Below is a list of the most common questions students ask when considering using the service. However, if you have a query that is not covered here please feel free to call us on 0121 414 5130.
The decision to enter into counselling is entirely yours. Your GP/tutor can refer you to us or recommend that you register but you are not obligated to make an appointment if you feel that it is not appropriate for you.
No. Some students are referred by their GP or personal/welfare tutor but this is not necessary, students can self-refer to the service and in fact the majority of students do self-refer.
Yes. Although 3 Elms Road has a shared reception Disability and Learning Support are a separate service to Counselling and Guidance so you will need to complete a different registration pack.
Yes. In term-time the service offers evening appointments: Monday and Thursday evening until 8pm, to students who are unable to attend during the regular 9am-5pm opening hours.
Your assessment appointment will be made with the first available counsellor. You will then be allocated to a counsellor who you will then see for your subsequent appointments.
The service remains open during the vacation but closes for lunch from 12.30pm – 1.30pm. No evening appointments are offered during the vacation.
Whilst we treat all requests sympathetically and will endeavour to meet your request, it may not always be possible to see a specific counsellor. You should be reassured, however, that all counsellors are BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited and will deal with any issue sensitively.
It is extremely rare that we would ever disclose information to a third party without your consent and it would be with the intention of protecting you or another person from harm. You should also be aware that if your tutor referred you directly to the service, then he/she would only be informed if you did NOT attend for your first appointment.
The Counselling Service can offer supporting evidence for students who have submitted mitigations form to their tutor. However, in order to do so we need to have had the opportunity to work with you for a minimum of 1 counselling session after your assessment. Usually, in order for anything we write to be of use to your department, we would need to see you for around 3 sessions following your assessment. In order to for us to supply supporting evidence you will need to complete a form and bring it in to the service for your counsellor to complete their part. You can obtain the form on the Student Conduct and Appeals webpages.
Yes. Counsellors often help students with academic related anxiety including exam stress. We also run an Exam Walk-In during the entire summer exam period in which students can come into the service at any time during the day on a drop-in basis – no appointment is required.
Unfortunately we are only able to provide counselling for fully registered students. However, we would advise anyone thinking of taking a leave of absence to make an appointment to see one of our Support Coordinators, who will be able to explore with you possible support options whilst you are away from the university.
If you are not happy with your counsellor you can inform reception and every effort will be made to reallocate you to a different counsellor. However, please be aware that, especially during mid-term, the service can be very busy so it may take some time to receive an appointment with another counsellor.
To attend a workshop it is not necessary to register with the service or see a counsellor.
In order to attend a group you will first need to have a short appointment with the facilitator of the group so that we can establish whether it is right for you. This will be arranged when you sign up.
For more information on the workshops and groups we offer go to http://www.as.bham.ac.uk/study/support/counsell/workshops.shtml
No – Counselling is essentially a 1-1 activity between you and your counsellor, allowing you space and privacy to explore any personal issues or problems you may be experiencing. If anyone accompanies you to the service they are most welcome to wait in reception.
Yes – if you explain your concerns at reception we can book an appointment for you to see one of our Student Support Coordinators who will be able to advise you how to manage the situation. If appropriate, we can also see groups of students together if, for example, you are having problems settling in or getting along together.
Counselling is not a crisis response service and we try to offer you your first appointment within 7-10 days of registration, during which time you may also reflect on ways of managing your issues/difficulties. However, from time to time incidents occur where you may feel you need to see someone more urgently, and we do reserve a limited number of same day 10 minute appointments in order to help you focus and prioritise.
Please direct any complaints you may have about the service to the Director of the Service:
Ms Jean Turner, Director of Counselling and Guidance, 3 Elms Road, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT.
