The University of Westminster has expanded its Westminster Community Counselling Service (WCCS). The WCCS aims to help address the growing demand for mental health support across the borough, particularly for under-served communities, and give graduates and trainees from the University the chance to put their studies into practice.
The WCCS is a university-led counselling service offering weekly sessions delivered by trainee counsellors with fees on a sliding scale from free to £35, and no eligibility criteria. People with no income, such as refugees, can access sessions at no cost, while others, such as those on maternity leave, can pay reduced rates.
Sessions are delivered by trainee psychotherapists on the University’s two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling course as part of their clinical training, with full supervision from qualified academics. This model both helps to provide affordable care in the city while training the next generation of practitioners.
The service provides targeted support using evidence-based methods for treating a variety of conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which are two of the most prevalent conditions in the borough according to the City of Westminster’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).
WCCS is committed to addressing the rising prevalence of anxiety and depression, reducing the disproportionate mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority communities, and tackling the stark health inequalities across the UK. The service will prioritise reaching the under-served population of the City of Westminster’s most deprived wards, where, according to the JSNA, around 28% of residents report high levels of anxiety overall.
About WCCS, Service Lead Dr Nikolaos Souvlakis, said: “With anxiety and depression continuing to rise, our aim is to offer timely, high-quality counselling to people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. The Westminster Community Counselling Service is agile, evidence-based and rooted in the diversity of our local area – making sure that people get the right support when they need it.”
Professor Damien Ridge, WCCS Deputy Lead, added: “This service reflects our University’s deep commitment to addressing inequalities. By prioritising those who often struggle most to access support, such as LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities and those in more deprived wards, we are taking a meaningful step towards closing the mental health gap in Westminster.”
Head of the Westminster School of Social Sciences Alan Porter said: “The Westminster Community Counselling Service is a unique training ground for our counselling students and graduates. It brings together education, research and community engagement in a way that embodies our School’s mission – to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
WCCS contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Good Health and Well-being and 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about the Westminster Community Counselling Service.
Find out more about studying Psychology and Counselling BSc Honours at the University of Westminster.
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