University Counselling Service 23 April 2017 University Counselling Service Training Course for new Tutors and Directors of Studies Tuesday 29 September 2015

UCS Senior Management Head of Service Géraldine Dufour 23 April 2017 UCS Senior Management Head of Service Géraldine Dufour 2 Senior Student Counsellors Hanya Czepkowski– Groups & Outreach Lisa Halpern – Individual Counselling & Associates

Today we will cover: The range of UCS work How to refer 23 April 2017 Today we will cover: The range of UCS work How to refer Liaison & support for tutors and other staff Student issues Words of caution

Who can access counselling? 23 April 2017 Who can access counselling? All registered undergraduate in residence and graduate students of Cambridge University who are members of a College may use the Service, including students at the Theological Colleges and part-time students.

23 April 2017 Who funds counselling Free service at the point of access for students. UCS receives incomes from: The Colleges for student counselling and MHA The university for admin, building and mindfulness Cranes benefaction for MHA and psychiatrist consultation.

UCS Team Established 1969 11 Student Counsellors/CBT therapists 23 April 2017 UCS Team Established 1969 11 Student Counsellors/CBT therapists 5 Associate Counsellors on placement 2 Mental Health Advisors 1 Mindfulness Practitioner Visiting psychiatrist (half-day) Large admin support team ~ 10 FTE Counsellors

Mental Health Advisors 23 April 2017 Mental Health Advisors Students in crisis, serious level of disturbance, suicidal, very chaotic… Liaison, advice and referral Assessment: risk or fitness to study Can be one-off or ongoing Recruiting for 2 new posts during Michaelmas

Professional Service Accredited Counsellors 23 April 2017 Professional Service Accredited Counsellors MHAs registered professional bodies Quality Assurance Number of counselling approach in the service Different areas of expertise Confidential

BUSY! Saw over 1500 students last year 23 April 2017 BUSY! Saw over 1500 students last year Offered ~ 160-220 individual sessions / week during term Ran ~ 8/10 groups/workshops each week ~ 30 - 70 new students approached us each week in term seeking counselling

23 April 2017 How do we compare? High demand for counselling and mental health support (Royal College Psychiatrists Report 2011) Cambridge specific – we see a higher proportion of students: 8.5% Proportionally we see more Graduate students

What help is available at UCS? 23 April 2017 What help is available at UCS? Direct students towards best source of help at time: Accessing student-led support or a mindfulness course Using selected self-help resources Attending a guided CBT self-help group at the UCS Coming to one of our workshops or groups Attending a consultation with a counsellor, CBT therapist or mental health advisor

Groups & workshops One-off workshops 23 April 2017 Groups & workshops One-off workshops Procrastination, Food and Mood, Self-compassion, Exam Preparation Short focused groups Assertiveness, Self-esteem, Perfectionism Returning from intermitting Longer counselling groups For under-graduate and graduate students

Mindfulness New programme 23 April 2017 Mindfulness New programme Mindfulness courses delivered at College Level Pilot to see if we can improve resilience in students Parallel research project Michaelmas & Lent 2015

How can you refer a student to the UCS? 23 April 2017 How can you refer a student to the UCS? Online pre-counselling form Contact MHAs directly Can contact just for advice

Myths Waiting time Pre-counselling form Confidentiality Weak to see a counsellor?

Different types of issues 23 April 2017 Different types of issues Anxiety, depression, relationships, eating, self-harm… On a continuum Counselling in HE comparable to that of primary care in terms of severity (Wallace: 2012)

For staff: Wanting to help is good, right? 23 April 2017 For staff: Wanting to help is good, right? Boundaries are important Pause…is giving more help going to be helpful? Be alert to patterns Level of support? Distressed students affect us Impact of stress on our own boundaries Encourage independence Sign-post to other sources of support.

Sources of information for staff 23 April 2017 Sources of information for staff www.mentalhealth.org.uk Further information on practical ways to look after your mental health www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/selfhelp For a range of self help resources including information on depression, anxiety, self harm and eating disorders

Further training available: 23 April 2017 Further training available: Mental Health: Boundaries and Boomerangs Lisa Halpern & Kirsty Wayland through PPD Supporting PhD students with Mental Health Difficulties Lisa Halpern through PPD Colleagues can attend: Introduction to the UCS for New Tutors & Welfare Staff 2015

Counselling Service 2-3 Bene’t Place 23 April 2017 Counselling Service 2-3 Bene’t Place Part of Lensfield Road (across the Snug) Open 09.00 – 17.00 Monday - Friday Tuesday and Thursday to 19.30 Website www.counselling.cam.ac.uk