Student Services : Wellbeing and Counselling

What support is available?

Our Wellbeing team is here to promote the wellbeing of all our current students and to provide support to those who are struggling with their mental health or any challenges related to or impacting your studies.

Wellbeing support focuses on identifying practical strategies for managing any difficulties you may be experiencing, along with providing advice and guidance or signposting to other services and support.

If you're concerned about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a fellow student, you can discuss your worries confidentially.

How to access support from the Wellbeing Service?

The Wellbeing team offers same-day support to all our students. The in-person drop-in runs Monday to Friday, 10.00–14.00 and is held in the Student Services building on campus.

Online wellbeing sessions are available to book in the afternoons from Monday – Thursday and can be accessed via AUB’s online booking system.

You can contact the Wellbeing team via email at 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 be helpful, and counselling is also an excellent tool to explore 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 to counselling 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.

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 an external agency providing these services is accessible only via the AUB Counselling Service.

The AUB Counselling Service fully adheres to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, and we have a team of professionally qualified and experienced BACP Accredited counsellors.

You can find out more about the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Profession on the BACP website.

Counselling is a confidential process and only in exceptional circumstances would this confidentiality be broken, and direct action is taken – usually, if there's 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.

The full details about confidentiality can be found in the Counselling Service Policy and Confidentiality Statement, which is available to view or download.

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

If you’d like to book a counselling session, please use the Bookings tile on MyAUB, where you can select an appointment and counsellor to suit your timetable and availability.

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 or need support more urgently. 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.

For immediate mental health support, please find a selection of helpful services below:

The University Front Room
The University front room is a safe, confidential drop-in service for students over the age of 18 from AUB, Health Sciences University or Bournemouth University who are approaching a point of crisis and need face-to-face support. Open Monday to Friday, 14.00–21.00.

Connections
24/7 Dorset HealthCare helpline for anyone experiencing a crisis with their mental health. You can contact them on NHS 111.

The Retreat
The Retreat is a safe and welcoming environment for anyone over 18 years of age, 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.

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 Samaritans
To speak to someone in confidence, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 116 123.

No Panic
Urgent support for those struggling with panic attacks as well as anxiety disorders. No Panic's helpline is open 365 days of the year (10.00–22.00) – just call 0300 772 9844. They can support with "in the moment" breathing and relaxation techniques and more.

If you're looking for specialist or ongoing support, you can find a selection of services below:

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.

Hub of Hope
Mental health support directory. Whether you want to find a service to help you feel better, or you want to support someone else who's struggling.

Relate
Relate is the UK’s largest provider of relationship support. Find out more, or call them on 0300 100 1234.

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

Dorset Open Door
Dorset Open Door is a partnership of local/national bereavement charities and health and care organisations working together to make sure you get the support you need. It supports people who've been bereaved or affected by a death where the cause may be suicide, or be particularly traumatic or sudden. Call 01305 361 361 or email dhc.dorsetopendoor@nhs.net.

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 or email.

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

British Pregnancy Advisory Service
If you discover that you have a pregnancy that you feel you're unable to continue with, you can access support to make a decision that's right for you. Book online to access support.

The Shores
The Shores is the dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Dorset, providing a comprehensive service to men, women and children who've been raped or sexually assaulted. Telephone line open 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 9709 954.

Stars (Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service)
Stars is a voluntary organisation run for men, women and young people over 16 who've been raped or sexually abused. They offer support through the criminal justice process and also provide counselling support.

Dorset Sexual Health
Free, inclusive, specialist service empowering you to make informed decisions about your sexual wellbeing. To contact Dorset Sexual Health, call 0300 303 1948.

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
Call 07880 480602 for an appointment.