The Counselling Service aims to provide a confidential and safe environment in which students can discuss with a professional counsellor the personal, psychological or study-related issues that are impacting on their ability to study effectively.
The Counselling Service also aims to support students and assist them in developing strategies to manage these difficulties whilst still continuing their studies. This support may take the form of:
individual personal and psychological counselling
advocacy with academic staff regarding special arrangements
assistance with appeals.
Frequently raised Issues
Issues, problems or dilemmas frequently explored in counselling include:
Relationships
Anxiety
Depression
Stress and Post-traumatic stress
Rape and sexual abuse
Eating disorders and self harm
Conflict with others
Managing illness
Balancing the competing demands of family, work and study
Motivation, time management and study habits
How to make an Appointment with the Counsellor
If you would like to make an appointment please call (02) 8204 4429, email sydneystudentlife@nd.edu.au or call in and see us at one of the Sydney Student Life Offices.
Confidentiality The Counselling Service is staffed by professionals and is therefore committed to a professional Code of Ethics. This ensures that the information revealed by you in a counselling session remains confidential and will only be disclosed to another person with your prior written permission. On occasion counsellors confer with each other about their work with clients, this is common professional practice and no identifying information is revealed.
There are exceptions to confidentiality and these are:
Where a clear risk exists to your safety or the safety of others;
Where a court has subpoenaed records or requested that a counsellor present as a witness;
Where laws require mandatory disclosure of information.
The Counselling Service acknowledges a client’s right to access notes which relate to them directly. Clinical notes remain the property of the Counselling Service but may be viewed upon request from a client; notes may not be removed from the premises or destroyed.
Deferred Examinations, Appeals and other Academic Issues
If you have personal circumstances that have, or are, impacting on your ability to study effectively, the Student Life Office may be able to help you to understand the options available to you, given your particular circumstances. The Student Life Office may be able to advocate on your behalf with Academic and Administrative Staff within the University. It must be understood that a visit to the Student Life Office does not necessarily mean you will be granted requests for extensions on assignments, deferred examinations or withdrawal from units without penalties. These decisions are made by the Administrative and Academic Staff of the University.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your studies, it is always important to speak with your Lecturer, Tutor or Course Coordinator. Your issues or concerns can often be dealt with immediately by the Academic Staff. If you feel unable to contact Academic Staff directly, the Student Life Office may be able to advocate on your behalf in these circumstances.
Crisis Situations
The Counselling Service is unable to offer a drop in Crisis Counselling Service, however, there are options available for urgent appointments. If your situation is urgent, please tell the staff taking your call this information. Where possible, the Student Life Office will attempt to provide immediate support to students in a crisis situation.
Other options for crisis counselling are:
Lifeline: Phone 131 114
Other Helpful Contacts
The following information may also be useful to your particular situation:
