“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes
When you come into counselling you may be unsure what to expect. The information on this webpage answers the most frequently asked questions. It is important to read it all before registering for counselling with us. We hope that you will find it helpful.
Counselling is about enabling you to explore your feelings and relationships more effectively. It gives you a chance to really look at issues in some depth, and gain a more confident perspective.
Counselling with our service is
Your first meeting with a counsellor is called an initial assessment and this meeting is used to establish
If at the end of this meeting you and the counsellor agree that this is the best form of support for you, and you are able to commit to counselling, you will be allocated a counsellor to commence working with. Your allocated counsellor may not be the same one who conducted your initial assessment.
Occasionally due to service demand there can be a delay between your initial assessment meeting and your first ongoing counselling session, however this will always be kept to a minimum.
Your ongoing counsellor will listen carefully to the difficulties you are experiencing. Your counsellor is a qualified and experienced practitioner, and the work you do together will be about helping you to find the right solutions for you, rather than telling you what to do.
During your ongoing counselling it may become apparent to you and your counsellor that you are in need of further specialised support or long-term psychotherapy; if this is the case your counsellor will help you to access this support. Should this arise, any necessary fees would be met by you, as arranged with your new practitioner.
Once this additional support is acquired it is usually appropriate for your counselling with us to end, if this is the case your counsellor will discuss this with you. Please note that our counsellors are not able to see you in private practice if you have worked with them through the University Service.
Strict confidentiality is always maintained as it is an essential part of the counselling process. No personal information either verbal or written will be disclosed to anyone else outside this department without your consent, unless you or someone else is in danger. Some non-personal information will be shared within the University for administrative purposes.
All counsellors are required to have a supervisor who monitors the quality of their work. The process of supervision is conducted in a way that ensures your confidentiality.
Sessions last for up to 50 minutes. Your counsellor will discuss with you how often and when you will meet depending on the problem you are encountering. It is important to arrive on time as your counsellor will be working to an appointment system, sessions that start late will still need to finish on time.
Counselling for staff is limited to a maximum of six sessions per academic year unless there are exceptional circumstances. However all staff and their families can access free telephone counselling by calling 08000 32 99 52.
Counselling for students is offered initially for six sessions and is extended according to need.
When you are unable to keep an appointment we ask that you give at least 24 hours notice (except in completely unavoidable circumstances such as sudden illness). The appointment can then be used by someone else.
You can contact us about your appointment by calling:
01382 384164
Or emailing
It is vital you contact us if you have missed or cannot make an appointment, if you miss two consecutive appointments we may not be able to keep any further appointments that were booked for you.
If your counsellor has to change an appointment for any reason, our office administrator will give you as much notice as possible and will arrange an alternative date and time.
If you wish to end your counselling, wherever possible, please convey this to your counsellor during a counselling session, alternately you can do this via telephone, letter or email. Non-appearance at sessions to indicate you no longer wish to attend counselling means sessions are wasted and the wait for others needing the service increases. Counselling would also have to end once you are no longer entitled to the service. i.e. you leave Dundee University.
Letters of written support can only be provided for past or existing clients.
Counsellors are required to take very brief notes about counselling sessions. At the completion of your counselling, your notes will be kept in safe storage for a five-year period, after which they will be destroyed. We have a right of access policy whereby you may apply in writing to view your records.
An essential part of our service is the monitoring and evaluating of the service we provide. This is done to ensure that the highest possible standards are maintained. Your views on the service we provide are valued. For this reason, when you end counselling we will ask you to complete an anonymous feedback form. Your co-operation with this is appreciated. We may also wish to contact you again to ensure that you are satisfied with any ongoing referral. Again, no personal information is ever disclosed and participation is entirely voluntary.
If you are dissatisfied or have any concerns with your counselling, please discuss this with your counsellor. If you continue to be dissatisfied you can ask to meet the senior counsellor who will do everything they can to resolve your concerns.
We are located on the 1st floor of 1 Cross Row (building No 30 on the campus map. If you require a ground floor room please contact Gill Reid at g.c.reid@dundee.ac.uk
Counselling is available for Fife-based nursing students at the Kirkcaldy Campus. Contact Gill Reid for further information.
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