Counselling

What is Counselling?

Through counselling, you will be able to explore aspects of your life and your feelings about it, and talk things through freely and openly in a way that is rarely possible with even the best friends and family. The counsellor will neither judge nor give advice, but will guide you to understanding and help you to make changes in your life.

People come to counselling with a wide range of difficulties, including, but not limited to:

• anxiety/stress/trauma,
• bereavement and loss,
• coping with exams and work pressure,
• depression,
• drug and alcohol problems,
• eating disorders,
• relationship problems,
• self-esteem,
• self-harm,
• sexual identity

Counselling offered at the Centre for Wellbeing is time-limited.

What can I expect if I come for counselling?

Initially you will be offered a fifty minute assessment for counselling session, where you can explore whether counselling will be right for you.

If you decide that ongoing counselling would be helpful, you’ll be offered a certain number of sessions. Usually a focus for these sessions will be agreed with your counsellor. They are mostly one-to-one, though we do also offer some couples counselling sessions.

Sessions are held at the Centre for Wellbeing.

All of our services at the Centre for Wellbeing are free to all students and staff of the University, and confidential.

We are committed to working with issues of difference and diversity and our counsellors are trained to work with people from many different cultures and backgrounds.

How do I book an initial session?

To book a counselling assessment please contact our Centre for Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Kate Norman, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday in person or by telephone on 01483 689498 (internal extension 9498). Enquiries can also be made by email on k.norman@surrey.ac.uk or centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk