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Counselling

Studying can be fun and exciting but can also bring challenges as you adjust to a new environment. Our Counsellors are trained professionals who are here to provide you free, confidential counselling to help you manage personal, academic or emotional issues. They can even help you when you don’t know what the problem is!

If you experience any of the issues listed below - or have a problem that you can’t describe yet - meeting with a counsellor can help.

Personal issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, homesickness
Difficulty with behaviours like sleep, eating, self-harm, and drug, alcohol or internet use
Academic concerns or other problems that stop you from doing well in your study or attending classes
Relationship difficulties or conflicts with family, friends or peers
Culture shock and other difficulties adjusting to change or settling into your new life

What happens in counselling?

Our counsellors will:

listen without judgement
help you manage your difficulties
work with you to develop better ways of coping and problem solving
refer you to external counselling services if your issues require ongoing support (Monash College provides short-term counselling)

This conversation is private so your counsellor will not talk about your problems to others.

Make a counselling appointment
Counselling hours and locations
Wellbeing resources
After hours and emergency support
Looking after your mental health
Support outside Australia

To make an appointment to speak with a counsellor, please head to the Counselling Portal here, and follow the instructions below:

Please note:

You will receive a text message appointment reminder one hour before your appointment time
Appointments usually take about 45 minutes
Make a time to talk with a counsellor when you don’t have class
You can also log on to the Counselling Portal to change or cancel appointments you no longer need

Counsellors are available for face-to-face appointments at the locations below or online via Zoom.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:30am and 4:30pm.

If you are feeling stressed, anxious or experiencing any personal or psychological problems, please make an appointment via the Counselling Portal.

Bourke St Campus appointments

222 Bourke St Campus, Level 3

Counsellor: Dr Megan Brownlie: Room 3.23.

Counsellor: Fereshta Rasé: Room 3.05

Counsellor: Carlyn Setia: Room 3.05

Managing worry	Worries, doubts and anxieties are an unavoidable part of life. Although we can’t predict the future, we can learn to accept the things outside of our control and learn skills to help us cope better with the situation.	Read more
Managing exam stress	Exam time can bring feelings of worry, stress and increased pressure to meet your own or your family’s expectations. While it’s common to experience greater levels of stress during exam time, it’s important to be able to manage these feelings in order to perform at your best.	Read more
Tips for healthy sleep habits	With healthy sleep habits, you can be the best version of yourself. Good sleep leads to better brain function which means improved concentration, focus and memory for study. It also improves physical health and mental health, helping you manage negative emotions and cope better with life’s challenges.	Read more
Procrastination	Sometimes, we delay doing an important task and choose to do something else instead. Putting things off or leaving them to the last minute can impact us negatively as it increases our stress and makes the task seem even more daunting. Here are some tips to stop procrastination, improve your motivation and focus using mindfulness.	Read more
Mindful exercise	It’s normal to have thousands of random thoughts pop into your mind every day. However, it’s difficult to focus when you keep getting ‘hooked’ by them. The good news is that you can use mindfulness to train yourself to focus on the tasks you need to, improve your sleep and manage difficult emotions without being so distracted by your thoughts, feelings or urges.	Read more
Managing low mood	It’s normal to experience low mood from time to time and it does not always mean something is wrong. If you are feeling low for longer periods of time or finding your low mood unmanageable, it is important to speak to your doctor or one of the Monash College counsellors for support. Below are some signs that you may be experiencing low mood and some easy and small changes you can make to start improving how you feel.	Read more
Connecting with others	Social connectedness, or being close and belonging with others, is a basic human need. Research has shown that social connectedness can reduce loneliness and have benefits for our mental and physical health. Some studies have found that strong social relationships can even help you live longer! Here are a few ways you can improve your social connectedness.	Read more
Tips for wellbeing	Wellbeing refers to the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy. Taking care of your wellbeing can help to enhance your overall quality of life. Below are some evidence-based ways to improve your wellbeing.	Read more
Building self confidence	With self-confidence you trust your abilities, feel worthy and accept yourself (including accepting your weaknesses, flaws and mistakes). You’ll enjoy life more and worry less about what others think of you. Use the strategies below to develop healthy habits that boost self-confidence.	Read more
Creating new healthy habits	We all know what it’s like to start a new habit and then give up. We need to repeat a new habit often enough for it to become part of our daily routine. Use the strategies below to stick to your plan and develop healthy habits!	Read more
Dealing with disappointment	Whether it’s a failed exam or a result you weren’t quite expecting, disappointment about your academic performance can be difficult to deal with. Below are some strategies you can use to help you manage disappointment when it comes up and help you to move forward faster.	Read more
Improve your focus	If you find it difficult to concentrate when studying, try these science-based strategies to develop your attention skills.	Read more

For counselling after hours, on weekends or term holidays, students can contact any of the services below:

External 24-hour phone counselling for Monash students if ringing from within Australia 1300 788 336, if ringing from other countries +61 2 8295 2917
Student after-hours assistance hotline on 1800 725 315 - this will provide any assistance, not just counselling, outside of normal business hours.

For support outside that offered by Monash

Crisis support and suicide prevention - Lifeline on 13 11 14, or counselling with translation on 131 450. Ask to talk to Lifeline in your language. Calls at the cost of a local call from a landline and additional charges apply for mobiles.
Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636
Suicide prevention - Suicideline on 1300 651 251
Support for teens and young adults - Kidshelpline on 1800 551 800
Sexual assault - Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292 or 9349 1766
Sexual assault and family violence - 1800Respect on 1800 737 732
Men with family and relationship concerns - MensLine on 1300 789 978
Drugs, alcohol and gambling - Turning Point on 1800 888 236
Gambling problems - Gambler's Help on 1800 858 858

There are many actions you can take to look after your wellbeing and physical/mental health. Check out the information below for ideas, strategies and online resources that can help.

Learn more about Taking care of your mental health at home
Find out about the importance of having a routine
Learn how to manage uncertainty and anxiety or watch the video here.
Find out more about stress management or watch the video here
Find out about mindfulness or watch the video here
Learn how to overcome procrastination or watch the video here.
Find out how you can practise gratitude or watch our video here
See our tips for Healthy sleep habits and sleep re-training or watch our video here.
Learn some handy tips to build your self-confidence.

Using technology to support positive mental health

There are many ways to improve your mental health. Apps are a great way to keep you motivated, on track and on top of your mental health and well being. Here are some FREE apps to get your started!

IMPROVE OVERALL WELLBEING

Smiling Mind

This meditation app offers a range of helpful mindfulness exercises to help increase your awareness, engage your senses, manage your emotions and 'unhook' from your thoughts.