Counselling for Post-Secondary Students

Going to university or college means big changes in your surroundings, your social life, academic expectations, and the amount of stress and responsibility you face.

You might be in your first year, living alone for the first time, far from home, and getting used to a new city, new people, or even a new culture and language.

You might find it challenging to make or manage new friendships, and you might miss your old friends. You might feel lonely, isolated, or homesick. Or you might be having trouble balancing a fun, rewarding new social life with your studies.

You might be navigating new dating, romantic, or sexual experiences, or grieving the break-up of a serious relationship. 

You might have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, or an abusive relationship, and don’t know where to turn for help or support. 

You might feel although you are “freer” to explore your social and sexual identity, you are still battling biases because of your gender, your sexual identity, your appearance, your ethnicity, or a disability.

You might be dealing with changes in family relationships, especially with your parents – and with gaining independence in your life, your finances, and your decision-making. 

You might be anxious about your schoolwork, and struggling with procrastination, time management, effective study habits, test anxiety, or oral presentations. 

You might be doubting your major, your program, graduate school, your career path, or whether you’re “on the right track” toward the life you want. 

You might be in your final year, worrying about entering the job market, and whether you’re prepared for the next steps in your life. You might be feeling lost, and unsure what to do now. 

Or you might be in graduate, medical, business, or law school, coping with additional issues such as “imposter syndrome,” balancing competing demands, emotional burnout, financial or funding difficulties, thesis or dissertation completion, publications, and work placements – or major life stressors such as getting married or divorced, raising children, or your parents’ declining health. 

These pressures can be very serious. 

You might be feeling depressed, anxious, and exhausted, and finding it hard to do your coursework, go to class, or even get out of bed. You might be crying all the time, or irritable, or having difficulty sleeping.

You might be so distressed that you’ve missed or failed exams or assignments, dropped out of courses, or missed a lot of important classes. You might have failed some courses or been unable to enter a special program or degree you wanted. 

You might be considering dropping out, or even be thinking about harming yourself.

If you are experiencing one (or many) of these problems, you aren’t alone! At London Psychological Services, we have supported many students through their post-secondary journeys, through these types of problems, and more. 

It would be our pleasure to help you find success and satisfaction in your journey, too.