Walk-In Services and Appointments

In order to be as responsive to student needs as possible, and to deal with the increasing demand for personal counselling services on campus, Counselling Services is introducing walk-in services for Intake Appointments and for Crisis Appointments.  These services will begin September 6, 2011 to coincide with the start of the new academic year.

WALK-IN INTAKE APPOINTMENTS

Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (sign up in person between 8:30 - 11:15 a.m.)  IMPORTANT NOTE:  There are a limited number of appointments available each day, and they are available on a first come, first served basis.  Students are recommended to arrive early (i.e. 8:30 a.m.) to avoid disappointment.

Wednesday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (sign up in person between 5 - 6 p.m.)

Students who have never been to Counselling Services before must complete an Intake Appointment prior to accessing service.  Intake appointments are completed on a “walk-in” basis. 

The purpose of the intake appointment is to:  identify student goals/concerns, assess our ability to adequately assist the student; match the student with an appropriate counsellor; provide the student with helpful resources specific to his or her concerns; and inform the student of other counselling options if our service doesn’t fit their needs or when our appointment times are fully booked.

• Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis.
• Students may come to the Counselling Services office between 8:30  - 11:15 a.m. to sign up for a morning intake time, or beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesdays to reserve an evening intake time (appointments will only be reserved in-person, and not over the phone).
• If demand exceeds our capacity, students will be asked to return to a later session.
• Students who are returning to Counselling Services must also complete the Intake process (update) in order to access further counselling.

WALK-IN CRISIS APPOINTMENTS

Monday - Friday, 1 – 4 p.m. (sign up in person between 12:30 - 3:15 p.m., or on an as needed basis)

This service is available to students who have a concern/situation that is causing considerable distress and which requires immediate support, and/or a concern that they might hurt themselves or others.      

• Crisis appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis - according to risk.
• Students may come to the Counselling Services office between 12:30 - 3:15 p.m. to reserve a crisis appointment.
• Although every attempt possible will be made, if demand exceeds our capacity, students will be referred to crisis services available in the community.

TYPICAL WAIT TIMES:

Once you have completed an intake appointment, the wait time for a first counselling appointment is usually one to two weeks, but during peak times there may be a longer delay of up to three to five weeks.  

Follow-up counselling appointments will be scheduled on an as-needed basis as agreed upon by the student and counsellor (pending counsellor availability).  These appointments are 50 minutes in length. 

MISSED APPOINTMENTS:

If you miss an appointment or cancel late without giving 24 hours advance notice of cancellation, you may be charged a $20.00 fee before booking your next appointment, or you may forfeit future appointments.  Exceptions may be made for cases of the flu, illness, etc. 

OFFICE LOCATION:

The office is located in Room SS2-203 on the upper floor of the Student Services Centre (across the hall from Health Services).  There is no charge for services; they are free to all WLU students.