the University of Reading we acknowledge that some students may also be staff. Where this is the case we strongly advise that you seek counselling through the staff counselling support function, your GP or local counselling agencies. We adhere to the BACP ethical framework which explicitly mandates that mental health practitioners and counsellors can’t provide counselling to colleagues, friends/family members, or people who have relationships with for ethical reasons.

If you are a member of staff who is looking for counselling support, please contact the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) known as confidential care.

• Please try to be as open and honest as possible, this will enable you to get the maximum from the sessions you have available to you.

• Please be on time for your appointment. Your appointment will finish at the scheduled time, so being on time ensures that you allow yourself access to the maximum support available.
  
  
• To avoid forfeiting an appointment please provide 2 working days’ notice if you wish to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

• If you miss two consecutive appointments, we assume that you no longer wish to receive support and cancel any future sessions – so please keep in touch with us and let us know what’s going on for you.

• Please do not use mobile phones inside the Counselling and Wellbeing area or in your Video sessions. 

• Abusive and violent behaviour will not be tolerated – you will be asked to leave, or the Video/Call appointment will be ended. 

• If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is not appropriate for your session to go ahead.

Can I choose who I see?

After your assessment we match you with the practitioner we feel will best support your needs.  However, we will try to accommodate any requests wherever practicable.  If you wish to work with a particular practitioner you will sometimes have to wait longer for your support to start.

Will I see the same person each time I come for an appointment?

The Head of Service and Senior Counsellor match you with the practitioner that best meets your needs, so in some instances you will not see the practitioner who did your assessment. Once you have been offered ongoing sessions you will be allocated a practitioner who will support you during all of your sessions.

What if I don’t like my practitioner?

We recommend that you tell your practitioner how you feel, as there may be something that needs a different focus. We can only support you if you are fully open and honest. If you still feel unhappy or unable to address these difficulties with your practitioner, please get in touch with our team so that we can book you in to the next available appointments for your remaining sessions (there may be a short waiting period).