U of G Counselling Services work with limited resources
Cat Cooper
According to Suzanne Welstead, a former University of Guelph counsellor, the organization of on-campus counselling services leaves something to be desired.
“I started at the University back in 2001, so I remember that it was a different type of counselling service back then. We used to be able to do weekly appointments, and it’s changed so much,” Welstead told The Ontarion. “By the time I left, which would have been about a year ago in 2017 […], it might be six weeks before I could see someone again.” Welstead spoke to the overflow of clients at the counselling services found in the UC, and the lack of resources to handle it.“It’s a really hard thing that all universities are caught in now, because the reality is that they just don’t have the money, and what they should do is say, ‘This is what we can deliver, this is what we can’t deliver,’ and they should be very upfront about that […]. I think that message has gotten really blurry, and it could be more clearly communicated. I don’t think they can deliver on what they used to be able to do. It’s just not reality,” said Welstead. “The U of G services, they could be twice as big, and they could [still] be busy […]. They’re doing the very best they can with the resources they have.”
Evaluating different options on campus
Luckily, Welstead’s take on U of G’s counselling services does not reflect my experience. I started on my quest for improved mental health back in the fall, after sitting down at a pop-up “sidewalk talk” program on a whim. To my surprise, I found it very helpful to just talk about whatever was going through my head.I began seeking other resources on campus, including going to Raithby House, signing up for the STARTonTrack program, and making counselling appointments.
I quickly found that Raithby House was not for me. The undivided attention of the volunteers was a little unnerving. If you just want to ramble about what’s bothering you, and need to do it now, I would recommend Raithby House. If not, alternative outlets on campus may suit your needs better.
Although wait times to see a counsellor on campus can still be long, I was fortunate enough to be able to book an appointment every three weeks. I found counselling services to be accommodating in terms of support, and an all-around positive experience. I look forward to my counselling appointments — taking that time to indulge in guilt-free complaining is refreshing.There are also half-hour crisis walk-in appointments available if you want to speak to someone and it can’t wait for a week or longer. The only drawback with walking in is you can’t guarantee who will be on call and may not see your regular counsellor or a counsellor you click with.
U of G counsellors on when to seek help and what drives them
It can sometimes be difficult to determine if, and when, you should reach out and ask for help. U of G counsellor Stella Mfoafo-M’Carthy recommends that “if things are not going as expected, then reach out and ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness, but rather strength. Reach out when you are not functioning at your optimum and life seems to be at a standstill. People can also reach out if there are doubts about their situation and [the] solutions they are implementing.”
Mfoafo-M’Carthy and Welstead believe that altruism and connection is at the heart of the profession. I wanted to be in the helping profession,” said Mfoafo-M’Carthy. “I was scared of blood, so the medical field was out of the question. After taking sociology and becoming familiar with human social interactions and the challenges we face, I decided to pursue social work and learn about solutions. The best part of my job is witnessing the changes that occur in the lives of my clients. It is seeing hope found and/or renewed as people tap into formal and informal resources and their own personal strength to make the changes needed.”
“I definitely think therapists must believe in change,” said Welstead, “and I think that one of the most inspiring things about my profession is the chance to see a change occur and happen, and then the amazing differences it makes for people, and often in the most intimate parts of their lives.”
Master’s students offer counselling to campus and community
Inside the Couple and Family Therapy Centre
Matteo Cimellaro
Counselling services at the UC aren’t the only mental healthcare option on campus. To learn more about another option, The Ontarion interviewed Amanda Buda, the client services coordinator for the Couple and Family Therapy Centre.
Matteo Cimellaro: What is the Couple and Family Therapy Centre? What are you about?
Amanda Buda: The Couple and Family Therapy Centre is a distinct training program that offers among the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards of clinical training, supervised practice, and clinical care in Canada. Our approach is unique in that we think about clients in the context of their relationships (partners, families, friends, work) as well as the wider communities in which they live.We apply this “relationship” focus to all of our client work, even when working with individuals.
We provide ongoing therapy to individuals, couples, and families with a wide range of problems or concerns.
MC: Who can access your services?
AB: While we are largely community based, we also see students from the University of Guelph. Students can use the Couple and Family Therapy Centre as an alternative to Counselling Services located in the UC.
MC: What services do you provide?
AB: We help clients with: family, couple, workplace and school challenges, conflicts, and communication; life transition and change; intimacy and sexuality; anxiety, stress, and depression; grief, loss and feelings of isolation; parenting or blended family challenges; trauma, unexpected crises, and intimate partner violence. We help clients to: consider alternate ways to manage, cope, and deal with problems; generate possible solutions and implement constructive change; enhance current strengths, skills, and personal resources; help build communities of support and concern.
THE COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY CENTRE
LOCATION:
MacDonald Hall Annex, entrance of Lennox Lane
HOURS:
Mondays to Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COST:
Fees are based on a sliding scale ranging
from $5 to $100, based on household income
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
519-824-4120 ext. 56335
Mental healthcare practitioners: what’s the difference?
Leslie Thompson
Psychiatrists receive both scholarly and hands-on training on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. They also receive extensive training on medications, and are able to prescribe them to patients.
Psychologists receive the same training as psychiatrists — minus the extensive medication training. Although psychologists learn about medication, they are not allowed to prescribe it.
Therapists and counsellors focus on specific problems, significant changes in one’s life, and fostering overall wellbeing. Therapy mainly surrounds solving short-term problems.
Social workers can also be therapists specialized in areas such as child and family services, couples therapy, and substance abuse counselling. They provide a variety of services outside of counselling as well, and help people cope with problems in their everyday lives.
Psychotherapists focus on long-term solutions. The practice involves working to overcome problematic and debilitating thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
NEED TO TALK?
U of G Counselling Services: 519-824-4120 x53244
Good2Talk student helpline: 1-866-925-5454