FAQs
Are appointments being offered in-person?
Your first appointment with a counsellor will be hosted virtually. You will then have the choice to attend subsequent appointments in-person or by Zoom according to your preference. If you're not able to attend your first appointment virtually, please contact us at counselling@trentu.ca to meet in-person.
I don't have a private space to attend my first appointment virtually. What do I do?
If you're not able to accommodate a virtual meeting for whatever reason, please contact us at counselling@trentu.ca to arrange a meeting in-person.
What health and safety measures are in place for in-person appointments?
Masks are optional and welcome. We ask all students attending an in-person appointment to complete the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment prior to their arrival. If you're feeling unwell at the time of your appointment, please notify us as soon as possible. Students who are unwell on the day of their appointment will have the option to meet virtually or reschedule to another date.
How do I book an appointment?
Students may request an appointment by submitting the following form. Once you submit the form, you will receive booking instructions by e-mail within 1-2 business days.
What is the wait time for an appointment?
We understand that timely service is important for students, and we do our very best to ensure that students have as short a wait as possible. We are currently seeing a high volume of appointment requests, which may result in longer wait times. If you require more timely support, scroll down to Additional Options on our homepage or contact counselling@trentu.ca for an update on availability.
I can't find any available appointments on the Student Wellness Portal. Why not?
Appointments are available in two week intervals at a time, and are booked on a first-come-first-serve basis. New appointments are posted to the Wellness Portal weekly. If you don't see any appointments available, please check the Online Scheduler often for new appointments. If you require more timely support, please scroll down to Additional Options on our homepage or contact counselling@trentu.ca for an update on availability.
What is the cancellation policy?
Please e-mail your therapist directly or contact counselling@trentu.ca if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment. We ask for at least 24 hours' notice of cancellations, where possible.
What if I'm not sure which kind of support I need?
You're not alone. Many students are unsure about which supports are best suited to their needs. Book an appointment to learn more about your options and figure out a plan that is right for you.
Where can I turn for urgent support?
Support for students experiencing a crisis is available during business hours. To arrange an appointment, contact crisis@trentu.ca. For support after business hours, see our list of local crisis resources. If you are experiencing an emergency and you require immediate support, phone 911 or visit your nearest emergency department.
I've never been to counselling before. What can I expect?
In your first meeting, your therapist will get to know you and the circumstances that brought you to counselling. You and your therapist will then work together to review your options and create a plan that matches your needs. It is important for students to know that, within certain limits, what they talk about in counselling will remain private.
What is Stepped Care?
Stepped care is a model of service delivery based on the idea that students seeking help can benefit from a range of effective supports based on their level of need. These supports may include self-directed online tools, campus resources, workshops, peer support, as well as brief or longer-term therapy. Generally, students are encouraged to try lower intensity supports before moving to more intensive interventions.
What is Brief Therapy?
Brief Therapy focuses on identifying specific concerns, goals and solutions in a collaborative way. TCS follows a 1 + 3 format, which includes one initial consultation and three follow up appointments. However, this is flexible and further discussion may occur around the number of sessions and frequency. Evidence has demonstrated that Brief Therapy can create helpful, lasting change in mental wellness.
What if my concerns cannot be addressed in Brief Therapy?
Therapists at Trent Counselling Services will discuss students' concerns during their initial meeting, as well as, a variety of options for mental health support. In some cases, therapists may consult with students to determine whether they might benefit from additional sessions for support or referral to external supports following initial Brief Therapy.
Is Single Session Therapy right for me?
Single Session Therapy (SST) is for those interested in learning about their strengths and resilience to support their own mental health. It is intended to address immediate concerns for students that do not require or do not wish to receive ongoing therapy.
What is the BHM-43 and why have I been asked to fill it out?
The Behavioural Health Measure-43 is a standardized 43 item questionnaire that measures an individual's overall mental health. It is not a diagnostic tool. Many university counselling centres, including Trent, use the BHM-43 to assess students' presenting concerns. Assessing your concerns appropriately is an important part of developing an effective support plan.