Counselling
Non-judgemental
A safe place to articulate and discuss the things that have got in the way, without having to justify them first.
Collaborative
The counsellor works with the person through their difficulties while appreciating the particular pressures of studying at university.
Matched to the student
UMO aims to match the counsellor’s specialism and experience to what the student brings, and students may choose a counsellor from a culturally diverse background if they wish.
What students bring to counselling
Making sense of what is happening
Counsellors help students build resilience and reflect on their experience, so they can forge a more satisfying student life. Students come with a wide range of concerns.
- Anxiety, stress and panic attacks
- Depression and low self-esteem
- Grief, loss and personal trauma
- Relationship difficulties and sexuality
- Addiction, eating issues and self-harm
- Adjusting to change
How counselling works
It begins with a conversation about fit, because the right counsellor matters more than a fast start.
01
Initial appointment
The counsellor meets the student to understand what they need and whether they are the right person to help.
02
Agree the work
Next, they agree what the sessions are for and whether short-term or longer-term support fits the situation.
03
Regular sessions
Sessions give the student a consistent place to work through difficulties, at a pace they set.
04
Review and ending
Finally, the student and counsellor review what has changed and plan how the work ends.
Current hourly rate
Counselling prices
One hourly rate applies to this service. Counselling is commissioned directly by universities and colleges rather than through DSA.
Standard rate
Counselling (HEI)
University or college funded, charged per session hour
£80 excluding VAT, per hour
Therefore, the total cost depends on how many sessions are agreed. Contact UMO for a quotation.
Confidentiality
What a student says stays between them and their counsellor
All UMO counsellors work to clear UMO policies on confidentiality and GDPR. Counselling is not reported back to a department, and attending is not recorded against a student’s academic file.
However, counsellors work within agreed safeguarding procedures. Where there is a serious risk to the student or to someone else, they will act, and wherever possible they will say so first.
What students say about counselling
In their own words, from UMO’s student feedback.
Undergraduate
“Having someone to speak to who was honest about when I’m the problem and when I’m not, and what I can change and what I can’t”
Postgraduate
“How to deal with stress. That I am enough and I do not need to put too much pressure on myself”
Undergraduate
“Help sorting through my thoughts and feelings to see what actually needs to change, and what I can do to improve the situation”
Postgraduate
“Having regular appointments gave me a sense that we were constantly working through things and I had someone to share my problems with”
Accreditation, choice and university responsibilities
Counselling sits alongside a university’s own provision rather than replacing it.
Accredited practitioners
UMO counsellors are BACP, UKCP, APC or APP accredited, and adhere to those bodies’ professional standards.
Trained in specialist areas
Counsellors hold particular interests and extensive experience across the concerns students bring, so the match can be made deliberately.
University duties continue
Commissioned counselling does not replace reasonable adjustments, a university’s own counselling service or its wider duty of care.
Trusted information about counselling and mental health
These professional bodies and health services explain what counselling involves and where else to find help.
BACP: about therapyWhat counselling involves, what to expect and how to find an accredited therapist.(opens in a new tab) NHS mental health informationInformation about mental health, treatment and where to get help.(opens in a new tab) SamaritansFree, confidential support at any time, for anyone struggling to cope.(opens in a new tab)
Questions about counselling
Answers for students, wellbeing teams and other referrers.
Getting started
What happens at the first appointment?
The counsellor meets the student to understand what they need and to establish whether they are the right person to help. Nothing is committed to before that conversation.
How many sessions will a student have?
It depends on the situation. UMO counsellors provide both short-term and longer-term support, agreed with the student rather than fixed in advance.
What does it cost?
£80 excluding VAT per hour, invoiced to the institution.
How is a student referred?
Use the referral form and include the student’s details and a short description of what has prompted the referral.
Confidentiality and choice
Is counselling confidential?
Yes. All UMO counsellors work to clear policies on confidentiality and GDPR. The exception is a serious risk to the student or someone else, where safeguarding procedures apply.
Can a student choose their counsellor?
Students may ask to see a counsellor from a culturally diverse background, and UMO aims to match the counsellor’s specialism and experience to what the student brings.
What qualifications do counsellors hold?
All are BACP, UKCP, APC or APP accredited, and are qualified mental health practitioners with extensive experience of the concerns students bring.
How does counselling differ from mentoring?
Counselling works with the difficulty itself and how the student feels about it. Mentoring is practical and strategy-focused, aimed at study and independence. A student may need one, the other, or both at different times.
Arrange counselling for a student
Share the student’s details and what has prompted the referral, and UMO will match an accredited counsellor.