Who attends counselling?
People attend counselling for all kinds of reasons. These could relate to emotional distress, mental health challenges, family and relationships, distressing or traumatic life events, and stressor, stress responses and coping strategies. People also attend counselling to grow their wellbeing strategies, to maintain their wellbeing, or draw on them when faced with challenges.
Counselling works best when you:
- attend scheduled sessions
- actively participate and share as much as you are comfortable to share
- commit to identifying hopes, goals, and purpose of counselling with the counsellor
- pay attention to your experience and progress without judgement and with an attitude of self-compassion
Confidentiality and Informed Consent
Your counsellor will never discuss your therapy with any other individual outside of the CDU Counselling Team (Student Support), unless given prior permission by you (via a form)
What you discuss with the Counsellor will be recorded in counselling notes
These records are confidential and can only be accessed by the Counselling Team and the Associate Director of Student Support Services
The information contained in these records including your attendance will not be released to any parties without your consent
If risk or safety issues are identified, the counsellors may need to release information to other parties to keep yourself or others safe.
Your counsellor is legally required to waive your confidentiality is if they have reasonable cause to believe you may harm yourself or others, or there is an imminent threat of harm/danger to yourself, other adults and children, or CDU.
In these circumstances, they will first endeavour to discuss with you the action they will be taking to ensure the safety of you and/or others. All efforts will be made to have this discussion with you in person, if it is safe and possible for them to do so.
It is a requirement that the Counselling Service has your written consent before engaging in counselling. From October 2022, you will be provided a form to complete prior to, or at, your first appointment. Consent relates to counselling service provision, confidentiality and privacy.
Counselling Service locations and enquiries
Online
Zoom or telephone
Mon–Fri: 8:30am–4pm (ACST)
Book Online
Casuarina campus
Student Support Services, Blue 5.1
Mon–Thurs: 8:30am–4pm (ACST)
Fri: 8:30am–3pm (ACST)
Sydney campus
Level 10, 815 George Street, Haymarket
Mon–Tues: 8:30am–2:30pm (AEST/AEDT)
Enquiries
Email counselling@cdu.edu.au
There is often a high demand for counselling. Please provide your name, student number, and contact phone number when emailing. We will endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours.
External mental health services
Tamarind Centre
A service for people who are experiencing significant impact as a result of mental health concerns
(08) 8999 4988 or 1800 682 288
External sexual assault and family violence services
Darwin Sexual Assault Referral Centre (24-hour call)
Darwin Sexual Assault Referral Centre website
Charles Darwin University is committed to providing a safe, secure and supportive environment. If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, you can lodge a disclosure, make a formal report, or report anonymously.