University Counselling Service: FAQs

Your first appointment is called a counselling consultation. It’s a 50-minute session with a professionally trained counsellor where you can talk about anything on your mind.

You can choose to have this session:

• In person
• Online
• Over the phone

Your counsellor will:

• Listen with empathy and without judgement
• Help you explore your thoughts and feelings
• Support you in understanding what’s been going on

What happens next?

• You might leave with helpful insight and feel no need for further support.
• Or you and your counsellor may agree to:
  • Book another session
  • Explore self-help tools
  • Join a workshop or group
  • Access other support services

Before your first appointment take a quick look at our Counselling Consultation Guides for University Park or Sutton Bonington. The guides include photos to help you find your way, shows you what the building looks like inside, and gives you a clear idea of where to go when you arrive so things feel a little more familiar before you even walk in.

We offer short-term counselling, one session at a time.

How it works:

1. Start with one session to explore your situation, concerns, and goals.
2. If another session would be helpful, you and your counsellor will agree together.
3. A follow-up session is booked during your appointment or via your Counsellor’s work email.
4. Appointments are spaced out to allow time for reflection.
5. Most students have on average between 1-4 sessions, with some flexibility. If longer-term support is needed, we’ll help you access it externally.

Not at all. Counselling is for all areas of your life—relationships, identity, life changes, or feeling stuck—not just coursework, exams or other academic concerns.

If it’s affecting you, it matters. You choose what to talk about.

You can bring anything that’s bothering you. Common topics include:

• Anxiety or depression
• Stress from studies or work
• Relationship or family issues
• Loneliness or isolation
• Bereavement and loss
• Eating problems
• Worries about alcohol or drugs
• Abuse (mental, emotional, physical, or sexual)
• Identity, transitions, or change
• Self-esteem
• Any situation impacting your wellbeing

• Waiting times range from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the time of year
• For your information, our busiest period is January–March, where wait times might vary
• We keep the referrals teams updated if there are any changes or delays to referral times

Yes, counselling is confidential. Confidentiality will always be discussed with you at the start of your appointment. This link will give you more information about our confidentiality policy and any exceptions: Student wellbeing confidentiality statement.

Yes! The counselling service is open all year-round, except on:

• Bank holidays and weekends
• Official university closure days

Appointments are available:

• In person
• By phone
• Via Microsoft Teams

We offer in-person sessions at:

• University Park
• Sutton Bonington

Remote sessions are also available via phone or Microsoft Teams.

Yes, the Counselling Service at University Park has ground floor counselling rooms and an accessible toilet. Let us know of any individual needs you have at the time of referral. We also recognise that not all disabilities are physical.

Yes, our current students can still access counselling support remotely on Microsoft Teams, except for the US, due to their privacy and confidentiality laws. We’ll help to signpost to local services abroad where possible.

In addition to one-to-one counselling, we offer:

• Group therapy sessions
• Workshops (for example, managing stress, anxiety)
• Self-help tools and resources
• Art therapy

Absolutely.

• Many students take a break after an episode of counselling to reflect on their sessions/and implement what they have learnt
• If you wish to return to counselling, you can contact the counselling service to discuss the next steps or speak to the Support and Wellbeing team about re-referral
• You can request the same counsellor or choose someone new

Yes - we aim to offer flexible appointment times, both in-person and remotely.

• First in-person appointments: ~9.15am
• Last in-person appointments: ~3.15–3.30pm
• Earlier/later slots may be available - just ask
• Follow-up appointments are made directly with your counsellor in session or by emailing the counsellor’s work email address
• If times do not work out, we can refer you to another counsellor in the team

 Speak with your tutor or supervisor if you need time off - it’s just like any other health related appointment.

We are not an emergency service and don’t operate out of hours. However, if you feel you need urgent help, please contact your GP or use one of the following services.

Emergency contacts

• Cripps Health Centre: +44 (0) 115 846 8888. The 24/7 mental health helpline number is 0808 196 3779.
• NHS 111: call 111 for free from any UK landline or mobile.
• Samaritans: 116 123 for free from any UK landline or mobile.
• Rethink Mental Illness: +44 (0) 800 027 2127.
• Mental Health crisis line: 0808 196 3779 available 24/7.
• The University of Nottingham Students Union Nightline: +44 (0) 115 951 4985 - (7pm - 8am).

If you're on campus, you can contact University Security at 0115 951 8888 (available 24/7). If you're off campus and in immediate danger, call 999.

Our counselling service provides a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk with a trained professional. We use a range of approaches and skills which are woven into a humanistic and integrative approach, meaning:

• You are at the heart of what we do
• You'll have time and space to explore your challenges, thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences
• Our counsellors won’t tell you what to do — we’ll listen and support you with your emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing
• We’ll help you better understand yourself and your situation, reduce distress, and support improved well-being

Counselling can lead to:

• Increased self-awareness
• New insights and perspectives
• Improved coping skills
• More informed and deliberate choices

Want to learn more? Check out the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) guide on how to get the most from counselling.

That’s completely okay—many international students feel the same.

We recognise that:

• Mental health looks different across cultures
• Counselling is rooted in Western traditions, but we work inclusively and respectfully with all cultural backgrounds and values

Good to know:

• Counselling is free
• It’s confidential – we don’t inform your tutor, family, or department (unless there’s a serious safety concern)
• We don’t diagnose or prescribe medication

• Yes - we understand that for some students, it can feel reassuring to meet with a counsellor who shares a similar background or identity, and if this is important to you, please let us know
• While we can’t always guarantee a specific match due to availability, we’ll do our best to consider your request
• At the same time, research shows that the most important factor in counselling is often the quality of the relationship between you and your counsellor-built on trust, safety and understanding regardless of background

All our counsellors are:

• Professionally trained
• Experienced in working with a wide range of student concerns
• Committed to being culturally sensitive and inclusive

Meet our team here, click on Counselling.

Yes - your comfort is important to us.

• If you feel able, start by speaking directly to your counsellor. They're open to feedback and may be able to adjust their approach in a way that better suits you.
• If that doesn’t feel right, you can also email the service to request a change.

We actively welcome feedback and want to hear student voices.

• You’ll have opportunities to complete a feedback questionnaire during and at the end of your counselling sessions
• All feedback and suggestions for improvement are taken seriously and thoughtfully considered

• We hope to resolve issues informally where possible and encourage you to speak with your counsellor if you feel comfortable doing so
• Alternatively, if this does not suit your needs and you have a complaint about any aspect of the service or the conduct of a staff member, please contact the Head of Service or a Team Lead at counselling.service@nottingham.ac.uk

Your concerns will be:

• Listened to with respect
• Responded to promptly
• Escalated and acted on appropriately if change or improvement is needed
• View further information