Frequently asked questions

In this section we look at the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to give you more information on the service we offer.

1. What is counselling?
2. What is the aim of counselling?
3. How can counselling help you?
4. How do I know if I need counselling?
5. How do you know counselling will work for you?
6. Whatever I say to my counsellor, will it be kept confidential? (Confidentiality and the Data Protection Act)
7. Will the counsellor understand my difficulties?
8. What can you expect in the first session?
9. Should I be worried about my first session?
10. What will happen during subsequent sessions?
11. How long do the sessions last?
12. How many sessions will you have?
13. What will be expected of you?
14. What about missed appointments?
15. What type of problems can’t we help with?
16. Is counselling the only solution?
17. I've been referred for counselling. Does that mean I'm mentally ill?
18. What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

What is counselling?

Counselling provides the opportunity to talk to a specially trained helper in a private setting with enough time to discuss any difficulties that you are currently experiencing.
Counselling is not:

• Being told who is right or wrong
• Being judged good or bad
• Being told how to solve all your problems
• Being taken over by someone who will run your life for you
• An instant solution to long standing problems.

What is the aim of counselling?

The aim of counselling is to help you to become more in control of your life and to make your own choices.
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How can counselling help you?

Counselling provides you with the opportunity to talk about and explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences. You may be able to see more clearly where you stand in relation to yourself, others and the situations around you. If necessary, the counsellor can then give you support with any changes you decide to make.
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How do I know if I need counselling?

Counselling is probably a good idea if you feel you are not coping with your feelings or behaviour and you do not have other help available. The need for counselling may also come from the recognition that your life has reached some degree of crisis or simply that you are not at ease with yourself and the way your life is going. However difficult, disastrous or embarrassing your situation may seem, you can be sure that whatever you bring to counselling will be treated with respect by your counsellor.
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How do you know counselling will work for you?

We cannot guarantee the outcome of your counselling, but we do find that counselling is almost always beneficial. Students who have used the service have often said they would recommend it to others.
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Whatever I say to my counsellor, will it be kept confidential? (Confidentiality and the Data Protection Act)

Whatever you say to your counsellor will be kept confidential within the BU Counselling Service. In practice this means that:

• Any notes your counsellor makes will be kept securely and will only be accessible to counsellors, clinical psychologists and administrators who work within the service. Notes will be destroyed after seven years
• No information from your counselling sessions will be disclosed to anyone outside the Counselling Service without your permission
• Your counsellor may discuss your counselling with colleagues in the Counselling Service as part of the normal supervision process, although it is not necessary for you to be identified
• If your counsellor believes there is an imminent risk of serious self harm or harm to others, especially children, he/she may need to act to safeguard those involved. In such a rare event your counsellor will restrict any disclosure of confidential information to the minimum required to deal with the emergency, and where possible you will be kept informed.

The BU Counselling Service maintains a confidential record of your personal details and your attendance. This information is used for statistics for service planning as well as ensuring the quality of counselling.
You have a right to see what information about you is kept by the service. If you want to do this, you need to speak to your counsellor or the Head of Service. Records are destroyed after seven years.
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Will the counsellor understand my difficulties?

People who have used the service have been helped with a vast range of difficulties and distressing experiences.
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What can you expect in the first session?

Before the first session you will be asked to complete some registration forms. During the first session there will be time for you to explain what brings you to counselling and you can ask the counsellor any questions about the process. The counsellor may ask you more about your difficulties and what led up to them so that they can work out, with you, how best to help. It may be discovered that another counsellor, clinical psychologist or agency has specialist skills more suited to your needs and, with your agreement, an appropriate referral will be made.
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Should I be worried about my first session?

You may be worried about your first session; particularly if you have never received counselling before. This can be especially so if your emotions seem overwhelming at present. You have no need to be concerned about this because counselling is about the acceptance of the whole of you by the counsellor, including your emotions.
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What will happen during subsequent sessions?

In counselling sessions you will be helped to explore issues in your life and encouraged to talk about them freely. This can sometimes be difficult with friends and family.
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How long do the sessions last?

Sessions last between 30 and 50 minutes.

How many sessions will you have?

Sometimes a single session is enough, but counselling may continue for up to eight sessions. If needed, we may provide further sessions or advice on where to seek specialist or longer-term therapy. Often the sessions will be weekly at first, perhaps spacing out to fortnightly or monthly as the work proceeds.
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What will be expected of you?

Treat your counselling session as a special time to “just be yourself”. Recognise that counselling will only help if you give it a fair chance, so:

• Please arrive on time
• Keep all the appointments offered
• Don't give up if there are no instant results
• Carry out any assignments you are given between sessions.

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What about missed appointments?

The sessions offered by the counsellors are valuable to students and are paid for by BU. There are often students waiting to be seen and we can offer cancelled appointments to students on the waiting list. To help us make the best use of counselling resources:

• Please provide as much notice as possible if you need to cancel
• Please do not cancel unless it is unavoidable
• If you decide to withdraw from counselling, please let us know.

Your normal weekly appointment time may be allocated to another student if you miss a session without letting us know, which could delay your subsequent appointments.
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What type of problems can’t we help with?

When problems are so out of control or severe that you or others may be at risk, it is likely that other specialised help is required and we can advise you on this. We may also not be available at short notice, so if you need urgent help you will need to look to your GP, the Chaplaincy or Samaritans for help.
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Is counselling the only solution?

The service has a range of handouts on specific problems such as anxiety, anger, eating disorders, depression and assertiveness. Please contact our Service Administrators on 01202 965020 for more information.
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I've been referred for counselling. Does that mean I'm mentally ill?

If you have been referred for counselling, perhaps by your doctor or tutor, this does not mean that they think you are mentally ill. Most people who receive counselling have no mental illness.
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What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

CBT methods are used by some of the counsellors, but we do not provide specialist CBT work at present. We can make recommendations about where to access this therapy.
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