Access Counselling

Individual counselling

Any Camosun student may access confidential counselling. Our services are short term in nature and are meant to support you as a student.   You have the option to come for an in-person, video or phone appointment.  Please read the extra information at the bottom of this page if you are an Indigenous student.  

Access to our same day appointments begins at 9am each day by phone.  Pre-booked appointments are also available. The only way to secure an appointment is by speaking to the Counselling Assistant in-person or by phone (not by leaving an email or voicemail).  

Appointments can be booked by calling 250–370-3571 or 250–370-4925 or stopping by in-person.

After you book a counselling appointment, you will be sent online forms to fill out prior to your first session, including the Informed Consent form, linked here for your convenience. 

Service counters are open at both campuses*

• Lansdowne (Dawson 202): 
  Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 9am - 4pm; Tues: 10:30am - 6pm
  Closed statutory holidays
   
• Interurban (Campus Centre 314): 
  Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm
  Closed statutory holidays 

*Some days (in particular when student flow at the college is lighter) we may only have one physical counter open, so phone may be the best way to book an appointment.

Emergency and after-hours support

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911, then Campus Security at 250-370-3075. If you need urgent support after-hours, contact:

• Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888
• National Suicide Crisis Hotline: 988
• KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717

Indigenous students

As part of Camosun’s Indigenization Policy G-2.2 and our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action, Counselling Services is committed to providing culturally responsive service for Indigenous Students. In order to work in a good way, it is possible that the length of session and duration of connection may be more flexible in this context.

Faculty and staff referrals

When Camosun community members are hoping to connect a student to Counselling, the most effective way is to share our contact information with the student directly and have them speak to the Counselling Assistant. Emailing a counsellor directly will often result in an unnecessary delay. 

College faculty and staff are welcome to call for a counsellor consult if they would like to speak to a Counsellor about how to refer a student or to get help assessing if there is a level of risk to the student.  

Please refer to the Supporting Students in Distress document for more information (includes resources for times when the college is closed and/or a fast response is appropriate).

Counselling services for students away from campus

Students located outside of Canada

Due to privacy, legal and ethical limitations, Camosun College cannot provide counselling services to students located outside of Canada.

Students are invited to access Here2Talk (24 hours/7 days a week) confidential mental health counselling and community referrals for BC post-secondary students through app, phone and web.