Welcome to the Counselling Service website
We are a team of professional counsellors and psychotherapists offering confidential help with any personal issues affecting work, self-esteem, relationships, mental health or general well-being. We are available to all University of Manchester students and all members of staff.
We mainly offer brief, focused counselling that encourages people to make the most of each session. We also offer a wide range of workshops including managing anxiety; exam stress; procrastination; assertiveness; confidence and self-esteem; low mood; and speaking out in groups.
The Counselling Service is part of a wider network of help and support; we can advise on where else to seek help within the University and make referrals to NHS mental health services.
Question of the month
I don't seem able to get on with my academic supervisor. They always seem too busy to meet with me and don't answer my emails. When I do meet with them, they seem to expect that I understand everything about the process of writing a PhD when in fact I don't. If I say I don't know something, they appear exasperated with me and imply that I should know. How can I improve things?
There are two sides to every story. We often think that supervisors (and other people in authority) know what kind of support we need in order to succeed. Of course this cannot be true...(read more)
Latest news
Helpful Information for the Summer Term
Our aim is to offer clients an appropriate consultation with a counsellor at the earliest opportunity. This year, the extra bank holidays, and their timing in relation to the examination period, have resulted in a high number of requests for appointments within a brief period. Consequently we may only offer you a single appointment, or consultation via telephone, during this period.
If you miss your appointment without giving us 24 hours notice, we may be unable to offer another appointment before the end of term.
Book of the month
The Compassionate Mind
Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert’s wise and perceptive book helps the reader to use a more benign and compassionate voice to her or himself. He explores how the mind can be trained to adopt a kinder voice to self and others.
Gilbert asks us to consider how compassion can help sooth us and offer some containment for difficult feelings. Compassion can increase our sense of contentment and well-being.
The Counselling Service has a wide range of recommended books which are now available to loan through the University of Manchester Library.