About counselling services

Health & Counselling offers brief, short-term counselling sessions, usually two to four weeks apart. Students typically attend three to four appointments, with the option for more based on individual needs after consultation with your counsellor.

Common concerns that may be addressed in brief/short-term therapy may include:

• Stress, anger, loneliness, guilt, relationship issues
• Performance anxiety, perfectionism, procrastination 
• Adjustment to university life
• Identity
• Substance use
• Trauma, grief and loss
• Anxiety/depression (as appropriate for brief therapy)

How to access services?

Schedule a Rapid Access / Intake Appointment

If you're looking for mental health support, like counselling, book online or call the front desk at 778-782-4615 and ask to schedule an intake appointment. Within 48 business hours you will be matched with the next available clinician.

Before your appointment, you will need to complete a brief questionnaire about your concerns and the type of support you are seeking. During your 30-minute appointment, the mental health clinician will ask questions to clarify your needs and review your questionnaire responses. Together, you will identify a goal and develop an action plan that includes resources tailored to address your concerns. This may include:

• Single-session counselling follow-up 
• Short-term counselling (with practicum counsellors, pre-doctoral interns, counsellors or psychologists)
• Group counselling
• My SSP (My Student Support Plan)
• Self-led resources
• Campus and community referrals and support 
• Community referral for longer term counselling

If you are referred to resources outside of Health and counselling, the Clinician will support and assist you in accessing appropriate community resources and referrals.

Are you a returning client?

You are encouraged to schedule a rapid access/intake appointment by calling the front desk. If you are looking for specialized counselling options, please book with the provider as required.

Individual counselling sessions

Single Session Counselling Follow-up

You may be scheduled in a 30 or 50 minute, in person or remote, single session appointment to follow-up with your concerns presented during a rapid access/intake appointment.

At this appointment, the clinician will work with you to identify a detailed goal and action plan for addressing your support needs and creating change, which may also include being referred to additional resources such as short-term counselling, group counselling, or longer-term counselling in the community. 

Examples for why a single session follow up may be scheduled include: managing academic stress and anxiety around an exam or project, relationship issues with parents or partner, coping with a recent break-up, or skills for enhancing mood or sleep.

Short-Term Counselling   
   
When needed, Health & Counselling may offer brief/short-term counselling (one to four sessions) sometimes scheduled 2 to 4 weeks apart. 

Brief/short-term counselling is goal-oriented in nature and active participation in the process is essential for progress, change, and growth. At the beginning of your sessions, you will discuss the goals you would like to accomplish and you will be asked to provide your counsellor with feedback regarding service along the way in order to get the most out of your sessions.

Specific concerns well suited for short-term counselling include:  various kinds of anxiety (worry, social, test), stress, mild to moderate depression, adjustment and transition to university, acculturation, family and relationship concerns, loneliness, identity concerns.     

Following short-term counselling you may be referred to a group-based program, longer-term counselling in the community or other campus and community based supports.