Our registered counsellors have varied backgrounds and a wide range of experience. Our counsellors may, with your consent, share your care with the medical team or may refer you to psychiatric services if necessary. Various models are used in our counselling service e.g.: Solution Focussed Therapy (SFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Counselling sessions usually take 50 minutes. As the academic year progresses, the counselling service will experience an increase in demand. This means you might have to wait a number of weeks before your sessions start.

Our Duty Counsellor is available for some on-the-day 30-minute consultations, seeing those that require an urgent appointment.

Reception have a waitlist for clients that have a booked future appointment and are able to attend short notice to fill a late notice cancellation. 

If you feel that you need to talk to someone urgently and cannot wait for your scheduled appointment time, please call the reception desk on 03 369 4444 and make it clear that it is an urgent situation. If you are registered at the health centre the reception team will ask a nurse to call you. 

During non-office hours there is a call-forwarding system. If you are having a crisis or feel that you need to talk to someone during a time when the clinic is closed, please call our normal number to be transferred to a registered nurse. You will be triaged by a nurse who will give advice or refer you to appropriate services.

Alternatively, you can free call or text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor. This service is free and is offered by the National Telehealth Service.

Counsellors might be able to provide you with a medical certificate or supporting documentation for Special Consideration. If you need brief counselling support to discuss an extension, impaired performance or a medical certificate, you may be able to see a duty counsellor the same day. Please make sure to mention this to our reception staff when you book your appointment. The availability of same-day appointments depends on demand, which highly fluctuates throughout the year. 

If you are enrolled at the Health Centre, nurses are able to complete some medical certificates and special considerations over the phone. Reception can discuss this with you. 

All domestic Canterbury University students are eligible for our counselling service.

International students are usually covered for counselling under their insurance policy.

• If you cancel your appointment with less than 24 hours notice you may be charged a fee of $10 (unless due to sickness) 
• If you miss your appointment without cancelling first you may be charged a fee of $20 (unless due to an emergency)

Our counselling service is confidental. No information is passed on to the University or elsewhere without your knowledge. Our counsellors may, with your consent, share your care with the medical staff or may refer you to a psychiatric service if necessary. If we are concerned about your or others safety we will contact the appropriate supports 

• I’m an employee at University of Canterbury, can I book a counselling appointment?

We are unable to offer brief intervention Counselling for University of Canterbury employees, please refer to the University of Canterbury employee assistance programme (staff only) or speak with your Manager.

• Can I choose my counsellor?

These are our current Counselling Team members. If you have a preference for a specific counsellor, feel free to let our reception team know when you book your appointment. If you want to see a specific counsellor, it might mean available appointment options are limited and you have to wait a bit longer.

• What if I miss an appointment?

If you miss a scheduled appointment, your counsellor will attempt to contact you. We know that life happens and it’s sometimes hard to stay on top of life. If you’ve missed your appointment, feel free to call the reception desk on 03 369 4444 to reschedule.

Note: If you don’t attend your scheduled appointment, a fee may apply.

• Can I access support during holidays?

Yes, we remain open during term breaks and the Counselling Service will operate as usual. We are closed on (observed) public holidays and during the University Christmas/New Year closure period. These dates will be clearly communicated on the web page of the Health Centre.

If you plan on spending your holiday outside of Christchurch, but you would like to continue your counselling sessions, feel free to ask your counsellor about online and phone options.

• Can I bring someone – a support person to my counselling session?

Yes, you can bring a support person to your counselling session.

• Healthify: trusted online information on a wide range of health topics
• CALM: An online programme for building mental health resilience
• www.depression.org.nz: offers understanding, validation and practical advice for those navigating depression and anxiety
• Youthline: Useful information and downloadable leaflets on a wide range of topics for young people