About the Centre

We have a staff team of professionally trained and qualified counsellors who are used to working with students experiencing a wide variety of difficulties. However, there will be some instances where counselling at this Centre will not be appropriate or may not be helpful. In such instances we can signpost you to, and sometimes liaise with, other professionals and organisations where appropriate.

Please note that the counsellors are not medically qualified and therefore cannot provide a medical diagnosis nor prescribe medication – you would need to see your GP for this.

In order to maintain and develop professional and ethical standards all the counsellors working for the Centre abide by the ‘Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy’ of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Adherence to this code involves, amongst other things, the counsellors receiving regular supervision of their practice. The Centre is committed to working within such a framework in order to provide the best possible service to the University community.

We hope that any student will feel able to access us and that no student will feel excluded from doing so in relation to their ethnic or cultural background, gender, age, social class, religious belief, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc. If you do experience any barriers to accessing us we would encourage you to let us know.

Any information that we produce is available in alternative formats on request. Please ask the Receptionist or Counsellor if you would like something produced in a different format.

As a general rule, any information relating to your attendance for counselling will remain confidential to the Student Enabling Centre. However, there may be circumstances where we may feel it necessary or be bound by law to break confidentiality, with or without your consent or knowledge, liaising with appropriate University staff outside the Student Enabling Centre and/or people or organisations external to the University. Such circumstances usually relate to a serious concern for your own or someone else’s wellbeing.

There may also, of course, be instances where you would like us to liaise with or provide information to other people or organisations, and we will ask you sign a simple permission form in such instances where appropriate.  If you have any concerns or questions about confidentiality, you are welcome to discuss these with the Counsellor.

Records

You will usually have a right to see the information that we hold about you in relation to the counselling you have received from the Student Enabling Centre. If you would like a copy of this information, you should apply in writing to the University’s Information and Protection Security Manager in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. There is currently a £10 administration charge for this. Visit the University’s website for further information and an application form: Requesting information from the University. Please note that in certain circumstances the University has a right to restrict your access to certain information.

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Please note that the counsellors are able to provide a supporting statement for Extenuating Circumstances if you have been or are coming for counselling during the period that you feel your studies have been affected. But we cannot usually provide a statement if this is not the case, and suggest you speak to one of the Student Guidance Advisors for advice on who might be able to provide a supporting statement for your claim, if this is needed.

We hope that the counselling provided by us will be of help to students who are experiencing mental wellbeing difficulties. However, we recognise that counselling does not necessarily help everyone who undertakes it. Counselling at this Centre will not be offered to every student as it will not always be appropriate. But in most cases, a number of counselling sessions will be offered and this will vary accordingly, up to the agreed maximum.  Other support services are available within and external to the University and students are encouraged to access these services for help and support, should this be needed.