Why use the counselling service?
What is Counselling?
The counselling process involves a confidential helping relationship between Counsellor and client. The Counsellor aims to assist the client towards greater self-awareness and greater understanding of others. The Counsellor helps the client to identify issues to explore and clarify feelings, to focus on personal resources and to decide on options for change. During this dialogue, the Counsellor encourages the client to develop in terms of personal growth and satisfaction and in terms of personal responsibility.
Who can Use the Counselling Service?
Currently enrolled students (undergraduate or postgraduate) and Macquarie University staff are welcome to use the Service.
Individual counselling and Workshop Programs are provided free of charge.
Why come to Talk with a Counsellor?
There are many reasons why people choose to consult with a Counsellor. For example, students may feel that they are not progressing as they would wish towards their academic goals, or they may be experiencing difficulty in adjusting to change, say, from High School to University. Distressing events can occur, sometimes with little or no warning, such as the death of a relative or close friend, the break-up of an important relationship or the divorce of parents. Counsellors are able to help students with practical problems arising from these events, for example assistance can be given with applications for special consideration for examinations or for extensions for essays. Counsellors also, of course, work with people to help them deal with life situations.
Some of the other common concerns that students have when they come to counselling are:
- Relationship problems
- Loneliness
- Homesickness
- Depression, ranging from mild to severe
- Anxiety/Stress
- Self esteem
- Procrastination/Motivation
- Competing demands of study and employment
- Disability (physical, psychiatric or learning)
- Cultural difficulties
- Drug and/or alcohol problems
- Eating disorders
- Decisions about whether to continue to study or to discontinue.
This list is not exhaustive, of course. If Counsellors are not able to offer appropriate help themselves, they will always endeavour to refer you to someone else who can, either on or off campus.
Feedback about the Counselling Service
If you have any feedback about the Counselling Service, then please tell us about it. In the first instance, you might like to contact the Counsellor with whom you have had contact. If you have not seen a Counsellor, or prefer to communicate with someone else, then please speak with or write to, the Principal Counsellor. If you are not satisfied with these options, then you can contact the Director of Support Services and discuss the matter. If you have concerns in relation to grievance, harassment or discrimination, then contact either a Grievance Contact Officer or the EEO Office.