UCD Student Counselling Service.

The most important thing about the Counselling Service is to know that the service itself has no charge and in case of emergency, Rachel your Welfare Officer is able to get you an appointment as soon as possible.

Why do people come to counselling?

When we are in need of support, we often turn to friends and family for help. Sometimes this is enough, but there can be times we feel we need additional support, or it may be that we feel we cannot ask for support from friends or family. Sometimes it is easier to talk to someone outside of friends/family about what we are experiencing, rather than someone close to us.

Counselling provides an invitation to speak privately with a professional about any problems that are worrying or upsetting. Talking to people who are trained in a special way to listen to problems can deepen a person's understanding of what is happening and develop alternative ways of dealing with the situation.

The kinds of things you may be experiencing where counselling can help include:

Difficult feelings - depression, hopelessness, anxiety, anger
Relationship problems
Family problems
Finding it hard to settle into college
Problems coping with your college work
Drinking too much or taking drugs
Poor body image and/or eating difficulties
Bereavement or other significant loss

If you are unsure whether you need counselling or whether counselling would be helpful for you, do not hesitate to contact the service and/or make an appointment, so you can discuss this with a counsellor and have your questions answered.
By seeing a counsellor for a first appointment, you do not commit yourself to further sessions of counselling.

What to expect in the first session

Your first appointment is similar to an assessment appointment. Your counsellor will discuss what the service offers and you will have the opportunity to talk about your concerns. At the end of the appointment, you and your counsellor will be able to agree on how the service could meet your needs and whether you would like to attend for further appointments.

Your counsellor will keep the fact that you have seen a counsellor and everything you say at appointment confidential.

Duration and frequency of sessions

Counselling is tailored to suit the needs of the individual attending the service. Each person attending may have different needs in terms of number, frequency and duration of appointments and this will be discussed with you so that your needs are best met. Consultations typically last up to 50 minutes and students can attend weekly, fortnightly or at less frequent intervals depending on the student's needs. Students usually attend for between 1-6 appointments. It may be possible to attend for more than 6 appointments should the need arise and this will be discussed between you and your counsellor.

Confidentiality

The fact that you are attending the service and the information that you share with your counsellor during a session remains confidential. This means your personal details are not disclosed to anyone outside the service without your permission.

However, exceptions to this are in the event of a situation where you are at risk of harming yourself or others, or where there is evidence of risk of child abuse. This breaking of confidentiality would be discussed openly with you before any action would be taken. Otherwise the service only contacts other professionals or agencies with your agreement and where such contact may be helpful to you.

Attendance & Cancellations

As counselling is most beneficial when you attend consistently, rather than sporadically, it is important that you attend all your scheduled counselling appointments.

We aim to offer an easily accessible service to all students in UCD, and therefore we endeavour to keep our waiting times to a minimum. This can be assisted by you when you contact us well in advance of your appointment should you need to cancel. This means we can offer the appointment slot to another student on the waiting list.

Making an Appointment & Opening Hours
We encourage students to contact the service themselves directly to make an appointment, either:

• by phone at 01-7163133
  or
• by calling into the Student Health Centre in the Students Centre and make an appointment at reception.

Our opening hours are Mon - Fri 9.30 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00pm to 5.00 pm. Appointments are offered during these times. A limited number of evening appointments are available during the year.

There is no charge for our service.

Emergency / Out-of-Hours Services

In case of emergency outside opening hours, please contact one of the following:

EastDoc. (located on the campus of St. Vincent's University Hospital).
Telephone: 01-2094021. (6pm – 10pm)

St. Vincent’s Hospital Accident & Emergency
Telephone: 01-221 4358

St James Hospital Accident & Emergency
Telephone: 01 453 7841