Making an Appointment
Welcome to the Student Counselling Service. Please read the information below to let you know about us and what we can offer you.
The Student Counselling Service provides a free service to all domestic and NZAid students. International students are charged for counselling, and for those insured with VUW Studentsafe (Vero) the Student Counselling Service can bill Studentsafe directly. Students who are insured with other insurance companies will need to pay and claim reimbursement from their insurer.
Our goal is to provide quality short-term counselling support for students, who may bring any issues to discuss that are impacting on their studies (e.g., life challenges, relationships, family, sexuality, depression/anxiety, stress, alcohol/drug issues).
If the support you require or prefer is more intensive in nature, then the counsellor you see can discuss this with you along with possible referral elsewhere.
New Counselling Appointments
Appointments can be made by phone or in person. There is usually a waiting time of between one to three weeks before you can meet with a counsellor. While this is usual practice for counselling services, we know that sometimes it may be difficult to wait when you have made an effort to make contact with us.
We encourage you to use your usual supports and self-care strategies between making the appointment and seeing a counsellor. Information is available from reception about strategies to help you cope with difficult times.
Information is also available about professional services available to you (like 24 hour phone services), or alternative community counselling services in Wellington that you could contact instead of University Counselling. Please feel free to take some ‘time-out’ in our waiting room.
Quick Question
If you have a quick question you may be able to meet briefly today with the duty counsellor.
The Quick Question time is by definition brief and focussed e.g. if you need counselling support for an extension, late withdrawal or academic progress related issue, or you are not sure who you should see to sort out a personal or academic issue.
If you need ongoing counselling or a comprehensive counselling assessment you will be rescheduled to the next available 50 minute appointment. Please note that you may be asked to wait until the duty counsellor is free.
Urgent
If you feel that you or someone else is at risk of suicide or serious harm, we will endeavour to have the duty counsellor speak to you today. Please let reception know if this applies to you.
For an emergency that is happening right now Dial 111, or, to discuss your own or someone else’s safety or acute mental health crisis, phone 04 494 9169 or 0800 745 477 (24hrs) for the CATT Team (Community Assessment and Treatment Team).
Cancellations
24 hours notice is required if you are unable to keep a booked appointment. This helps us to be able to offer this appointment to another VUW student. Tel. 04 463 5310 or email counselling.service@vuw.ac.nz