Counselling and Coaching Service
Welcome!
Students sometimes experience setbacks or face roadblocks to their personal or academic success. At Counselling and Coaching Service, we understand that asking for help is sometimes difficult. If you are feeling lost, are facing a problem you don't know how to handle or would just like to talk to someone in a safe place, please contact us. We're here to help.
Our team
Hours of operation
January 1 to May 31
| Monday | 08:45am—04:30pm | |
| Tuesday | 08:45am—04:30pm | |
| Wednesday | 08:45am—04:30pm | |
| Thursday | 08:45am—04:30pm | |
| Friday | 08:45am—04:30pm | |
| Saturday | Closed | |
| Sunday | Closed |
Where can you find us?
We are at 100 Marie-Curie Private, 4th floor, right above the Campus Pharmacy (Health Services building).
We also have a satellite office in 90 University to serve students in residence.
Our Services
The Counseling and Coaching Service (C&CS) is a unit of the Student Academic Success Service (SASS) which provides counseling, coaching, consultation, and psycho-education to University Ottawa and Saint Paul University students.
The Scope of Our Services
The CCS invites all students to make an initial appointment to discuss their concerns. During this initial meeting, the counsellor will conduct a needs assessment and assist you in obtaining the appropriate services within the CCS, other university units, or the community. Most of our services are provided on an individual basis but group sessions and psycho-educational workshops are often available. We also, on occasion, write notes to academic staff in support of requests of temporary exemptions for personal reasons.
Issues we can address
When appropriate, students may be referred to services offered within the C&CS. In order to use its resources most effectively, the C&CS utilizes a short-term model of intervention to assist students in addressing issues common in a university setting.
Some of the issues that are commonly addressed at the C&CS include:
- Personal Issues: Stress and non-chronic anxiety, non-chronic depression, loneliness, guilt, low self-esteem, grief, lifestyle choices.
- Relationship Issues: Romantic relationship difficulties, sexual concerns, roommate problems, family issues.
- Developmental Issues: Identity development, adjustment to university, homesickness, life transitions
- Academic or career Concerns: Perfectionism, underachievement, low motivation, procrastination, performance anxiety, lack of a career plan.
Issues we cannot address
When students present with longstanding issues and/or request long term therapy, or when there are indications that short term interventions may not be beneficial, we make every effort to facilitate a quick referral to other services.
Some of the issues that are commonly addressed through referral to services outside of the C&CS include:
- Chronic mood disturbances (depression, anxiety, panic attacks)
- Long standing or significant impairment caused by an eating disorder, substance abuse, gambling or other addictions.
- Chronic suicidality and/or chronic self-injury behavior.
- Trauma, abuse or other concerns from childhood or early adolescence.
- Manifestation of psychotic behaviors.
- Requests for formal psychological evaluations for diagnostic purposes.
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Career counselling
Career counselling
Why Career counselling can help you succeed?
Are you wondering if the study path you've chosen will lead you to the career that suits you best? Would you like help clarifying your career goals and making decisions? If so, career counselling can help.
Career counselling normally begins with small group sessions (approximately six students). This allows you to meet other students who are in similar situations and to share your experiences and knowledge.
The first part of the process involves two workshops. The first workshop provides you with an introduction to career development and encourages you to think about what you want in a career. After this workshop, you may choose to complete two online tests (a small fee applies). These tests are used to increase awareness of your personality characteristics and interests as they relate to your choice of a satisfying career. In the second workshop, your test results are interpreted and you develop an action plan including steps to move you forward on your career path.
Individual follow-up is available as needed.
Determining your career path is one of the key factors that affect your commitment to your studies. Having a vision of your future will motivate you to succeed at university and achieve the goals you set for yourself.
Click here for more information regarding the online tests:
Personal counselling
PERSONAL COUNSELLING - BUILDING RESILIENCE
What can counselling do for you?
We will help you identify and understand the challenges you are facing, recognize their impact on your life and develop strategies to cope with them. Managing your emotions is essential when facing the inevitable transitions of university life.
Counselling provides you with a safe space to develop skills and explore new perspectives, as well as increase your awareness and build resilience. You can prevent problems down the road by learning these important skills now.
How does counselling work?
Our services are provided by professional counsellors and at times by closely supervised Master's level interns. After an initial consultation, you will be assigned a counsellor, who will work with you in the short-term to address your difficulties. If your needs would be better addressed though longer term services, we will connect you with the appropriate community resource.
Coaching
Reach your potential
Do you want to achieve your academic and personal goals? Do you want to live a fulfilling life based on what's important to you, and enjoy yourself throughout the process? If these are your goals, coaching can help.
What can coaching do for you?
Coaching is a partnership where you and a coach work together to promote positive change. As coaches, we inspire you to take action towards personal excellence. We focus on the present as a springboard to improve the future, helping you determine and reach your goals and develop new skills.
How does coaching work?
To start, we help you identify what's truly important to you. We provide a place for you to be accountable to yourself. Through subsequent regular meetings, we inspire you to take action in new and creative ways, and we help you overcome challenges as they arise. In the end, however, the effort you put in determines your ultimate achievement and success.
Appointments
Once you request counselling, you are offered an initial appointment usually within 2 to 5 business days. The focus of this meeting is to help determine your needs and answer questions you may have about counselling. We also do our best to accommodate your requests for a specific counsellor (male/female, Francophone/Anglophone, etc.).
If you have an emergency, we make every effort to provide same-day service.
To make an appointment:
- call or leave a message at 613-562-5200, or
- come in person to 100 Marie-Curie, 4th floor
Check your eligibility for services based on our criteria.
New procedure starting on October 17, 2011
Rebooking fee:
All appointments missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice are subject to a $20 rebooking fee. (Please cancel on Friday for appointments on Monday.)
Your first appointment:
Your first appointment is a brief assessment that lasts around thirty minutes. Our sessions usually start on time. In order to complete all the required pre-counselling documentation, it is very important that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your session, or we may be forced to reschedule.
Student Eligibility
Current students:
If you are registered in at least one course in an academic session at the University of Ottawa or at Saint Paul University, you are eligible to receive during that session, at no charge
- An initial assessment session
- Personal counselling
- Career counselling
- Coaching
- Career planning workshops (*)
- Personal development workshops
- If you are using our services and decide, or are asked, to withdraw from the University of Ottawa or Saint Paul University prior to the end of an academic session, and if your tuition fees have not been fully refunded, you are eligible to continue using these services until the end of the academic session at no charge.
Former students
If you are a former full-time student of the University of Ottawa or Saint Paul University and you have not graduated, you are eligible for the following services within two (2) years of interrupting your studies:
- An initial assessment session
- Career planning workshops (*)
- Career counselling
Alumni:
If you have graduated from the University of Ottawa or Saint Paul University and request our services within one (1) year, you are eligible for the following services at no charge:
- An initial assessment session
- Career planning workshops (*)
- Career counselling
(*) Some workshops involve the use of online psychometric tests such as the Strong Interest Inventory (SII) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), for which a small fee applies.
Parents & Professors
Professors
The Student Who is Anxious
University students often encounter a great deal of stress during the course of their academic experience. Many of these students do not know how or where to get help. In your role as an employee of University of Ottawa, you may come into contact with student who suffers from anxiety. Being able to recognize symptoms of anxiety and knowing how to intervene, can help you respond appropriately to such situations.
What is anxiety
Anxiety is a normal response to a perceived threat to one‘s well-being or self-esteem. For some students, the cause of anxiety will be clear, but for others it may be difficult to determine. It is our experience that anxiety is very often the result of the intense academic competition among students. Anxiety can be generalized across a range of situations, or it may be situation-specific (e.g. test anxiety, social anxiety, public speaking anxiety). Anxiety, when it goes untreated, can result in ‘panic attacks’. However, the treatment for anxiety has a high success rate.
Symptoms of Anxiety
Regardless of the cause, one or more of the following symptoms may be experienced:
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart beat
- hyperventilation
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Cold clammy hands
The student may also report:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Excessive worrying
- Irrational fears
- Feeling overwhelmed by stress
- Difficulty making decisions
- Sleeping disturbances
What you can do to help
- Remain calm and talk slowly
- If possible, provide a safe, private and quiet environment until the symptoms subside
- Be clear and direct
- Provide reassurance
- Offer to facilitate the connection with Counselling Service (562-5200)
What is not helpful
- Minimizing the perceived threat to which the student is reacting
- Overwhelming the student with information
- Asking too many questions
- Arguing with the student‘s irrational thoughts
- Becoming anxious or overwhelmed
The Student with Poor Contact with Reality
University students often encounter a great deal of stress during the course of their academic experience. Many of these students do not know how or where to get help. In your role as an employee of University of Ottawa, you may come into contact with students who may be experiencing psychosis. Psychosis is a serious mental condition involving a disruption in normal brain functioning that may result in some loss of contact with reality. Poor contact with reality can cause bizarre and disturbing behavior. When dealing with a student who may have lost contact with reality, it is important that you know how to recognize some of the symptoms of psychosis and how to be most helpful.
Some symptoms of psychosis
- Hearing voices that no one else hears or seeing things that aren't there
- Believing that others can influence your thoughts or that you can influence the thoughts of others
- Believing that you are watched, followed or persecuted by others
- Inappropriate or complete lack of emotions
- Speech that make no sense (eg. ideas are disconnected and disjointed)
- Strange behavior (eg. laughing inappropriately, becoming upset without apparent cause)
What you can do to help
- Talk in a calm and soft voice while stating your concern and verbalizing that the person needs some help. Respond with warmth and kindness
- Acknowledge the feelings or fears without supporting the misperceptions (e.g., "I understand you think someone is following you, right now I don't see anyone and I believe you are safe")
- Speak to the student in a direct and concrete manner regarding your plan for getting him/her to a safe place
- Accompany the student to the Health Service (100 Marie Curie, 1st floor) for a medical/psychiatric consultation, or
- if the student is uncooperative, call Protection Service (5411) for assistance, or
- consult with a professional at SASS-Counselling (562 5200)
What is not helpful
- Play along, "Oh, yes, I hear the voices."
- Arguing with unrealistic thoughts
- Assuming the student understands you
- Agitating the student with questions or pressure the student to explain their behavior
- Expect customary emotional responses
The Suicidal Student
University students often encounter a great deal of stress during the course of their academic experience. Many of these students do not know how or where to get help. In your role as an employee of University of Ottawa, you may come into contact with a suicidal student. Being able to identify clues that suicidal risk may be present and knowing how to intervene, can help you respond appropriately to such situations.
Suicide Myths
Myth: Suicide typically happens without warning.
Fact: Most people who attempt or commit suicide give some indication of their intentions.
Myth: Suicidal people want to die.
Fact: Suicidal people are typically ambivalent about dying and will often seek help immediately after attempting to harm themselves.
Myth: Asking people about suicidal intentions will "put the idea into their heads" and increase the risk of an attempt.
Fact: Asking direct, caring questions encourages emotional ventilation and shows that someone cares and is willing to help.
Myth: There is no correlation between drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.
Fact: Alcohol, drugs, and suicide often go hand in hand. Even people who do not typically drink or use drugs may use substances shortly before killing themselves.
Myth: Mental health professionals are the only people who can help a suicidal person.
Fact: Professional counseling is very important in reducing the risk of suicide, but nonprofessionals also play an important role in detection and early intervention. It is important that students, faculty, and staff who may interact with a suicidal student (i.e., everyone) know what to do in such circumstances.
Clues to suicide risk
-
Making statements such as:
- "I wish I were dead"
- "Sometimes I wish a bus would run me over"
- "Everyone would be better off without me"
- "If (such and such) happens (or doesn‘t happen), I might as well kill myself"
- "If I was gone tomorrow, no one would notice, no one would care"
- Showing symptoms of depression (see The Depressed Student)
- Showing symptoms of psychosis (see The Student with poor contact with reality)
-
Recent significant loss such as:
- Death of a loved one
- Serious relationship break-up
- Academic failure/rejection
- Serious illness/disease
-
Self-destructive behavior such as:
- Self inflicted injuries
- Binging on drugs or alcohol
- Sexual acting out/unsafe practices
-
Morbid preoccupations/activities such as:
- Frequent discussions/writing about death
- Giving away prized possessions
- Writing goodbye letters
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Other important clues:
- Previous suicide attempt(s)
- History of suicides in the family or in the circle of friends
- Sudden unexplained recovery from severe depression
What you can do to help
-
If the clues are present, talk openly about suicide:
Ask: "Has it gotten so bad that you sometimes think about killing yourself?"
Ask: "Have you ever tried to kill yourself in the past?" - Express your desire to help. Let the student know that you are worried and concerned and that you will help him/her get connected with professional help.
- Stay calm. Remember that you are not responsible to fix the student‘s problem or to keep him alive. Your role is to provide a caring presence and to facilitate the connection with professional help.
- Be a good listener. Let the person talk. Allow expression of feelings.
- Stay with the student as long as it takes. If you perceive that the risk is high, don‘t leave the student alone until professional assistance has been secured.
What is not helpful
- To avoid the subject of suicide when clues are present.
- To blame, criticize, threaten or give a moral lesson.
- To try to talk the student out of doing it.
- To become too personally involved
- To fall into the "confidentiality trap"
The Student Who is Depressed
University students often encounter a great deal of stress during the course of their academic experience. Many of these students do not know how or where to get help.In your role as an employee of University of Ottawa, you may come into contact with student who suffers from depression. When dealing with a student who may be depressed, it is important that you know how to recognize some of the symptoms of depression and how to be most helpful.
What is depression
Depression is a very common illness. It is defined as a state of persistent sadness and lack of energy. This must not be confused with "the blues" which occur normally when facing a difficult situation or in reaction to excessive academic pressure. Major depression is a mood disorder that disrupts normal psychological functions. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks or months. The most serious risk associated with depression is suicide. The risk is particularly high when depression goes undetected and untreated. However, early intervention usually yields positive results. Treatment for depression is effective for about 80% of depression sufferers.
Symptoms of depression
Clinically depressed persons will exhibit multiple symptoms for a long period of time.
- Decrease in energy level.
- Persistent sadness.
- Social withdrawal.
- Increasing levels of irritability and/or negativity.
- Concentration problems.
- Change in sleep patterns.
- Change in appetite and eating habits.
- Loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed.
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair.
- Poor personal hygiene.
- Loss of self esteem.
- Thoughts of suicide
What you can do to help
- Express your desire to help. Let the student know that you are worried and concerned and that you will help him/her get connected with professional help.
- Reach out more than halfway and encourage the student to discuss how she/he is feeling.
- Be a good listener. Let the student talk. Allow expression of feelings.
- Don’t be afraid to ask about suicide (e.g. "Sometimes, when they feel unwell enough for long enough, students can start having thoughts of suicide. Has this ever happened to you?")
- Offer to facilitate the connection with Counseling Service (562-5200).
What is not helpful
- Minimizing the student's feelings (i.e., everything will be better tomorrow)
- Bombarding the student with "fix it" solutions or advice.
- Being afraid to ask whether the student is feeling suicidal.
- Ignoring remarks about suicide.
The Student Who is Being Disruptive
University students often encounter a great deal of stress during the course of their academic experience. Many of these students do not know how or where to get help. In your role as an employee of University of Ottawa, you may come into contact with students who are being disruptive or behaving aggressively. This information is designed to provide you with appropriate, effective, and legally sound principles for dealing with disruptive student behavior. The goal is to help you more confidently, fairly, and safely address incidents of disruption in a manner which supports the person while discouraging the inappropriate behavior.
Examples of Disruptive Behavior
- Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the instructor's presentation or class discussions.
- Inappropriate use of e-mail messages or cell phones (in the classroom)
- Inordinate demands for time and attention from professors or university employees.
- Poor personal hygiene (e.g., noticeably offensive body odor)
- Use of profanity, pejorative language, intimidation, etc.
- Being intoxicated during class time or in meetings
- Threats to harm oneself or others
- Verbal/Physical violence (e.g., shoving, grabbing,, yelling)
Note: It is important to remember that even such conditions as physical or psychological disabilities are not considered a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.
What you can do to help
- Deal with the disruptive behavior immediately.
- Consider talking with the student in a private area. Preferably with a colleague or your supervisor attending the meeting.
-
- show support for the student, yet,
- calmly but firmly inform the student that the behavior is disruptive (or threatening) and ask that it has to stop.
Example: "I can hear how upset you are and how you feel nobody is listening, but you are talking too loud right now. I want to help you, but please lower your voice. We can’t continue to talk if you threaten me."
- Offer some hope (ex. facilitation of referral to appropriate resources)
- If the disruptive or threatening behavior persists, immediately contact Protection Services (5411)
What is not helpful
- Ignoring the behavior. It will likely cause it to increase in intensity.
- Taking the behavior personally.
- Touching the student (may be interpreted by the agitated student as an assault)
- Getting into an argument or shouting match.
- Pressing for explanation of the student’s behavior.
If you are concerned about a student but are uncertain about the appropriateness of a referral, feel free to call the manager of Counseling Service, Donald Martin (ext.6885).
Parents
Message for Parents
Many consider their university years among the best of their lives. Nevertheless, the university experience can be, at times, highly stressful and filled with many unforeseen challenges.
As a parent, you want to know that your son or daughter is well cared for in times of need.
Professionally trained counsellors at the Counselling and Coaching Service offer emotional and psychological support to all students who may feel overwhelmed by stress or who “just want to talk (Student eligibility).
Counselling is free and readily available (a wait of a day or two for a first appointment), and is provided in a safe, comfortable and confidential environment (Information about confidentiality).
If you have questions about the support available to your son or daughter at the University of Ottawa, or you are concerned about his or her well-being, please feel free to contact us by phone at 613-562-5200 or by e-mail at couns@uOttawa.ca.
Should you ever feel that your son or daughter may present an imminent danger to self or others, you should immediately contact University of Ottawa Protection Services at 613-562-5800 ext. 4511.
Emergency Services
| Situation | On campus | Off campus |
|---|---|---|
| Suicide - Threat or attempt | Protection Services 613-562-5800 x 5411 (24/7) Counselling and Coaching Service 613-562-5200 Health Services Clinic 613-564-3950 |
Emergency 911 |
| Suicide - Suicidal thoughts | Counselling and Coaching Service 613-562-5200 Health Services Clinic 613-564-3950 |
Crisis line (24/7) within Ottawa: 613-722-6914 outside Ottawa: 1-866-996-0991 |
| Emotional crisis |
Counselling and Coaching Service 613-562-5200 Health Services Clinic 613-564-3950 |
Crisis line (24/7) within Ottawa: 613-722-6914 outside Ottawa: 1-866-996-0991 |
| Sexual assault |
Protection Services 613-562-5800 x 5411 (24/7) Counselling and Coaching Service 613-562-5200 Health Services Clinic 613-564-3950 |
Emergency 911 Ottawa Hospital Assault Treatment Program 613-738-3762 Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre 613-562-2333 Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women octevaw-cocvff.ca |
| Physical assault / Domestic abuse |
Protection Services 613-562-5800 x 5411 (24/7) Counselling and Coaching Service 613-562-5200 Health Services Clinic 613-564-3950 |
Emergency 911 Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511 shelternet.ca octevaw-cocvff.ca |
| Changes may occur without notice | ||
FAQ
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What is the difference between counselling and coaching?
- Counselling is for students who are dealing with temporary life difficulties such as homesickness, relationship breakup, serious illness or death of a family member, academic or financial stress, etc. The aim of counselling is to facilitate a timely return to normal functioning.
- Coaching is students who are functioning relatively normally but who strive to achieve optimal performance. The aim of coaching is to help students clarify their goals and identify action steps necessary to achieve these goals.
Who are the counsellors/coaches?
- Counsellors are mental health professionals who hold a graduate degree in psychology or counselling and are certified members of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
- Coaches are professional counsellors who have received extensive supplemental training and are certified in Solution-Focused Coaching.
- Counselling Interns are students in the M.Ed. (Educational Counselling) Program who hold an undergraduate degree in psychology and who are closely supervised by experienced professional counsellors.
What kind of issues do students address in counselling?
Students seek out counselling to handle various challenging situations and experiences that threaten to affect their wellbeing and academic success. Here are some examples of such situations:
- Abuse
- Academic stress
- Anxiety
- Death, dying and other losses
- Depression
- Disordered eating/body image
- Drugs and/or alcohol
- Lack of motivation
- Relationship issues
- Stress management
- Time management/procrastination
- Transition/adjustment
- Uncertainty about study path
- Uncertainty about career choices
Who can use our services?
All students who are registered in at least one course in an academic session at the University of Ottawa or at Saint Paul University are eligible for our services during that session. Please see the following link for more information on student eligibility.
Is there a fee?
Counselling sessions are free of charge; however, a small fee applies to career assessment tests.
How do I make an appointment?
To make an appointment:
- Call or leave a message at 613-562-5200 or
- Come in person to 100 Marie Curie, 4th floor (Health Services building)
How long will I have to wait for my first appointment?
We attempt to provide students with an initial appointment within 48 hours of their request.
How long is a session?
Your initial session will last approximately 30-45 minutes. Subsequent sessions last approximately 50 minutes.
What about confidentiality?
Our services are confidential. Please see the following link for information and limitations concerning confidentiality.
What can I expect when I come in for an initial session?
During the first session, we will listen to your concerns, seek to understand what is going on in your life and attempt to identify what kind of support you might need. If we determine that we are able to help, we will do our best to provide counselling appointments within a reasonable time frame. If, on the other hand, we assess that your needs may be better addressed by other professionals, we will help you connect with the appropriate community resource.
I've been told that Counselling and Coaching Service will give me a letter to get extensions on papers and defer my exams. Is that true?
If you are experiencing significant disruptions in your personal life, and as a result, claim to be temporarily unable to meet your academic obligations, you must arrange an assessment session with a counsellor to evaluate the impact of these disruptions on your emotions, your behaviour and your ability to function academically. Counsellors have the necessary expertise to provide recommendations to faculty personnel regarding your request for extra time to submit an assignment or to defer an exam for personal (non medical) reasons.
What should I do if my friend is in crisis?
People in distress are almost always receptive to an expression of genuine interest, caring, and concern. Remember, the key is to remain calm, try to listen with patience and compassion and help your friend determine what might be the next step. If you think your friend could benefit from counselling, please read the following document to help you learn how he or she can connect with us.
How can Counselling and Coaching Service help me with career-related questions?
Career counselling aims to help you achieve increased awareness of your interests, values and personality characteristics in order to identify a satisfying study or career path.
We work closely with our sister unit Career Services, where you can further explore targeted study fields or careers of interest, develop effective job search tools and connect with potential employers.
What are career tests? How do I take them?
Our career assessment package is designed to provide a reliable measure of your personality characteristics and your professional interests as they relate to your choice of a satisfying field of study or career path. To register for career testing, call 613-562-5200 or visit us in person (100 Marie Curie, 4th floor). Please follow the link below to learn more about the career testing package.
I am a former student. What kinds of services are available to me?
If you are a recent graduate from the University of Ottawa or Saint Paul University, you may be eligible for
- An initial assessment session
- Career planning workshops (a small fee applies)
- Career counselling
Please consult our eligibility protocol for more information.
Can I choose my counsellor?
If you have any concerns about the counsellor that is assigned to you or if you have a preference for a specific counsellor, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Counselling is of a very personal nature; therefore, we believe it is important for you to feel comfortable and at ease with your counsellor.
