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College Life

Counselling

Professional, friendly and confidential support

Once you have enrolled at the College you can access the Counselling Service. The Counselling Service is open to all full and part-time students. The Service is staffed by professionally qualified and accredited counsellors who work to the Code of Practice of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The counsellors are Maria Wilch and Anna Pester.

What is Counselling?

We all face difficult experiences in our lives from time to time that may cause us to feel upset or anxious.

Counselling provides a safe and confidential space for you to explore personal and emotional issues about any aspect of your life. These issues do not have to be related to college.

The counsellor will support you to gain a better understanding of what is going on for you and look at ways forward. They will listen and work alongside you on any issues causing you distress, rather than tell you what to do, give advice or judge you in anyway.

What to Expect?

You will be offered an initial assessment session of up to 45 minutes where you will be asked about what brings you to counselling. You will also have an opportunity to ask about the counselling service and what can be provided.

Following the assessment you are likely to be offered 8 counselling sessions which would usually take place once a week. Should longer term counselling seem helpful you will have an opportunity to discuss this.

Confidentiality

What is discussed during your sessions is kept confidential to the counselling service. However in extreme circumstances there can be exceptions to this, but this will be explained to you in your initial meeting with Maria or Anna.

How to Refer Yourself to Counselling?

You can arrange an appointment with a counsellor by calling into the Intensive Support Office in room PT2.22, or ringing them on 01273 667746.

You can complete the downloadable referral form and send it to counsellors@ccb.ac.uk.

Also you can just turn up without an appointment to one of the drop in sessions for a brief conversation. These are held every weekday between 4pm and 4.30pm in the Intensive Support Office in room PT2.22. If you would like to drop in and cannot come at 4pm, an alternative time can be offered.

If you are not sure about visiting a counsellor, you can discuss the situation with any member of the teaching or support staff.

Useful Links

Here you’ll find a few websites which provide information and advice on a range of issues:

Youth Access www.youthaccess.org.uk

Saneline www.sane.org.uk

Samaritans www.samaritans.org

Eating Concerns www.b-eat.co.uk

Student Depression www.studentdepression.org

Anxiety www.anxietyuk.org.uk