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British Association of Counselling & PsychotherapyStudent Counselling

 

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Frequently Asked Questions - Research

What evidence is there to show counselling is effective in helping students?

There is a gathering body of evidence to establish the effectiveness of counselling.

Professor Michael King, who led a recent authoritative study and is based at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London, said:
  • 'This is the first really clear evidence for counselling, which has been regarded ambivalently in the past. Not only does therapy work; we found it makes patients get better faster. It's both more humane and cost-effective. People can get back to work quicker.'
(Study commissioned and published by NHS and also in BMJ – reported in Observer 3/12/2000).

The Department of Health state, after reviewing all evidence concerning counselling, that "psychological therapy should be routinely considered as an option ... [for] mental health problems [and for] patients who are adjusting to life events, illness, disability or losses".
(Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guideline – published DoH Feb 2001)

A study by Dr. Rickinson's explores the effectiveness of a short-term intervention model in reducing psychological distress and increasing students' ability to complete their degree programme successfully. A significant reduction in levels of psychological distress was demonstrated in students consulting the counselling service in contrast with a parallel control sample of equally distressed students who did not consult the service and who showed no significant change in distress levels.
(Evaluating the Effectiveness of Counselling Intervention with Final Year Undergraduates. Counselling Psychology Quarterly - published Sep. 1997).

Feedback questionnaires from students attending counselling show a high degree of satisfaction.
(Unpublished – details available).

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FAQ Topics

Research FAQ Topics

What evidence is there to show counselling is effective in helping students?

Does counselling represent a cost-effective way of offering support? Do not students have their own support networks from friends and at home?

How do student counselling services involve experts in the NHS?

Do student counselling services routinely ask for student feedback?

Do student counselling services mainly support students who are finding university too hard for them?

Have universities made being a student an excessively stressful experience?

Can student counselling services do more to prevent student suicides?