Counselling appointment FAQs
Questions you may have about your appointment.
First, you need to register online. The administration team will contact you to offer an appointment usually on your university email. In that email they will explain how the service works and how you can be supported. They will book an appointment for you to be assessed in the next available appointment.
How long will it be before I am seen?
The waiting times depend on many factors. For example: time of year and your availability. Your assessment will be held within 2-3 weeks, and is booked when you register.
Can I book an appointment for someone else?
Due to confidentiality, it is not possible to book an appointment on someone's behalf – even if you are a family member or close friend. Appointments must be booked for yourself only.
We are able to offer you a limited number of appointments and this will include missed sessions and late cancellations. To avoid forfeiting an appointment please provide 2 working days’ notice if you wish to reschedule or cancel an appointment.
We will always try to reschedule your appointment when you request this – but there may be a delay in offering another appointment during busy periods.
If you miss or do not attend two consecutive appointments, we assume that you no longer wish to receive support and cancel any future sessions. If this happens for reasons beyond your control and you would like your support to continue please do get in touch with us.
Read our confidentiality and data protection statement.
Our assessment sessions are usually 50 minutes but can be longer particularly as this is a one-off session during which a self-support plan and next steps are agreed. We are a solution focused support team, and so our aim in that first meeting is to try to help you to resolve the issues you are presenting. You are likely to be signpost to other services and you may be offered some sessions with one of our Counsellors or Mental Health Advisors.
How long are sessions?
Please check with your practitioner, routine sessions are usually between 20-50 minutes depending on the purpose of the session. As a guide counselling sessions are usually 50 minutes and wellbeing sessions are usually 30 minutes.
How many appointments can I have?
Students can register and access the service for short term counselling, once per academic year. We offer short-term solution focused support with the goal of enabling you to access your academic commitments here at the university. Support could be one assessment session with a follow up appointment or a few sessions to help get you through your time here. On average students who are allocated to a therapist/mental health advisor are allocated four sessions.
Are the appointments confidential?
Confidentiality is an important aspect of our service and we will not share what you talk about in our sessions without your consent. The exception to this is where we believe that you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, in line with the university’s policy on sharing information. In this situation we would always try to talk with you first to get your consent.
What are counselling sessions like?
Our practitioners come from different training backgrounds but we all work in a similar ways. Each session lasts 50 minutes during which time your counsellor will listen calmly and empathically, without judgement. You may wish to discuss a wide range of topics, from your relationships, your childhood, your emotions, your thoughts and behaviour, to situations that you find currently find difficult. You may be offered some suggestions about a way forward. Your counselling sessions will take place with the same therapist each week, you will be offered sessions at the same time each week until the completion of the sessions. Please try to avoid cancelling sessions to ensure that you get the full benefit of counselling. If you are struggling to attend each week please discuss these difficulties with your counsellor.
What is a mental health appointment like?
Mental Health Advisors (MHAs) similarly come from different training backgrounds. Some are mental health nurses while others are social workers. A mental health advisor appointment will typically include some exploratory work around your current difficulties, perhaps discussing the past if necessary to look at patterns of behaviour. You will work your MHA to plan actions and practical solutions to help you manage the challenges you are facing. MHA sessions are can be spread over a longer period of time allowing you to arrange your sessions for times when you may most need them across the academic year. Further information: What is a Mental Health Adviser? - YouTube
How am I likely to feel after an appointment?
It's quite common to feel relief at having managed to speak openly perhaps for the first time. You may also feel strong emotions and that a lot has been stirred up inside you. Working on ourselves can mean confronting feelings that we have previously avoided, this may feel uncomfortable. If you are struggling to attend your sessions for any reason please talk to your practitioner and they can support you with this.
What if I don’t like my practitioner?
Not everybody gets on with everybody else so if you are struggling to open up to one of our practitioners please get in touch and we shall offer to support you with this.
Where are the appointments held?
The Counselling team offer personal appointments in the Carrington Building on Whiteknights campus and also online via Microsoft Teams.
At the University of Reading we acknowledge that some students may also be staff. Where this is the case we strongly advise that you seek counselling through the staff counselling support function, your GP or local counselling agencies. We adhere to the BACP ethical framework which explicitly mandates that mental health practitioners and counsellors can’t provide counselling to colleagues, friends/family members, or people who have relationships with colleagues, friends or family. This is because it creates a conflict of interest in the relationship and can potentially cause harm to clients we work with.
If you are a member of staff who is looking for counselling support, please contact the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) known as confidential care.
• Please be on time for your appointment. Your appointment will finish at the scheduled time, so being on time is important.
• Try not to miss your appointment as you will forfeit that session. After two missed appointments you will not be offered a third.
• No mobile phones inside the Counselling and Wellbeing area or in your Video sessions.
• Abusive and violent behaviour will not be tolerated - you will be asked to leave, or the Video/Call appointment will be ended.
• Smoking including the use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) is prohibited during your sessions, video/calls or in person.
• If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will not be seen and will have to forfeit your session.
Can I choose who I see?
When you register, we ask for any preferences. Any special requests may result in longer waiting times, however we will do what we can to accommodate. It is important to note, after your assessment we match you with the practitioner we feel will best support your needs.
Will I see the same person each time I come for an appointment?
The Head of Service and Senior Counsellor match a student to the practitioner that best meets the needs of the student so in some instances you will not see the original assessor. Once you have been offered the sessions allocated you will see the same practitioner.
What if I don’t like my Therapist?
Therapeutic input can be very difficult. We recommend that you tell your practitioner how you feel, as there may be something that needs more focus. We can only support you if you are fully open and honest. If you still feel unhappy or unable to address these difficulties with your practitioner, we will place you back on the waiting list for the next available appointment for your remaining sessions.