Services Offered

Our services

Our philosophy is to make our services available to as many students as possible. We therefore offer group and workshop based approaches as well as individual counselling sessions where indicated. Our serivces are free to registered students.

Groups

Groups are offered throughout the year. All the groups do not run simultaneously and students are encouraged to enquire when a group that they are interested in, will be offered. examples of group work include the following:

Study skills
Stress management and resiliency
Exam preparation
Support with trauma and loss
Relationship development
Support with parental divorce
Empowering life skills workshops
Support with depression and anxiety
Adjustment to university
Groups to postgraduate students
Leadership development
Groups offered to Junior Tukkie

Personal consultations

On a personal and psychological level, we have found that students seek assistance for many different problems.

Our approach includes short term individual psychotherapy, whereafter students could be referred to a group for further assistance.

We have in the past assisted students with

depression and mood disorders
anxiety problems
adjustment
sexual or other trauma
substance misuse or abuse
bereavement and loss
family problems
relationship problems
identity problems including sexual identity
eating disorders

Please do not hesitate to present to our unit for a personal consultation.

Academic help

We assist students in a wide variety of ways to maximize their academic success while studying at the University of Pretoria. On an academic level students request our assistance to enhance their

reading skills
study skills
receive course and career related guidance and counselling
career testing
other psychometric assessments when indicated

We also assist the Disability Unit with assessments relating to reasonable concessions for students with a disability to ensure a fair and equal learning environment. These disabilities may include psycho-social, psychiatric or learning difficulties. Students will have to submit recent and relevant documentation, which may include specialist reports. All concession requirements have to be processed and registered at the Disability Unit before being referred to the Counselling Unit for assistance.

Emergency Assistance

Emergency assistance during office hours 07:30-15:30

The Student Counselling Unit offers assistance in times of psychological distress.

This implies trauma such as rape, assault, muggings, domestic abuse and physical abuse. If you are experiencing an emergency of this nature, please alert the receptionist immediately and she will mobilize the relevant staff member to attend to you.

Protocols are in place to help you with the emotional consequences of such an event, but also with the medical and security issues that a trauma such as this implies. It is best that you come together with a trusted friend, family member, House or Faculty Committee member if possible.

This will help us to mobilize all the available resources on your behalf if you are unable to do so for yourself. In the case of physical trauma, you can also make your first port of call the Student Health Services (next to the Thuto Building) in order for you to be stabilized physically.

Emergency Assistance After Hours

If you are experiencing an emergency after hours, please contact

Campus Security Services (0800 006 428) or the
UP / SADAG 24 Hour Care line (0800 747 747) or SMS 31393 for a call-back

Both these organizations are geared towards managing an after hours emergency and will mobilize the relevant support agencies on your behalf.