Counselling

Marjon Counselling Service for students.

What you might like to know...

We recognise that at times in our life things can feel tough for whatever reasons there might be and sometimes we don’t know why we feel the way we do.   This can leave us feeling confused, alone and not sure what could happen next.

Perhaps the following might help you look at how we can help support you.

You will find our Counselling Centre in the east block of the Quad (grass area) between the Octagon and Barjon.   You are very welcome to pop in and have a look inside, even if you don’t want to see or talk to anybody, perhaps just knowing we are here will help.

We thought there might be lots of questions you want to ask and we hope that some of them might be answered here.

How will I know I need or want counselling?

We can offer you an initial appointment to discuss your thoughts and feelings to help you make decisions over your wellbeing.  Counselling may be suggested by your GP, a member of staff at Marjon, or your family and friends.  It is very much your choice to have counselling and to make that choice of when and if you feel you want to access support. 

How do I find out about the counselling service?

You are very welcome to get in touch and make a self-referral through our Counselling email – counselling@marjon.ac.uk or ring us and leave a message – 01752 636850.  We aim to answer your request within 5 working days and to offer you an initial appointment within 10 days.  

We can arrange an initial appointment with you to tell you more about our service.  This is also an opportunity for you to find out more and to ask questions and for us to find out more about you and how you have been feeling.  Importantly, it can be a time for you to make the choice of whether counselling feels right for you.    Our initial appointments are usually for 30 minutes and will be with one of our friendly counsellors.

Can I get counselling right away?

We can be a busy service which sometimes creates a waiting list.  The length of the waiting time depends on the demand on our service, and the time of the year.  You may be put on our waiting list for counselling until a session becomes available for you.   Please know we have additional members of the Student Wellbeing and Support Team that can support you too.  We can talk more about your wellbeing during your initial appointment, but if you feel you are in crisis, we may encourage you to link with your GP, as well as look at other areas of support available for you. 

What do you offer for counselling?

We offer short term counselling up to 7 sessions with one of our qualified counsellors.  We can offer counselling face to face, telephone or online sessions through TEAMs.  Your sessions will be offered weekly and last for up to 50 minutes.  We try to match a time to fit in with your timetable and your commitments.  Although we are unable to offer long term counselling, you can access our service throughout your time as a student here at Marjon.  This means you can come in and out of our service as and when you need it.

What if I don’t feel counselling is right for me?

Counselling is very much your choice, and there is no expectation for you to have all 7 sessions.  You may feel one or a few sessions are enough, or that counselling doesn’t feel right for you.  We would encourage you to discuss this with your counsellor.  

What hours are you open?

We open Monday to Thursday, 9:30 – 5:00 every day except Fridays when we close at 3pm.

Things our counsellors hear that might make people doubt they should go to counselling…

“I feel I’m a burden if I talk about my problems and how I’m feeling”

“My problem is not as big as others”

“Other people deserve more help than me”

“I need to be able to deal with my problems and get on with them”

“I feel embarrassed to say I need help”

We wouldn’t want anyone to think their problem is too small, or that they aren’t entitled to ask for support.  We want everyone to have the opportunity to come and talk about what is going on for them.