Counselling Services

Last update: March 19, 2024

Counselling Services offers a wide variety of free, confidential services for UBC students. 

Research is clear that mental health concerns can have a significant impact on everyday life, including academic progress. We work with students to clarify their goals for change, develop a plan for managing concerns, and support them to build new skills that help them succeed. Services are provided by registered clinical counsellors, registered social workers, registered psychologists, supervised master's practicum trainees, and supervised pre-doctoral and post-doctoral interns.

All UBC counselling services staff respect that students have unique personalities, cultures, and experiences. We strive to bring a multicultural, anti-oppressive, social-justice orientation to the counselling process and many of our staff identify as BIPOC.

Please direct interested students to our Counselling Services website for information about all our services.

For same day access (both virtual and in-person appointments)

Wellness Advising appointment:

Students can call or walk-in to book an appointment, which is up to 45 minutes long. It is recommended to call as early as possible so students can book their preferred time. The focus of the appointment is to assess and then collaboratively develop a comprehensive wellness plan that connects a student to a variety of possible clinically indicated resources based on their needs and goals. This could include self-directed resources, workshops, life coaching, group therapy, brief counselling, or medical care. Wellness Advisors are registered clinical counsellors. 

Drop In, single counselling session:

Because many students find a single counselling session can help them move forward in a positive direction we offer a same day 45-minute counselling appointment with a therapist. The session is goal-directed, focuses on strengths and identifies helpful perspectives and/or strategies. We hope at the end of a session a student will have a sense they are less “stuck” and are able to start moving forwards again. This is not ongoing therapy. 

Do you know about the Embedded Counselling Program?

Several faculties and departments now have a counsellor who is embedded. The counsellor helps students navigate mental health services by creating a wellness plan, provides workshops and outreach opportunities which are faculty specific, and can offer brief therapy.

Here is a list of the embedded counsellors and their contact information. Please feel free to connect to an embedded counsellor to ask questions about what services they offer, or connect to the Associate Director, Embedded Counselling, Anna Kline.