The way to access single session therapy is to meet with a Wellbeing Advisor or your Learning and Teaching Support Officer. This is because there are lots of different kinds of support we can offer you. Many of the staff are trained counsellors themselves so if they think they can help there and then or another kind of support will help you resolve your issue, they will find the right resource for you.
If appropriate, talking to a staff member will help you focus and they can support you to fill out a single session therapy referral form. This is not a formality. Single session therapy is a psychological intervention in its own right and had been used effectively since the 1990s. The questions on the form have been researched and designed to really help you focus on what issue/s you need to bring, what help you have had in the past and what you hope to gain from the experience. In a sense, it acts as a session in itself.
You will then be booked in with a therapist for the session. We aim to see everyone within a week of receiving a referral form. Single session therapy is designed to address students presenting concerns. We have found that this one appointment is usually sufficient for two-thirds of the students we see in the year, and we see a lot of students. Our therapists each have specific skills and expertise so we will always match the information gained from your referral with the appropriately skilled therapist.
After the session
At the end of the session, you will be sent a summary of what has been discussed with some suggestions for things to implement, read and often some practical hints and tips. The counselling service is here to support you, however, we expect you to implement the recommendations, learning and insights that you have gained from your single session therapy session, and allow at least a six to eight-week gap to process these before you engage in any further therapy.
Single session therapy is also the entry-point to our other therapy services, should a student present with more complex needs. We offer longer-term psychological therapy over a few weeks or months, should this be appropriate. You will clearly be told that you have been put on the longer-term therapy waiting list at your Single Session if this is appropriate and will receive monthly updates about where you are on the list if you are referred for long term therapy.
Additional sessions
If you are really struggling you can request another single session therapy session to help you during the wait for long term therapy or if you believe you need more support after your first single session therapy. However, we would expect you to have at least a six to eight-week gap before another single session therapy appointment because we want you to implement the actions, learning and insights that you have gained from your previous single session therapy session.
If you are concerned that you cannot keep yourself safe then please do ask for help.
What we can do to help
Student Services offers a range of support that includes Wellbeing Practitioners, Counsellors, and the Mental Health Advisory Service. To access any of these services contact the Student Advice and Guidance team. This is the entry point to speak to the Wellbeing Advisors, Counsellors, and the Mental Health Advisory Service and all our services are confidential. You can complete this online form, or call 0151 795 1000 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.