What to expect

Many people feel apprehensive about working with a counsellor. It may help to realise how normal it is to visit a counsellor at some stage in your college career. Starting on a course of study is a major transition for anyone, whether it means leaving home for the first time, or changing direction after the security of a career and family. Most people have anxieties about how they will perform when they have to give a presentation in front of a group or write their first assignment. In the current financial climate there is also the stress of trying to manage debts and loans.

All these can make it hard to cope, and students often feel very isolated – particularly if old problems resurface. Feelings of homesickness, or pressures from family, can aggravate low self-esteem or fears of failure, and there is often a reluctance to share these worries for fear of being judged. The Counselling Service is there to help with all these things and many more besides.

Problems can surface at all stages of your college career. Normal life does not stop because you are a student. A close family member may die; you may have relationship problems; you may suddenly become confused about your sexual identity, or suffer from an eating disorder. Sometimes the pressure of deadlines and exams can be too much and you become anxious or depressed.  You may even think about leaving.

Whatever your concerns, counselling will give you the space to explore them in a safe and non-judgmental setting.