Counselling

Topics:

• What is E-Counselling?

  Email counselling follows the same fundamental principles as face-to-face counselling but uses a different medium. It provides you with an opportunity to explore personal issues in a private setting with a counsellor who will work with you to understand what you are experiencing and perhaps help you to consider any changes you may wish to make. Instead of a weekly face-to-face appointment in the counsellor's room, a weekly email is exchanged between counsellor and client.

• Who is it for?

  Some students may find it difficult to attend face-to-face counselling for a variety of reasons:

  • being on placement or away from the University for other reasons
  • being a distance learner
  • juggling family and/or work/study commitments
  • hectic or irregular timetables
  • having a disability or illness that prevents you from attending in person
  • finding face-to-face meetings stressful or embarrassing

  
  

  Email counselling may not be suitable for all students. It is important for a counsellor to assess your current needs prior to deciding to take this up.

• How does it work?

  Once you express an interest in email counselling, you will be asked to complete some forms in order to provide some personal data and to give some initial information about yourself which will assist your counsellor in assessing the suitablility of this approach for you. Alternatively you can meet with a counsellor for a face-to-face assessment. If email counselling is not advised, other options can be explored at this point. You will also need to read and agree to the policy concerning email counselling.

  Once counselling is agreed, your counsellor will let you know which day he or she will be responding to your weekly email, which will need to be sent at least 24 hours in advance of this day. Other guidelines will be discussed at this point too. We will then ask you to fill in a brief standard questionnaire before each session to let us know how you are. The information is a valuable way for you and the counsellor to keep track together of how things are going and make the most of the sessions. How or whether you answer the questionnaire will not limit your access to the service in any way.

• How do I register?

  If you are interested in email counselling, please read the complete Information Leaflet, which you can print and keep. Before registering you must read the Email Counselling Policy Statement and Agreement. To register, please download the Precounselling Form for Email Counselling. Save the form, complete it and return it as an email attachment to ecounselling@port.ac.uk.

  You should normally receive a response within 48 hours. If you have not heard from us within 7 days, please telephone. If you have any further questions please contact us:

  Email: ecounselling@port.ac.uk

  Telephone: 023 9284 3157

  Or call in during office hours to Student Services Reception at the Nuffield Centre.

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