frequently asked questions

Who is counselling for?
Is it free?
Is it confidential?
Will the fact that I attended the counselling service appear on my record?
How do I make an appointment?
How soon can I be seen?
How many sessions can I have?
What information is available to take away with me?
Will the counsellor contact other people on my behalf, eg academic, doctor?
Can I give feedback on the service I have received?
What are the drop-in support and advice sessions?
Is the service open throughout the academic holidays?

Who is counselling for?

Counselling is available to all full and part-time students, undergraduate and post graduate of NUI, Galway. Each year, between 500 and 600 students have contact with the service. These include students who have come from school to college, mature students, international students and students with disabilities.

Is it free?

The service is free to all registered students of NUI, Galway.

Is it confidential?

Yes. As a general rule, counsellors will not divulge any information about you outside the service, without your permission. The only exception to this would be if your counsellor feels there is a serious risk either to yourself or to someone else.

We maintain case notes on all clients. These are kept by the counsellor you are attending and are to help him/her reflect on your situation and offer the best possible help. Your details are also kept anonymously on a database for statistical purposes only. 

Will the fact that I attended the counselling service appear on my record?

No.

How do I make an appointment?

Appointments can be made by phoning 091-492484 (Fiona Kennedy) or e-mail:  counselling nuigalway.ie  or you can drop in between the hours of 9.15 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. or 2.15 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.

How soon can I be seen?

This depends on the time of year. We aim to offer everyone a first appointment within seven to ten days to talk about your needs. Your counsellor will discuss with you when you can be seen for ongoing counselling. You are advised to book appointments as soon as you can. Because of the high demand for spaces, we would appreciate if you would let the administrator know, as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel.  

How many sessions will I have?

This varies for each individual, but initially you will be offered six sessions. In some cases this can be reviewed and further sessions offered if appropriate.

What information is available to take away with me?

We provide self help fact sheets in our waiting area, as well as information on various organisations who can provide help. We also stock a range of free booklets on a variety of mental health topics such as Anxiety, Stress, Depression and others. These can be picked up from the waiting area at any time when the service is open.

Will the counsellor contact other people on my behalf, eg academic, doctor?

The student may request the counsellor to liaise with, or write to, a third party (e.g. an academic adviser, course convenor, doctor). In the case of letters, the client will agree the contents and, wherever possible, have read the letter before it is sent. In the case of telephone calls, the purpose of the call and the nature and extent of the information disclosed will be agreed with the client prior to the call being made. Generally, as the first point of contact with the service, the secretary manages all incoming messages and passes these onto the counsellor concerned.

Clients will be informed of any contact with the service made by a third party as soon as it is possible for the counsellor to do so. The counsellor will only communicate with a third party about a client between appointments where the client has given explicit permission, subject to the previously noted exceptions.

Can I give feedback on the service I have received?

Yes. We encourage students who attend to evaluate their experience and let is know what aspects of the service they found helpful and what could be improved. This is in the form of an anonymous web questionnaire which is conducted annually. Students who attend the service will be notified of this via e-mail.

What are the drop-in support and advice sessions?

We also run a drop-in service from 2.15 p.m. - 4.15p.m. each day during term time,  when students can be seen for a brief consultation, without prior appointment. If you have something you would like to talk through but are unsure if you want to come to counselling, the support and advice sessions are ideal.

Is the service open throughout the academic holidays?

The service is open throughout the calendar year except between Christmas and New Year when the University as a whole closes. Between semesters availability is subject to staff holidays.

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