Professional counselling is a safe and confidential collaboration between counsellors and clients to promote mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns. Clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage.

As counselling is a profession with a strong evidence base, interns will use empirically supported interventions and specialised interpersonal skills to facilitate change and empower clients.

Any member of the community is welcome to attend the UniSC Clinic.

The therapeutic service is provided by final year counselling interns who are trained in providing person-centred, strengths-based, trauma-informed counselling sessions as part of their nationally accredited counselling programs.

They are supervised by experienced Clinical Supervisors who are members of relevant professional bodies such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation (PACFA).

The UniSC Community Counselling Clinic is a practice-based research and teaching centre.

Sessions are provided to children, adults, couples and families experiencing a range of issues and concerns that might include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Life Transitions and adjustments
• Grief and bereavement
• Relationship issues
• Parenting
• Anger management

The Clinic’s focus is the delivery of person-centred, strengths-based, trauma-informed counselling. We tailor our therapeutic approach as much as possible to the needs of the individual/s with whom we are working.

The Clinic is not an acute care or emergency facility. Individuals who require more intense or specialised treatment than cannot be offered in a training clinic are referred to other agencies.

Interns may not work with those who:

• Are at high and imminent risk of suicide
• Exhibit psychotic symptoms / behaviours
• Have a severe depressive illness
• Have a long history of violence
• Have current forensic/legal/medico-legal issues
• Have other complex problems requiring long term treatment
• Have high dependence on alcohol or other drugs
• Have trauma experiences that indicate a need for long-term psychotherapy
• Have complex, and/or co-morbid issues

The Clinic is mindful of potential dual relationships and therefore does not accept the following individuals as clients:

• UniSC staff members
• Immediate family members of students or UniSC staff
• Students enrolled in related counselling, psychology or social work programs at UniSC.

During your initial 50-minute consultation, you will be asked to provide personal information to allow for accurate assessment of your situation and personal needs. Any information you disclose will be kept strictly confidential between you, the counselling intern and their supervisor.

Each following appointment of 50 minutes is tailored to your personal circumstances. The counselling intern will support you to address your issues in a positive way by supporting you to clarify your issues, explore options and develop strategies to better manage your issues, and increase self-awareness.

All appointments at the UniSC Community Counselling Clinic are offered free of charge.

The UniSC Community Counselling Clinic is located on Ground Floor of Building J at the Sunshine Coast Campus of the University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs. When appointments are confirmed, the UniSC Clinic Administration team will arrange parking for you.

The UniSC Transport Hub has public transport access located next door to the Clinic, adjacent to car park 8.

Visit usc.edu.au/public-transport to plan your journey.

We welcome self-referrals and referrals from community agencies.

To make an appointment

Ph: 07 5456 5006 or email counsellingclinic@usc.edu.au

Please provide your contact phone number and email address and a staff member will get back to you during our business hours to discuss a suitable appointment time.