Book a Counselling appointment
At 519-888-4096, press 1 for Health Services and 2 for Counselling Services.
Visit us during office hours in Health Services or Needles Hall, 2nd floor.
Email: For those who are unable to call due to accessibility concerns, please email counselling@uwaterloo.ca indicating you are unable to book by phone. Please note, this email address is not monitored 24/7 and cannot support urgent or emergency requests.
About Counselling Services
We're here to support your mental, emotional and spiritual health and well-being. Connect with a team that is rooted in creating safe and supportive environments for students of all orientations and backgrounds. No charge, private and confidential, in-person and virtual sessions to help you feel your best.
Who can use these services:
- Current undergraduate and graduate students, both on study terms and co-op terms, living in Ontario.
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Services are available for the duration of studies, and if needed, up to six months after graduation to support transfer of care.If you are outside of Ontario, please seek healthcare where you are.
Book a Counselling appointment with Campus Wellness, Counselling Services
Quick links:
Counselling appointment options
Not sure which type of appointment is right for you? Our intake process will determine which of these services will best support you. If you have specific needs or would like to request a counsellor with lived experience or identity, we’ll do our best to match you with a counsellor to suit your needs.
- All appointments are available at no charge to registered University of Waterloo students in study terms or on co-op terms, Monday-Friday.
- Evening appointments are available in the fall and winter terms from Monday to Thursday until 7:30 p.m. and from Tuesday to Wednesday until 7:30 p.m. in spring term.
- If this is your first time contacting us, our intake team will ask you for basic information (address, phone number, email etc.) and send you our privacy and registration form.
- The team will book you a 30-minute appointment with our Intake Specialist (IS) to determine the best approach for you.
- Remember to email us back the privacy and registration form before your intake appointment.
Single-session counselling
Single-session counselling appointments are a one-time, 90-min appointment available with a counsellor, in-person or virtually.
These sessions are a great way for you to get a feel for what counselling is like.
You can expect:
- Focus to be on the immediate concern or problem in the present.
- Tools for coping, skill-building, and meaningful dialogue.
- Collaboration throughout the session to meet your needs.
- Insights, strategies and a better grasp on managing the issue.
Brief counselling
Brief counselling appointments are a series of ongoing, 60-minute sessions offered with a counsellor both in-person and virtually.
These sessions are great for understanding and managing ongoing symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship challenges and more.
You can expect:
- Collaboration with your counsellor to determine the most effective approach for you.
- Ongoing, needs-based and solution-focused counselling to support your mental health and well-being.
- Tools and strategies to navigate challenges and balance them with your studies or work placements.
Crisis counselling
Crisis appointments are one-off sessions with a counsellor to navigate immediate and urgent needs if you're experiencing intense emotional distress. Immediate appointments are scheduled within 24 hours and urgent appointments within 3-5 days.
These sessions support feelings of overwhelm, inability to cope or a sudden situation that affects well-being and safety.
You can expect:
- Assessment of the level of risk or urgency to ensure your safety and well-being.
- Identification of immediate needs to find stability through grounding and coping strategies.
- Planning for ongoing brief counselling and safety planning as needed.
- Connecting you to additional support resources for managing next steps.
Work term resources
Connect with a co-op embedded wellness counsellors.
Embedded wellness counsellors provide mental health support for students on recruiting terms, work terms and in preparing for work terms. However, for other support or questions during your work term or finding your next co-op, you can reach out to a co-op advisor. Advisors can also help with finding a place to live or address concerns during your work term and about your co-op job.
If you're studying or working on campus:
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We offer counselling appointments, seminars/workshops, groups, online resources and information about other supports in your area.
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Reach out to your co-op advisor for directional support and/or information about other resources on campus.
Confidentiality
All information you share with your counsellor will be held in the strictest confidence. However, Ontario health privacy legislation allows us to collect, use and share your personal information among health care providers who provide or assist in providing health care to you.
Please speak to your counsellor if you would like to limit how we give out personal information to your health care providers.
The only exceptions to the strict privacy policy are those required by law (e.g., when a person presents clear indications of intending harm to self or others, where there is suspected or current child abuse, where there has been sexual abuse by a regulated health professional or when records are subpoenaed). Please see our Privacy and Consent Policies for more details.
Prepare for your appointment
Counselling Services will contact you with full directions on how to call or video conference in for your appointment. Additional information about virtual appointments can be found below.
Meet our Counsellors
Want to know more about our team of professionals?
- The counselling team is made up of individuals with a diverse range of both professional and lived experiences.
- They're here to help you make space for your mental and emotional well-being and support you as you navigate the ups and downs of life.
- You can be matched with a specialized counsellor upon request.
Need urgent or immediate support?
Are you in crisis, feeling unsafe, or worried you might hurt yourself or others? If you are experiencing a life-threatening issue, please call 911.
Connect with Empower Me
If you are outside the province, please seek care where you are, contact us to discuss your options and next steps, or access Empower Me.
Empower Me is a mental health and wellness service that provides easily accessible and fully confidential counselling to you.
