Counselling and Well-being
The Student Wellbeing Service offers support to help students with any difficulties they may be experiencing that may have a negative impact on their college life. The services are available to all students full and part time and are free and confidential.*
Services on offer include Counselling, Smoking Cessation, C-Card Scheme (condom distribution) and links to local external advice and information services for issues including sexual health & teen pregnancy, drugs & alcohol and sexuality.
Students seek support from the Wellbeing Service for various issues such as:
- Family break up/ divorce
- Relationship problems
- Domestic violence/ abuse (past/ present)
- Stress/ anxiety
- Depression
- Bereavement
- Study problems
- Low self confidence/ self esteem
- Anger management
- Issues with drugs or alcohol
- Feeling dissatisfied with life or self
- Self harming behaviours
- Suicidal thoughts
These issues (and many others) may be addressed through counselling.
How does Counselling work?
Counselling takes place when a student (client) sees a counsellor in a relaxed and confidential* setting to explore any areas of concern they may be experiencing at that time.
Sometimes we all have a story to tell and finding the right person to listen can be a problem in itself as the issue causing the difficulties may be affecting those around us too (i.e. family or friends); therefore, it may not feel appropriate to share worries with them. A counsellor is someone who is not directly caught up in the situation so is not anxious or upset by it. Counselling is about being listened to properly, with acceptance and respect and being understood without being judged. A counsellor can facilitate you to explore your own thoughts and feelings to better understand the issues affecting you and to assist, without giving advice, in developing your own coping strategies to help resolve them.
Counselling is always at the request of the client as no one can properly be 'sent' for it. Although tutors do refer students when they feel they need more help than they themselves can provide it is always with the student’s knowledge and consent.
Coming for counselling support is a positive move forward to improving your emotional well-being.
* Counselling is confidential unless consent is given to share information, or unless a risk of severe harm to any person is disclosed. This is explained in more detail in all initial sessions and adheres to the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) Code of Ethics.
Smoking Cessation
If you are a smoker and you feel you would like information and advice on ways to stop smoking, the Student Wellbeing Officer is a trained Smoking Cession Advisor who can help you quit. You can take a quick and simple ‘Smokerlyser’ test to measure the amount of carbon monoxide in your lungs as a result of smoking. By simply blowing into the hand held machine you can establish how deeply you are inhaling the smoke and find out the effects that can have on your present and future health. Find out about the Nicotine Replacement Products available to you (in many cases free of charge) by linking up (via the Wellbeing Officer) with the local Primary Care Trust support services.
Non smokers can also take the test to find out if they are affected by passive smoking as a result of living with smokers or ‘hanging around’ others as they smoke. There are leaflets and flyers available giving information on second hand smoke and other smoking related topics.
C-Card Scheme
C-Card is a free condom distribution service available to all students, male and female, up to the age of 24 years old. Registering for a card entitles you to 6 free condoms each time you present your card. Once you have registered, you can use your card in a number of different venues around the area. You may already have a card from signing up with a different organisation such as your local youth club, pharmacies or through Connexions. You can bring that card in to college and present it to get your next entitlement here.
For more information on any of the support on offer or to make an appointment contact:
Dianne Bowden - Student Wellbeing Officer
Tel: 01642 333742
Mobile: 07919 394713
Email: d.bowden@mbro.ac.uk
Or call into main Reception/Student Services