University students: Counselling for university students

Registered psychologists & counsellors · Online sessions and in person in Calgary

University can be some of the best years of your life and some of the hardest, often in the same week. Whether you’re living away from home for the first time, juggling exams and a part-time job, or quietly wondering who you’re becoming, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

REQUEST A MATCHFree 15-minute consult

STUDENT COUNSELLING AT CORE

  1. 01Support for academic pressure, identity, relationships and big decisions
  2. 02Online sessions that fit around classes, exams and shifts
  3. 03Continuity of care when you live in one province and study in another

No referral needed. How online counselling works.

A bright counselling room at Core Psychology with a sofa, armchairs and a bookshelf

01 · You’re not the only one

If university feels heavier than you expected, that makes sense.

It can look like everyone around you has it together. The truth is that many students are carrying something they don’t talk about: pressure to perform, fear of choosing the wrong path, loneliness in a crowded lecture hall, or a sense of being out of step with everyone else.

Counselling gives you a place to set some of that down, make sense of it and find your footing again. You don’t need to be in crisis, and you don’t need the right words yet.

  • Feeling anxious, stuck or behind, even when things look fine on paper
  • Struggling to focus, keep up or start the work you care about
  • Missing home, or not feeling at home anywhere
  • Questioning your program, your plans or who you are
A bookshelf of well-loved books in a Core Psychology office
A notepad, lamp and plant on a side table in a Core Psychology office

02 · What students bring to counselling

Real support for what university actually asks of you.

  • Academic pressureExams, grades, deadlines and the feeling that every mark decides your future. Learn to work with the pressure instead of being run by it.
  • Anxiety & perfectionismRacing thoughts, procrastination, imposter feelings and the exhausting need to get everything right.
  • Identity & self-worthFiguring out who you are apart from your family, your grades and what others expect, including questions about culture, faith, sexuality and gender, explored at your own pace.
  • Decisions & directionChanging programs, choosing a career, or wondering whether this path is really yours. Make choices from clarity rather than fear.
  • Friendships & relationshipsLoneliness, roommate tension, dating, breakups and finding your people in a new place.
  • Family & homeShifting relationships with parents, expectations from home, and that in-between feeling of having two places and belonging fully to neither.
  • Low mood & burnoutWhen motivation disappears, sleep is off and getting through the day takes everything you have.
  • ADHD & focusBuilding a way of studying that works with your brain, not against it.

03 · How we work with students

How counselling works for university students

You don’t have to earn support by reaching a breaking point. You deserve a space where you can be honest, be heard and leave with something useful.

I

Validating, not judging

We meet you where you are, without telling you what you should be feeling or who you should be.

II

Practical and real

Evidence-based tools, like CBT, that you can use during exam season, not only in session.

III

Built around your schedule

Online sessions that fit between classes, labs and shifts, with evening and weekend times available.

04 · Home and school in different provinces

Keep the same counsellor, wherever your semester takes you.

Many students live in one province and study in another, moving between home and school through the year. Changing counsellors every time you move can mean starting over just when things are getting better.

Clinicians with the Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) credential, like Julie and Leah, are able to see clients who live in one province and go to school in another. That means your care can continue with ease, without disruption, whether you’re meeting from residence, your apartment or your family home.

Learn more about how online counselling works. Not sure what applies to you? Ask during your free consultation and we’ll talk it through.

05 · Wherever you study

For students at schools across Alberta, BC and beyond.

We work with students from colleges, polytechnics and universities, whether you’re in your first semester or finishing a graduate degree.

That includes students at the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, SAIT, Bow Valley College, Ambrose University, St. Mary’s University, the University of Alberta, MacEwan University, NAIT, the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Polytechnic, Red Deer Polytechnic, Medicine Hat College, Athabasca University, the University of Victoria and Camosun College, as well as students who study out of province. Core Psychology is independent and not affiliated with these schools.

OTHER SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS

  • Your campus wellness centreMost schools offer free short-term counselling, accessibility services and academic support. Counselling with us can work alongside it.
  • Here2Talk (BC students)Free, confidential mental health support for students enrolled at a BC post-secondary school, by phone, chat or app.
  • Mental Health Help Line (Alberta)Free, confidential support any time from Alberta Health Services at 1-877-303-2642
  • 211Call or text 211 to find local community services and programs
  • Crisis supportCall or text 988 any time, or call 911 in an emergency

06 · Your counsellors

Counsellors who understand student life.

Not sure who to choose? Request a match and our client care coordinator will suggest the therapist who may be the best fit, or see our full team.

07 · Common questions

Counselling for students.

MORE SUPPORT

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book directly with us. A free 15-minute consultation is a good way to see whether it feels like the right fit.

Can I keep my counsellor if I move between provinces for school?

Often, yes. Clinicians with the Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) credential, like Julie and Leah, can see clients who live in one province and go to school in another. Ask during your consultation and we’ll confirm what works for your situation.

Does my student health plan cover counselling?

Many student health plans include some coverage for counselling or psychological services. Coverage varies, so check which types of providers your plan covers and the yearly maximum. See fees and insurance for details.

What if I’m not sure what’s wrong?

That’s okay. Many students come in with a general sense that something feels off. Your counsellor will help you sort through it together, at your pace.

Will my school or my parents know I’m in counselling?

Counselling is confidential. Apart from limited exceptions, such as a serious risk to your safety or someone else’s, we don’t share information without your written consent. If someone else is paying for your sessions, we can talk through what that means for your privacy.

What if I need help right now?

If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 any time, or call 911.

Support that fits your semester.

Book a free 15-minute consultation, or send us a short email and our client care coordinator will match you with Jordan or Julie.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATIONRequest a match Book online

New to therapy? Our Welcome Guide explains what to expect, and our fees page covers rates and insurance.

Call or text 403.488.8912 · info@corepsychology.com
Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm · Saturday, 9am to 3pm

If you’re in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.