Counselling Sessions

Counselling is free and confidential.

Most students can benefit from seeing a counsellor at some point in their university experience. Common issues students identify are feeling worried, anxious or depressed, having relationship problems or underachievement in their studies.

Whether your concerns are personal, social, academic, or vocational, you will find professional counsellors and staff whose training and experience uniquely fit the university setting. For more information about our qualifications and special interests, just click on our Staff page.

All current Acadia students can use Counselling Services at no cost. Faculty and Staff can participate in the Employee and Family Assistance Program.

To book an appointment, call us, email us, or visit us in our office in the Old SUB.

What to expect

Your first visit will be an "intake appointment". This is just a 30-minute process where you sit down with one of our counsellors and answer some questions about yourself. This allows us to see you quickly and touch base to see if there may also be other resources that can help you as well!

After your intake appointment, future appointments will be 50-minute sessions where you'll work with a counsellor to identify why you might be struggling.

You'll work on developing strategies for better coping.
You'll receive support and guidance for making sometimes difficult changes.
You'll have the opportunity to speak honestly about your state of mind, feelings and disappointments.
You'll be able to share in a judgement-free zone.

Many students benefit from a single 50-minute session with a counsellor. Occasionally, for complex concerns, you may choose to meet for more sessions. At any time, you are welcome to return for further help with the same or with a new situation.

Confidentiality

At your first appointment, a Counsellor will ask you to fill in a short intake form which includes your name and some other information that will be used only for statistics which would not identify you or your Counsellor's use.

All sessions at the Student Resource Centre are confidential (except under emergency situations involving clear and imminent danger to yourself or others). What you share with a counsellor will be held in confidence. In addition, the identity of those who use the Counselling Centre is also regarded as confidential.