Considerations when referring a student for counselling
Whilst you may encounter a number of students having little or no reticence in feeling able to approach you with their difficulties, there may be others that attempt to cope through avoiding, escaping e.g. alcohol/drug misuse, or indirectly demonstrating the fact that they are struggling through poor attendance and academic performance.
Further indications of emotional difficulties may be observed through uncharacteristic changes in appearance, behaviour or attitudes that may give rise to your concern for their overall well-being. If this is detected, then we would encourage you to initiate contact with the student and be open about your concerns with them. Try and ascertain what is troubling them through the use of open ended questions that are more likely to engender responses around their feeling and thinking. Maintain clear role and confidentiality boundaries.
Closely linked to this is the need to treat all concerns and difficulties seriously and in particular suicidal concerns. Ensure that the student is fully informed of the counselling service and the way that it operates.
Referrals should be made if you believe that the support you are offering is not addressing the problem effectively or if you feel that their difficulties are beyond your competencies and your pastoral remit.
Describing the process of counselling to the student can help them make an informed choice as to whether they feel able to take your referral suggestions further. It is essential that the student make the initial contact; we do not take on referrals directly from concerned members of staff. This is because counselling is a collaborative process and at its core is the need for the potential client to demonstrate their choice through making the contact themselves.
Enquiry and Consultation Service
The Counselling team offer an Enquiry and Consultation Service to staff who wish to discuss a concern about a student or other member of the university in confidence. The Service can be contacted by telephone (4542) or email Counselling@glos.ac.uk, and normally one of the team will respond within a working day.