College Counsellors
College Counsellor - Carolanne Reat
Carolanne Reat
Hi, my name is Carolanne and I am a college counsellor. I work online with students across campus and in person with students within our Kilwinning Campus. I am an integrative Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and registered with the BABCP.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is fundamentally concerned with the meanings which people make of their experiences. The insight of the CBT model is that it’s not events that bother us. Instead, it’s the way that we interpret events – the meaning that we give to them – that gives rise to our feelings. CBT is ‘present focused’. That means it works with thoughts and feelings in the here and now. Sometimes we can get ‘stuck’ in vicious cycles and the things that we do to solve a problem can inadvertently keep them going.
CBT is about finding out what is keeping us stuck and making changes in our thinking and actions to improve the way we feel. It’s a collaborative therapy and needs your active participation to be helpful. There is a lot of evidence to show that it is an effective treatment.
I can offer between 6 and 8 sessions. (50 mins each) Referrals for counselling can be made via Student Experience.
I can be contacted through the Student Experience Team or directly through my email: SE@ayrshire.ac.uk
College Counsellor - Judy Dickie BA(Hons), MSc, DipCBT, MBPsS, MBACP(Reg)
Judy Dickie BA(Hons), MSc, DipCBT, MBPsS, MBACP(Reg)
Hi, my name is Judy and I am one of the counsellors at Ayrshire College. I offer 1-1 counselling sessions to college students. These can take place online across our three campuses or in person at our Kilmarnock campus where I am based. These sessions provide a confidential and safe space where you can talk about your situation. I can help you to explore and understand the challenges that you face, establish any factors that might be preventing your situation from changing and we can work together to manage your difficulties. My approach is collaborative, compassionate and creative so that sessions are tailored to individual needs.
I am a registered, fully qualified and experienced Integrative Cognitive Behavioural psychotherapist and member of the British Psychological Society and British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Counselling can be accessed via referral through the Student Experience Team.
I can be contacted through the Student Experience Team or directly though my email: SE@ayrshire.ac.uk
College Counsellors
The Ayrshire College Counselling Service is inclusive and available to all students who need therapeutic support. The Student Experience Team can refer students to the counselling service following an initial discussion with the student to understand if counselling is the right option at that time and/or if another support service is required.
This Counselling Service will provide you with a safe and confidential space, where you can explore and understand your thoughts and feelings. Counselling is a process in which you work with your therapist in order to improve your mental health and wellbeing, and gradually make the changes that you want in your life.
You will be allocated up to 6-8 weekly sessions, with each session being 50 minutes long. You may find that you need fewer sessions, or more, and this decision will be mutually agreed with your counsellor. You will have a dedicated time slot allocated to you for the duration of your therapy. You will work with the same counsellor throughout your sessions so that you can build up a therapeutic relationship.
College Counselling is collaborative and will support you with:
A mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder
An upsetting physical health condition
A difficult life event, such as bereavement, a relationship breakdown or work-related stress
Difficult emotions – for example, low self-esteem or anger
Other issues, such as sexual identity
If you experience any kind of issue that is causing your emotional pain, it might be useful to explore your concerns in counselling.
College Counselling can take place:
In person
Online
Over the phone
You can choose the option that suits you best.
If you would like more information on the College Counselling Service contact the Student Experience Team:
studentservices@ayrshire.ac.uk
inclusivelearning@ayrshire.ac.uk
We would like to support you if you are going through a challenging time or have issues that would be helpful to talk about.