Counselling Service guidelines

The Goldsmiths Student Counselling Service is accessed by making an appointment with a Wellbeing Advisor.

They will talk with you about your circumstances and will refer you to the Counselling Service as appropriate.

You will be given a booking link where you can choose who to book in with, when, and the mode of appointment. The counselling service at Goldsmiths offers short term one-to-one counselling either face-to-face, over Microsoft Teams or over the phone.

Sessions are offered by both qualified and trainee counsellors. We are also able to signpost students to external services that offer longer term or specialist counselling.  

Counselling sessions

We offer short term counselling for up to six sessions. It is not the same as longer-term weekly psychotherapy and for this reason we recommend that you think about the main area/s in your life that you would like support with at this time.

We offer a ‘session by session’ approach to counselling: this means that after your initial session and any subsequent sessions you have, you and your counsellor discuss the best way forward for you. Options include booking in a further session, agreeing to contact your counsellor when you are ready to book another session or deciding you have had enough sessions for the time being.

Because of the flexible nature of this approach, we cannot guarantee to see you at the same time each week and there may be a gap between sessions depending upon counsellor availability.

Please be aware that whilst we can offer both in person and remote sessions, you must be in the UK at the time of the appointment. Due to professional regulations and legal implications, we are unable to hold sessions with students overseas. If you are abroad temporarily, we can arrange for appointments to take place once you are back in the UK.

Policy on late arrival and non-attendance   

Each session lasts 50 minutes and we cannot extend the length of this if you are late for your appointment. 

Your commitment to attending your scheduled counselling appointments is an essential part of the counselling process. There is a very high demand for counselling, and we therefore have a clear policy on lateness and non-attendance for the benefit of all students wishing to use this service.

Late arrival 

If you are going to be late for your counselling appointment, please email your counsellor. If you are late for your session and have not forewarned your counsellor, they will wait for 20 minutes after which we cannot guarantee the session will be held open for you.   

Non-attendance and cancellation 

It is important to let your counsellor know in advance by email if you are unable to attend one of your sessions. If we do not hear from you, we may assume that you no longer wish to continue with the Counselling Service, and your case may be closed. 

Contact with your counsellor

The best way to contact your counsellor is by email. Please be aware that many of the counsellors work part-time, so you may not receive a response straight away.

If you require immediate support with mental health difficulties between sessions with your councillor, visit our dedicated emergency and crisis support page. 

Evaluation of counselling

We invite students to complete a confidential online questionnaire (CORE) at the start and end of counselling.   

Complaints

We work to provide the best possible counselling service to students. If you wish to make a complaint about any aspect of the service, you should speak to your counsellor first, if possible.   

If you are still not satisfied, you can write to the Student Counselling Manager, Fiona Buchanan: f.buchanan (@gold.ac.uk). This would be considered a Stage 1 complaint under Goldsmiths' Student Complaints Procedure. 

Equality and diversity statement

We are committed to practising counselling in ways that are inclusive, accessible and affirming to clients from all backgrounds, cultures, races, beliefs, sexualities, abilities and gender identities, and to those with disabilities. 

Confidentiality   

What you discuss in counselling sessions is treated confidentially within Goldsmiths Student Support Services.   

The exception to this is where there are significant welfare or safeguarding concerns.   

In such situations, we would ideally share information with your consent, but in situations where immediate action is required (to save a life for example), we may notify emergency services such as the Police or Ambulance service.   

Read our Data Protection and Confidentiality Statement.