About the service

Student Counsellors are all aware that emotional problems can get in the way of academic pursuits, not to mention life in general. Students with personal problems may find it helpful to talk with one of our professionally trained counsellors. All counselling is confidential unless you request or give permission otherwise. The general categories of problems which students consult counsellors about include loneliness, depression, anxiety, panic, sexuality, eating disorders, bereavement, childhood sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress, assault, rape, dependency on alcohol or drugs and many others. In addition the counsellors can help with academic-related problems such as exam phobia, fear of speaking to a group and inability to concentrate.

Sometimes just putting your problems into words helps. You may also find a new perspective. The counsellor's aim is to enable you to find your own resources to cope. Therefore to seek counselling is not a weakness, but indicates your desire to do something constructive about whatever is troubling you. A counselling session usually lasts 45- 50 minutes. One session may be enough or else you may decide to attend a number of sessions. The service offers predominately short- term counselling with the majority of clients attending for less than five sessions. 

Appointments can be made with Sonia| the Counselling Service Administrator.

For students on their period of residence  abroad and on exceptional circumstances the service is also happy to offer email support where appropriate. 

The College Counselling Team

Liz Armstrong Senior Counsellor Monday-Friday FW165	Ellen Fraser  Counsellor Tuesday  & Thursday FW168	Dee Raja  Counsellor  Thursday  & Friday FW166
Claire Rice Counsellor Tuesday & Thursday FW167	Pat Simpson  Counsellor Monday, Wednesday & Thursday.  FW172	Sylvia Alwareeth  Counselling Caseworker  Monday & Wednesday  FW167
Sonia Owen Counselling Coordinator  Monday - Friday FW171 ext 3128	Rebecca Price Counselling Monday & Wednesday  FW171 ext 3128

Associate and Sessional Counsellors

Associates Counsellors are fully trained and offer their services voluntarily as they amass experience for their final accreditation. Sessional Counsellors are accredited counsellors who support the team with additional sessions during peak times. Associate and Sessional Counsellors work from the rooms above to allow the Service provide full coverage every day of the week.

• Sarah Abbas
• Barbara Allen
• Gary Fielder
• Karen MacMillan
• Phil Palmer
• Suzi Poole
• Nicky Rogers
• Rosemary Undwerwood
• Helen Parker
• Chryssa Chalkia
• Lisa Barnard
• June Cline
• Hannah Humphrey-Baker
• Daphne Josselin

Letters to support Applications for Extenuating Circumstances

1. During the examination period and at coursework submission time, we are sometimes asked by students to provide letters in support of claims for extenuating circumstances.
2. We are happy to offer letters of support to students where we are able to comment on how their issues might have impacted on their ability to study or to perform in exams. This is usually only possible where the student has been in ongoing counselling, generally a minimum of three sessions, before the request is made and their counsellor has gained enough knowledge and awareness of their issues to be able comment on how their situation has affected them.
3. We do not generally write retrospective letters as we believe that we are not in a position to comment on a student’s previous emotional state and the examination instructions clearly state that such letters are not acceptable. We would usually explore with the student if there is anyone else who might have prior knowledge of the student’s situation. This might include a doctor or other health or pastoral care worker, who can provide evidence. Alternatively we would suggest the student provides their own statement of extenuating circumstances, accompanied by such documentary evidence as may be appropriate (see extract from Examination Instructions below).
4. We are also occasionally asked for immediate supporting letters by students who come to counselling for the first time when they are coping with immediate and difficult current issues and who may or may not want to engage in further counselling. We would usually explore with the student what immediate support they have already accessed and whether there are other parties who might be more appropriate to provide supporting evidence in that they have more knowledge of the student, before deciding whether or not to provide written support ourselves. Should we decide to do so we would only be able to comment on what the student has disclosed in that session about their issue and how they described being affected by it; we would not be able to verify it.

From Examination Instructions to Candidates 2011-12

http://www.rhul.ac.uk/forstudents/documents/pdf/exams/instructionstocandidates2011-12.pdf |

1. 7 i (b) Retrospective certification of a condition will not normally be accepted (that is, a note from the doctor/ practitioner indicating that you reported your illness/ condition to them some months after the event but did not see them at the time of the illness/ you experienced the condition). For other personal circumstances (e.g. divorce, or the death of a family member), a written statement of the circumstances from you should be sufficient.

Contact us to make an appointment: in person FW171 between 9am and 4pm, (phone) 01784 443128 or email counselling@rhul.ac.uk|