Counselling is connection with a capital ‘C’

How do you deal with procrastination, and the temptation of one more little coffee break before studying? What happens when a relationship ends, and your social network is one person lighter? Fellow students can help. University of Victoria’s Counselling Services not only provides an open door to those who seek its consultative services, they also offer in-depth training to UVic students who want to help their peers.

The UVic Peer Helping program was initiated more than two decades ago and offers drop-in counselling services by trained student volunteers. This diverse group of peer helpers provides non-judgmental, confidential assistance on topics ranging from loneliness and relationship break ups to academic stress and study strategies.

“The main thing we learn as peer helpers is to enquire into a student’s experience,” says peer helper and fourth-year undergraduate student Cypress Mintz (psychology). “They talk, we listen and then we use the tools we’ve been taught.”

“Last year, we had nearly 200 visits to our SUB drop-in office and over 500 students attending the weekly coffee houses,” says June Saracuse, coordinator of UVic’s Peer Helping program and a Counselling Services staff member.

Coffee, tea and treats add to the sense of warmth at the Morning Munch on Wednesdays in the SUB; the Coffee House happens Tuesdays in the Clearihue Building; the SUB Peer Helper drop-in office is open weekdays and the study-focused Learning Commons drop-in office in the Mearns Centre is also open each weekday. Further details including drop-in times and specific locations are available at http://peerhelping.uvic.ca/.

“The students are looking for tools to better their learning, but they’re also looking for emotional support,” says peer helper and fourth-year undergraduate Payden Spowart (psychology). “When they come to us, they’re visiting equals.”

Recruitment of new peer helpers for September 2009 has already begun. Visit the link above for details on how to volunteer.

A second student service—the UVic Student Leadership program—also offered under the aegis of Counselling Services, provides campus leadership opportunities in the development of skills, connection with community role models and fulfillment of a customized project that reflects each participant’s personal experience.

Every year, the leadership program hosts the UVic Student Leadership Conference and networking fair. The 2009 conference brought together over 25 on- and off-campus organizations on Jan. 31 including the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and The Land Conservancy, with presentations, panels and discussion on this year’s main themes of leadership and sustainability.

“It’s connection, connection, connection, over and over again,” says Tricia Best, coordinator of UVic’s Student Leadership program and a Counselling Services staff member. “That is a similar thread throughout these programs: bringing students together to supplement the learning on our campus.”

UVic Counselling Services is also home to the eight-month Counselling Practicum placement. The division accepts three or four master’s or PhD candidates from the UVic Clinical Psychology program, the UVic Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies program, and the UVic School of Child and Youth Care—augmenting the students’ coursework and study with practical front-line counselling experience and professional training.