Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Open Door Service?
What is the 'Ten to the Hour' Service?
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
How can I help someone who I think needs counselling?
Does the Counselling Service offer any group counselling?
Does the Counselling Service run any workshops or courses?
Counselling is a process in which the counsellor listens in an active and non-judgemental way to the concerns of the person requesting counselling - the 'client'. The client is helped to express feelings about personal difficulties - both recent and long-standing - and to look at ways of working through these. The counsellor does not give directive advice but instead tries to help the client arrive at choices which are right for them.
No issue is considered 'not important enough' if it is causing concern. It may be just a matter of talking through a difficult choice or dilemma with somebody neutral or it may be something extremely distressing. Issues which are commonly brought to counselling include self-esteem, anxiety, depression, motivation, family and relationship, identity, sexuality, loss, stress in illness and the aftermath of abuse or other trauma.
Counselling may take only one or two sessions or it may continue over a longer period of time. A counselling session is usually 45 minutes long.
Confidentiality means that what you discuss with your counsellor will be kept private. The counsellors work within the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and all counsellors have regular external consultative support for their work. The identity of the client is safeguarded. If anyone outside the service enquires about a particular student, we explain to them that it is a confidential service and that we cannot comment on whom we are seeing or not seeing. We do listen to the concerns of the enquirer and try to assist them in making their own choices about how to approach or help someone else.
There are exceptional and rare circumstances beyond the boundaries of confidentiality. Where possible the counsellor will seek to discuss these prior to any disclosure or action. These exceptional and rare circumstances are:
- Where a client is at immediate risk of causing serious harm to themselves or others
- Where Statutory Law requires disclosure
- When the counsellor is subpoenaed or summoned as a witness in a Court of Law
If you have any concerns or queries about this information please discuss them with the counsellors.
At MMU Manchester
The Service operates throughout the week at the All Saints Campus and at certain times on other Manchester Campuses during term time (please follow the link The Counselling Service on Manchester Campuses for details).
You can telephone 0161 247 3493 or call in at the All Saints Building (All Saints Campus) between 8.45am-12noon or 12.45-4.30pm to make an appointment with the Counselling Secretary, or email counselling@mmu.ac.uk (we will not enter into email correspondence but we will telephone you back. Please leave your name and telephone number when you email). Alternatively, for a brief time, without an appointment, you can approach the counsellor on site at ten to the hour or come along to an Open Door service (for Open Door details on Manchester Campuses please follow the link The Counselling Service on Manchester Campuses).
At MMU Cheshire
The Service operates two and a half days a week on the Crewe Campus. You can telephone 0161 247 3493 or email counselling@mmu.ac.uk . The Counselling Service is located in the Laurence Building, room 0-25 near the Student Information Point.
Alternatively, for a brief time, without an appointment, you can approach the counsellor on site at ten to the hour or come along to an Open Door service 12noon-12.45 each Monday during term time.
The 'Open Door' service is an opportunity for you to briefly meet with a counsellor without having to make an appointment. Come along to one of the scheduled Open Door sessions and you will be seen on a first come first seen basis. We recommend that you telephone the Counselling Service reception on the day to check the Open Door session is running.
Please note that this year the Counselling Service at MMU Cheshire does not offer group counselling.What is the 'Open Door' service?
The 'Open Door' service is an opportunity for you to briefly meet with a counsellor without having to make an appointment. Come along to one of the scheduled Open Door sessions and you will be seen on a first come first seen basis (see About the Counselling Service for Open Door details). Occasionally the service is not operating so we recommend that you telephone the Counselling Service reception on the day to check (0161 247 3493). For Manchester Campuses and (0161 247 5725) for Cheshire Campuses.
What is the 'Ten to the Hour' Service?
Counsellors make themselves available, during opening hours, for brief contact at 'ten to the hour'. This time is available to students and staff for consultation.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
Waiting, or not, for an appointment will depend on how busy the Counselling Service is. During vacation time it is less busy so you should not have to wait long. In term time however waiting time for a full appointment can be in excess of three weeks. At these times we recommend using the Open Door service.
How can I help someone who I think needs counselling?
Some people need professional help with their difficulties. Where appropriate we recommend that you talk about your concerns with the other person and suggest the idea of counselling or making contact with the Counselling Service. We can send a Counselling Service leaflet out or you could tell them about this web site.
Does the Counselling Service offer any group counselling?
Yes. There is a long-term counselling group conducted by a group therapist. Places become available at certain times of the year. Enquiries can be made through the Counselling Service Secretary by phoning 0161 247 3493.
Does the Counselling Service run any workshops or courses?
Yes. A number of workshops and courses on issues such as relaxation, stress management and confidence building run at different times of the year.
Enquiries can be made through the Counselling Service Secretary by phoning 0161 247 3493 (for MMU Manchester) and 0161 247 5725/5326 (for MMU Cheshire).