Hello,

Thanks for submitting the first question of the new academic year. It’s a great one, too, because the term counselling is being used so broadly now to mean support for many of life’s demands and challenges. Likewise, therapy can refer to treatment and relief of both physical and mental pain, and can be medically or developmentally oriented. So it has become confusing for many people seeking help. The short answer is this: yes, we offer individual and group therapy/counselling sessions as well as workshops that increase students’ capacity for well-being. It is free and confidential.

In case you are interested in more of an explanation: When making the decision about seeking help, it is often more useful to consider the training and credentials of the person whose support you are seeking, and then find out what kind of service that person, or the work setting they are in, offers users. MRU Student Counselling Services has registered psychologists and social workers with a clinical designation,  meaning they are trained to provide support for people with mental health concerns and they have met the registration requirements for their regulated profession in Alberta.

This support can include working with people who have a diagnosis of a mental illness, those who are struggling with their mental health and well-being but who don’t have a diagnosis, and it can include helping people through experiences of loss, trauma, identity questions, life skills, interpersonal challenges, barriers to academic success, career and life decisions, and so on.

MRU Student Counselling Services provides brief therapy. This is in consideration of both our resources and linking students to services that best their needs. If you are hurting, struggling in some areas of your life, or interested in personal growth, please attend at our walk-in block of sessions every afternoon between 1 and 4 pm, book an appointment, or join us for our workshops and webinars (live chat workshops online that you can do from home in the evening). In a one-on-one appointment, you and your counsellor can discuss how to best meet your needs.

All the best for the coming academic year,

Mirjam Knapik, Ph.D., Registered Psychologist