Student counselling service

• Tel: 0208 231 2218
• Email: counsellor@uwl.ac.uk
• Office: Brentford Site, 1st Floor (PH105) Paragon House
• Opening Times: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Appointment Booking

To book an appointment all you need to do is log into The Student Hub platform (using your student ID number and your usual UWL password), select Counselling Service and complete your registration.

The whole process is completed online and once we have reviewed your completed forms, you will be able to see and book any available appointments. You can book appointments any time that you are ready by logging into the Student Hub Counselling page and clicking ‘Book an appointment’. You can also use this platform to cancel or change any pre-booked appointments with us, along with finding upcoming events or other useful information that may be helpful to you.

If you have any difficulty with using the platform or you have any questions you would like to ask, you are very welcome to get in touch with us via telephone or email and we will do our best to help you.

Counselling is offered face-to-face, over the telephone or via online video call (Skype/MS Teams/Zoom) on a one–to-one basis.

The Service offers short-term counselling. Sessions last approximately 50 minutes and can be scheduled as and when works for you.

Sessions are bookable on a One-At-A-Time (OAAT) basis which means rather than booking a block of sessions ahead of time, you choose the time of appointment that suits you via the Counselling Service partition on The Student Hub, offering you complete autonomy on how and when you want to access support.

You can talk to your counsellor about anything that may be confusing, painful or uncomfortable in your life or if you just need someone to listen without judgement.

Some examples of issues brought to counselling include but are not limited to:

• Relationship and family difficulties
• Depression/anxiety/stress
• Loss and bereavement
• Academic issues
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Eating difficulties
• Physical and/or sexual abuse
• Alcohol and drug addictions
• Sexual and personal identity issues

The counselling service works within a strict code of confidentiality. Confidentiality is an essential component within counselling and an integral part of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) Ethical Framework, to which all UWL university counsellors adhere.

The maintenance of appropriate confidentiality is essential to those who seek counselling and to the University of West London as a provider of professional and effective counselling. All interactions with the counselling service, including scheduling of or attendance at appointments, content of your sessions, progress in counselling, and your records are confidential to UWL Counselling Service. No record of counselling is contained in any academic, educational, or job placement file. You may request in writing that the counselling staff release specific information about your counselling to persons you designate.

Your initial telephone appointment is an opportunity for you to speak with your assigned counsellor and briefly discuss why you have referred yourself for counselling. You may want to think about any questions you may have for your counsellor at this stage. During this short telephone appointment, your counsellor will offer you guidance on how best to prepare for your first counselling session and book this appointment for you.

The Counselling Service encourages anyone seeking counselling to make contact with the Service themselves because this is reflective and congruent with the client’s decision to have counselling. Counselling is most effective when it is voluntary so we would encourage you to encourage your friend to contact us.

If you are worried about your friend, you may also wish to contact the Counselling Service for advice about how to support them.

Look out for the Student Minds ‘Look After Your Mate’ workshop as part of our #WorkshopWednesdays series. This is a certified workshop delivered for free to teach you all the skills you need to recognise and support a friend in need.

If you feel you are in crisis or at risk and need to talk to someone immediately, please contact Emergency Services by dialling 999 or go to your nearest A&E Department.

The closest A&E departments in Ealing and Brentford are:

• Ealing Hospital,  Uxbridge Road,  Southall, UB1 3HW (no children's A&E)
• West Middlesex Hospital, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, TW7 6AF 
• Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, HA1 3UJ

The closest A&E department in Reading is:

• A&E Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Centre Block,  Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5AN
• Tel: 0118 322 7020

If your situation is not as urgent as above and you would like to speak to someone anonymously then you should consider contacting one of the following charities:

The Samaritans (24/7 support)

• Phone – 116 123
• Email – jo@samaritans.org (response time 24 hours)
• Write a letter – Chris, Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA 

Togetherall (students there for students)

• 24/7 support, available 365 days a year
• Sign up for free using your UWL email address

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM – specialise in supporting men)

• 5pm-midnight 365 days of the year -
• Phone – 0808 802 58 58 (London) or 0800 58 58 58 (Nationwide)

For urgent help on campus

Call 3333 from any university phone or speak to one of the reception desks or to a security officer.

If you are not sure what to do

Call Student Services on 020 8231 2345 (available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm).