The Counselling Office is a University service available to all students. It offers guidance in a friendly, supportive, and completely confidential environment that encourages students to talk freely and openly about their problems or concerns. The Office is staffed with qualified psychologists and counselors, who offer individual, couples and family counselling as well as psychotherapy.

The college years are exciting, but they can also be stressful. The staff of the Counselling Office understands and can help students cope. Common issues that affect young people include: low self-esteem, problems with interpersonal relationships, academic stress, family issues, confusion—all of which can easily interfere with studies, and can lead to eating disorders, self-destructive behaviours, and depression, among other things.

Within the frame of personal counselling or psychotherapy sessions, the student can learn ways to manage stress, overcome anxiety, develop his/her self-awareness and self-esteem. Our services are confidential, short term, and usually individual, but may also involve the family.

Every semester the Office offers a variety of workshops and presentations that focus on issues of concern to students. The Office also regularly posts self-help articles and questionnaires on its website, which students are welcome to print out and use. The website is  http://www.ucy.ac.cy/fmweb/psihologias.htm.  

• Difficulty studying.
• Difficulties with exams and in-class presentations
• Career interest

Interpersonal Issues

• Family issues
• Stress, anxiety, and agitation in social situations
• Tension in relationships with significant others
• Break up / Friendship termination

Feelings

• Anger
• Sadness and depression
• Loneliness
• Hopelessness

Personal Difficulties

• Alcohol and other substance abuse
• Sexual violence or harassment
• Sleeping /Eating/ other personal difficulties
• Stress

Identity and Self-Esteem issues

• Sexuality
• Values
• Negative thoughts and/or low self-esteem
• Difficulties in adapting to the University environment

If any of the above-mentioned issues concern or apply to you, it might help you to discuss them, with a counsellor.

Basic Characteristics of Counselling

• Support and encouragement for a healthy lifestyle
• Honest expression of feelings
• Help with evaluating values and goals
• Recognition of strengths and abilities.
• Goal development
• Recognition of choices and training in learning how to choose
• Time for authenticity and creativity.
• Empathetic relationship
• Personality development and positive change
• Sharing, respect, trust
• Genuine care and unconditional and positive concern
• Non-judgmental therapeutic environment
• Counselling is a communication process during which support is given to people with personal difficulties. Those difficulties are usually related to a dysfunction in personal relationships, the relationship with oneself, adaptation to the social environment, the way in which the person handles personal conflicts and several life issues.