Wellbeing and Counselling

Our Wellbeing team are here to promote the wellbeing of all students and to provide particular support to those with mental health difficulties. If you are concerned about your own wellbeing or the wellbeing of a fellow student, you can discuss your worries confidentially.

Wellbeing Drop-In Support
There's a Wellbeing drop-in that offers same day support to all of our students. It’s a chance to have an initial chat with one of the wellbeing team and explore options of support. The Wellbeing drop-in runs Monday–Friday and can be accessed face-to-face or online. The face-to-face drop-in runs from 10.00-14.00 and is held at the Student Services reception on campus. Online wellbeing sessions are available in the afternoons from Monday–Friday and can be accessed via AUB’s online booking system

Who can access support for the Wellbeing Service?
Any of our current students can contact the Wellbeing Service to discuss any concerns or worries, particularly if you have mental health difficulties, addiction or eating disorders, or feel that you are struggling to remain on your course due to personal issues.

Practical Advice and Support
Wellbeing support focuses on identifying practical strategies for managing any difficulties you may be experiencing. This may involve help with time management and motivation, coping strategies managing your mood and studies, or guidance on the benefits.

You can contact the Wellbeing team on:
Telephone: +44 1202 363780
Email: wellbeing@aub.ac.uk

If you feel you need help and support beyond that offered by tutors, friends or family, counselling could help. Talking to a counsellor in a safe, non-judgemental and confidential setting can enable you to work through your problems with the aim of reaching a solution. Counselling is also an excellent tool for your own personal development.

The Counselling Service is student-focused and we offer single therapeutic sessions for one hour booked on a session by session basis. The service adheres to the key theoretical principles of the person-centred approach as its foundation; putting you, the student in the centre of the counselling relationship. Counsellors will be genuine and non-judgemental, use advanced skills in listening and empathy and approach all students with openness and acceptance regarding any issues brought to the counselling session.

Counsellors may also integrate additional skills and tools from other theoretical counselling approaches such as Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to enable better therapeutic outcomes. We can also arrange referrals to local specialist external counselling agencies where appropriate. Referrals where, for example, religion, ethnicity, or language impact the request for a more specialist service, please note that a referral to this external agency providing these services is accessible via the AUB counselling service.

The AUB Counselling Service maintains a professional accreditation awarded by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and fully adheres to its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. We have a team of professionally qualified and experienced male and female counsellors and we offer two supervised placements for trainee counsellors in their final year before qualification.

Please see the BACP ethical framework for the Counselling Profession.

Counselling is a confidential process and only in exceptional circumstances would this confidentiality be broken, and direct action is taken – usually, if there is an immediate risk to your own safety or that of others. Student confidentiality is preserved in respect of the service and not to the counsellor. This means that within the counselling service, some limited information such as session notes or your contact details may be viewed by another counsellor if you choose to see a different counsellor each time you use the service.

It also allows us to maintain a student-focused service and enables easier communication when booking or cancelling appointments.

The full details of confidentiality can be found in the Counselling Service Policy and Confidentiality Statement which is available to view or download on the AUB Viewpoint page under Student Services/Counselling.

AUB's Counselling Service offers face-to-face (in-person) counselling sessions or online video sessions using Microsoft Teams.

If you’d like to book a counselling session, please feel free to use the Bookings Tile on MyAUB, where you can select an appointment to suit your timetable.

The Counselling Service is also open outside term time and across the summer months.

Expert information and advice to help you through the challenges of student life. Whether it’s your mental health, your studies, money or relationships, help is available. Real students share their experiences of their student journey.

We understand that if you're experiencing particular challenges, you may want to talk to someone but might not be ready to meet with one of our team. There are lots of organisations and charities available that can offer you a range of options to make sure that you can still find the help you want.

Connections
24/7 Dorset HealthCare helpline for anyone experiencing a crisis with their mental health. You can contact them on 0300 123 5440.

The Retreat (Dorset Mental Health Forum)
The Retreat is a safe and welcoming environment for anyone over 18 years of age, based in Dorset and who have self-identified their crisis and want to access support. You can find them at Hahnemann House, Hahnemann Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5JW open daily (16.30-23.30). You can drop in – no appointment needed.

Papyrus
The national suicide prevention charity to offer support and guidance if you or someone you know is struggling to cope. You can call them on 0800 0684141.

*SHOUT
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. You can text them on 85258.

The Counselling Directory
The Counselling Directory is a great resource to find counsellors near you. Don’t forget that that counselling at AUB is free for students – you may have to pay privately to see a registered therapist on this list.

Students Against Depression
The Students Against Depression is a website by students, for students. They offer guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.

The Samaritans
To speak to someone in confidence, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 08457 909090 or 116 123 (free from mobiles and landlines). You can also email jo@samaritans.org.

Relate (The Relationship People)
Relate are the UK’s largest provider of relationship support. Find out more, or call them 01202 311231.

Cruse (Bereavement and Loss)
Cruse can offer support, advice and information on coping with a bereavement. Get in touch on 01202 302000.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous can be contacted on their free helpline 0800 9177 650 or you can live chat with a volunteer through their chatbox.

Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous can help support you with local or online meetings. Their support line is open 10.00-22.00 on 0300 999 1212.

British Pregnancy Advisory Service
The local branch is Dean Park Clinic, 23-25 Ophir Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8LS. They’re open Tuesday (08.00-18.00), Wednesday (08.00-20.00) and Thursday (08.00-18.00). Call them on 03457 304030.

The Shores
The Shores are the dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Dorset, providing a comprehensive service to men, women and children who have been raped or sexually assaulted.

Stars
Stars (formerly Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre) is a voluntary organisation run for men, women and young people over 16 who have been raped or sexually abused. They offer support through the criminal justice process and also provide counselling support.

Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
Somerset and Wessex eating disorders association have useful message boards and helplines. Find out more on their website or call them on 01458 448600.

Poole Youth Access Point
A young persons’ service that can help you with anything that's holding you back or provide you with support. They can support you with making positive life changes, helping you to identify realistic choices and move towards lasting results.

Location: 18 Hill Street, Poole, BH15 1NR
Telephone: 07880 480602
Call 07880 480602 for an appointment.

Over the Rainbow Bournemouth
A drop-in centre for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community. Now based at The Shores with a clinic open on Wednesdays 12.00-19.00. To book appointments call 07788415522.

Dorset Sexual Health
To contact Dorset Sexual Health call 0300 303 1948.

Voice Collective
Voice Collective is a UK wide London-based project that supports children and young people who hear voices, see visions, have other ‘unusual’ sensory experiences or beliefs. You can call them on 020 7911 0822.

Dorset Open Door
To contact bereavement support call 01305 361 361 or email dhc.dorsetopendoor@nhs.net.