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Accessing Counselling

The SWC is here to support your mental health. Through the Pathways to Care model, experienced counsellors and mental health nurses will help you address your needs. 

 

How Counselling Works at the SWC

Counselling at the SWC uses a short-term, goal-oriented model that blends counselling and psychotherapy techniques. Sessions typically occur every 3–4 weeks, depending on your needs. Our counsellors take a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, drawing from evidence-based methods like:

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

  • ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

  • DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)

  • Solution-Focused Therapy

We aim to help you build coping strategies, improve functioning, and work through specific challenges.

What to Expect?

Students seek counselling for many different reasons. Some of the most common include:

  • Anxiety, panic, or feeling overwhelmed
  • Low mood, depression, or lack of motivation
  • Academic stress, procrastination, or burnout
  • Relationship or family conflict
  • Grief, loss, or major life changes
  • Gender-affirming care and support for 2SLGBTQIA+ students
  • Body image concerns or disordered eating
  • Identity exploration
  • Substance use
  • OCD, intrusive thoughts, and more

No concern is too big or too small—if something is affecting your well-being, counselling may help.

Need Urgent Support?

If you are feeling overwhelmed or need to speak with someone urgently:

  • Please visit the SWC in person to complete the visit form.
  • We will try to arrange a same-day appointment with a counsellor or mental health nurse to address one urgent concern.
Counselling/Mental Health Visit Form

Pathways to Care

Pathways to Care was developed to maximize support and effectiveness of decisions used to direct students to various therapy and counselling resources, since not every student entering an intake appointment may need to see a counsellor or to enter into long-term counselling.

There are a lot of resources available to students including online, or on or off-campus resources. Pathways to Care is here to help find the best fit for you.

 

Counsellors will sensitively listen and then, lay out a series of options that include online information; interactive online modules such as TAO; referrals to the Student Assistance Program; daily mindfulness sessions; psychoeducational groups; therapy groups; all the way to individual counselling sessions and medical appointments, as well as referrals to community and other resources.

Which of these options you end up pursuing is decided by you and a professional during the intake appointment.

Information Box Group

Red Path

Wellness Education Resources

  • Self-directed / self-help
  • Wellness activities
  • Phone apps
  • Online / websites

Orange Path

Same-Day Single Session Appointment

  • Initial contact (one-on-one)
  • First-come, first-served basis.
  • Pre-booked consultation appointment.
  • Quick and immediate counselling support.
  • Focus on accessing your immediate needs.

Yellow Path

Other Campus Resources

Lime Path

Online Resources

Green Path

Drop-In Groups

Blue Path

Psychoeducational Groups & Psychotherapy Groups

Indigo Path

Short Term Counselling

  • Individual therapy
  • Referral to community or other resources as needed
  • Stabilization and support
  • Skill Development

Purple Path

Medical Treatment

  • Referral to physician (when needed)
  • Mental Health Nurse
  • Assess for Medication

Pink Path

Community Resources