Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the staff?

The following are all counsellors within the Student Counselling and Advisory Service:

Simon Cassar, Head of Service
Anne Wood
Lois Aitkenhead
Lindy Barbour
Mae Boyd
Alan Brown
Nicola James

At times, we also have sessional counsellors and counsellors in training, as we are a training placement for professional counselling courses.

Sessional Counsellors

Sandra Wotton
Alison Angus
Marie Murray

Support staff

Kate Connolly (Secretary)

Is the Counselling Service confidential?

Yes. As a general rule your counsellor will not divulge any information about you outside the service, including whether or not you have attended, without your permission.

Only in very rare situations, where there is serious concern about clients' safety and/or others would this have to be reconsidered by any counsellor. The Code of Practice on Confidentiality and Management of Personal Information is included on the web pages and leaflets are available in the waiting area.

The Counsellors are members of COSCA (Confederation of Scottish Counselling Agencies) and/or BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and/or UKCP (United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists) and work according to their established codes of practice.

How soon can I be seen?

This varies depending on the time of year. There is sometimes a waiting list for a first appointment to talk about your needs. This can sometimes lead on to individual counselling or recommendation elsewhere depending on the circumstances. Every effort is made to use the time available as efficiently as possible in order to provide the best service.

What information is available to take away with me?

We provide information in leaflet or poster form in the waiting area about other resources within the university and, in response to specific requests, the secretaries can often provide contact information about relevant agencies in the wider community.

We stock a range of free booklets published by the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) and also MIND, 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. Electronic copies of most of the booklets can also be accessed directly from the HEBS and MIND websites.

Can I give feedback on the service I have received?