Counselling services
Douglas College counsellors provide free, accessible, confidential and professional support to students. We provide one-to-one support and workshops to help you learn skills to better handle stress, increase resilience, manage sudden personal challenges, or just feel better.
At Douglas, we offer three types of counselling services:
Please contact us to book a video or phone appointment. If you are currently located outside of the province of BC, there are some limitations for the services we can provide and alternate resources we can recommend.
Confidentiality
Information shared with counsellors is confidential unless the counsellor determines that there is an imminent risk of danger to human life. In such situations counsellors are required by law to release information as appropriate. Students may wish to allow counsellors to release personal information in some circumstances. Learn more about confidentiality.
Mental health resources during Covid-19
Download the Guide to Student Mental Health During Covid-19 for mental health resources and information.
Join us online for group programs and workshops
Our online group programs and workshops are free and open to all students. All sessions will be offered via zoom.
Thursdays, May 20th – August 5th, 2021
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm
As a student there are very few times when the mind has a chance to rest! Learning how to calm the mind and having brain down time allows us to better face the challenges of school and life. Join a Douglas College counsellor for 30min of calm in the comfort of your own home. Each week we will be hosting a 30min virtual sit-in where we will practice an activity aimed at increasing your sense of calm and resilience. Some examples of the activities that will be covered are: Mindfulness Meditation, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Loving Kindness Meditation and much more! View poster.
This wellness group is designed for students who experience stress, anxiety and worry and who would like to learn coping strategies and tools to live a more rich and meaningful life. To be eligible for this program, you must be a Douglas College student between the ages of 18-30 and currently living in the province of BC.
If interested being added to the waitlist for an upcoming group, please email Anuschka Naidoo at anaidoo@douglascollege.ca.
International Café will be taking a break for the summer, but will be back again for Fall 2021, so check back for dates then!
International Café is a fun, casual group for both domestic and international students to get together and talk about issues related to culture, diversity, experiences in Canada, student life and current events. It’s a great way for students to meet new people, learn about different cultures and support each other in an informal environment.
Option #1: Tuesday, May 25th, 2021
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Option #2: Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
*Please note, these are each 1 day workshops, so you only need to register for and attend one date
Learn easy and effective strategies to better manage your time this semester. Topics covered include: creating a schedule, monitoring use of time, prioritizing, and procrastination.
Recruitment is ongoing, so date and time of this group will depend on student interest and availability.
The Inquiring Mind will help you better understand mental health, the stigma surrounding it and its effects on campus. We’ll look at how to encourage mental health conversations through an easy-to-use tool to check in with yourself and others. We will also learn how to strengthen your resilience by practicing coping strategies. Finally, we’ll discuss actions you can take to build a supportive campus community. Please email Anuschka Naidoo at anaidoo@douglascollege.ca if you are interested in registering for this group
Monday, May 31st, 2021
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
This one-hour workshop aims to assist students with managing stress and anxiety related to taking tests and completing assignments. Strategies/tools will be discussed and taught.
Mondays, June 28th and July 5th, 2021
10:00 am – 12:00pm
This two session workshop is designed to teach students how to make “good fit” career decisions. Students will complete assessments and participate in discussions and activities designed to help you learn about your interests, values, and other factors important in an informed career decision. Please attend both sessions.
Friday, May 28th, 2021
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Communicating and feeling connected to others is so important for our well-being, but may feel increasingly challenging during the pandemic. Join this one-hour workshop to learn more about communication, discuss the challenges of communicating virtually and work on ways to improve connection in these unprecedented times.
Friday, May 21st, 2021
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Mature students face several unique challenges and issues in pursuing post-secondary education. Common themes may include financial stressors, parenting/custody concerns, separation/divorce factors including court appearances, lawyer/mediation commitments, life as a single parent, special issues being an international student, isolation, aging, re-entering the labor market, and program choice/direction with greater certainty of the job market after graduation. This one-hour workshop will explore these and other concerns/challenges in a format that promotes open discussion and consideration.