General information
| The Counselling Service provides professional counselling to all locally enrolled students of the University. Both local and International students are able to access the workshop and seminar programs provided through out semester. The Counselling Service is open throughout the year, and can be accessed Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm. Some after hours appointments are available. Phone: 9351 2228 to make an appointment. When is counselling available? What sort of issues can we help you with? |
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All currently enrolled students of the University of Sydney are eligible to use the Counselling Service. Local students can access individual counselling and group workshops. International students can enrol in workshops and seminars.
International students can seek individual counselling and assistance from the International Students Support Unit: 9351 4749
University staff can seek assistance from the Staff Support Development Unit.
The Counselling Service is open throughout the year, and can be accessed Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm. Some after hours appointments are available.
There are two avenues open to students and staff:
Booked appointment: a 50-minute appointment can be made in advance between 9am and 5pm weekdays. After hours appointments are available. You should expect to be able to book an appointment within 5 days most of the time.
Walk-in: a 20-25 minute appointment designed to meet the needs of students in an emergency situation or a situation that requires brief intervention.
To make an appointment at the Camperdown Campus phone 93512228; at the Cumberland Campus phone 93519638.
Sessions are free. If you cannot attend a booked appointment, please ring so that we can reallocate the session.
Counsellors can help you to deal effectively with various situations and crises that you may encounter at this stage of your life, as you progress through university. For example, we can help you:
- determine priorities, and make decisions
- manage stress to comfortable levels
- clarify course choices and options
- clarify thoughts about dropping out
- work through 'transition to university' issues
- express painful feelings associated with work-related, personal or social concerns, e.g. self-esteem; sexual issues
- deal with unwanted behaviours, e.g. substance abuse; eating disorders
- understand and deal with major mental health concerns, e.g. depression, anxieties, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks
- deal with relationship issues
- deal with a traumatic experience and its consequences
- in appropriate circumstances, by providing documentation for Special Consideration
- deal with grief/bereavement issues
The nature and purpose of therapy will differ according to the needs of the client and the psychological orientation of the Counsellor. The Counsellor will explain what therapy involves, how many sessions may be needed, and what outcomes can be expected. This process is negotiated during the initial session. Confidentiality issues are also discussed during this session. Sometimes counselling can arouse strong feelings or unpleasant memories, but benefits may include gaining greater self-awareness and mastering the problem, an improved ability to cope with academic pressures and an increased ability to cope more effectively with life in general. Your commitment to counselling is crucial for success. It is important to be active, and to be open with your counsellor, and to work responsibly towards agreed goals. Additional effort outside the counselling session may include thinking about issues raised in the session, monitoring your behaviours, working on particular tasks such as practising a new skill, reading a book, or recording thoughts. Sometimes your counsellor may consider that another professional would be better able to help you. In such cases, a referral to another counsellor or to an external professional or agency, will be suggested. The counsellor will assist you with this process.
This is a complex question, largely dependant on the nature of the presenting problem. The average number of consultations is about three, however some students need more sessions.
Counsellors follow the Code of Ethical Conduct as set out by the NSW Psychologists Registration Board and the Code of Ethical Conduct of the Australian Psychological Society. Information about clients who seek counselling, the nature of the service provided, and the content of the counselling sessions, will not be disclosed without the written permission of the client. Exceptions to this rule only occur in the following circumstances:
- when the counsellor judges that not to disclose information would result in clear danger to the client or to others;
- where reporting of information is required by law; and
- where client files are subpoenaed by a court of law.
Psychologists must make and keep adequate records. These should be accurate records of the interaction between the client and the counsellor. Client files serve to clearly remind the Counsellor of client details; to document the client's contact with the Service; and to collect basic statistics of Counselling Service trends in which the client is unidentifiable. The storage and management of client files conforms to the relevant legislation and professional guidelines. We are required to keep these records for seven years, or until the student attains the age of 25 years where the student was less than 18 years at the time of the last recorded entry. After this time records are confidentially disposed of. This is in accordance with the State Records Act, 1998, and University policy. These files are stored in a secure compactus. They are not part of your University records.
The Counselling Service offers workshops for students each semester, and on request, to Faculties, Residential Colleges and other University constituencies. Workshops are of fixed duration, and usually of a structured nature. The student program offers an opportunity to develop generic life skills that will help students achieve their potential both at university and later in life. Topics include stress management, exam anxiety, getting organised, communication skills, relaxation skills, and improving relationships. See our web page for workshops on offer each semester, as well as for times and dates. www.usyd.edu.au/su/counsel/ To register for workshops contact our receptionist on: 93512228. It is best to book, however, you may be able to check in on the day.
Workshops are offered from time to time at the Cumberland Campus. These will be advertised well ahead of time.
While there is no substitute for direct counselling, the Counselling Service and Fisher Library can recommend some useful books on issues of concern, e.g. anger and jealousy; relationships; study skills; friendship and loneliness; sexual problems; mental health issues; life crises; separation and divorce; conflict resolution; self-esteem; and family relationships. The Counselling Service website also has some brief on-line help material for students and staff.
You can talk or write to the Head of the Counselling Service. If this avenue has returned an unsatisfactory response, you can contact the Director of Student Services or, if appropriate, the Staff and Student Equal Opportunity Unit.
Anything you have read on this page may be followed up with your counsellor who will be happy to discuss any questions you have.