We welcome anyone referring students to our counselling service. We would be happy to discuss with you about whether a referral is necessary and how to present the referral to the students. For referral, please contact our Counsellors.

Situations that indicate a referral may be necessary:

  • Need for better self-understanding, to enhance interpersonal relationships, to explore and develop potentials, and to improve emotional wellness

  • Sudden changes in school performance, e.g. a serious drop in grades and class attendance

  • Marked changes in body weight, personal grooming and hygiene

  • Unusual or exaggerated emotional response which is obviously inappropriate to the situation

  • Feeling difficult in adjusting to university life and powerless in coping with problems

  • Feeling sad, anxious, stressed, or troubled for a long period of time

  • Highly disruptive behavior (hostile, aggressive, or violent)

  • Inability to communicate clearly (garbled, slurred speech; unconnected or disjointed thoughts)

  • Loss of contact with reality (seeing/hearing things which “aren’t there”; beliefs that are greatly at odds with reality or probability)

  • Threats of self harm or harm to others (Call 999 immediately in case of emergency)

Remarks about making a referral:

  • It is usually helpful that you discuss the possibility of using counselling service with the student before making a referral. An anonymous referral often makes it difficult for our counsellor to develop trust with the student. In fact, most students appreciate candid caring and support from people around them in their times of difficulty.

  • Except in dangerous situations, e.g. threats of self-harm or harm to others, the decision to accept or reject the referral is ultimately the student’s.

  • A referral may be made for consultation purposes, where our counsellor meets with the student, makes an assessment and offers recommendations to person who made the referral, given a written consent from the student.

  • A referral may be made for counsellling purposes, where our counsellor meets with the student, makes an assessment, develops a treatment plan and begins the counselling process.

  • Under the obligation to confidentiality of student information in counselling, our counsellors are unable to disclose ANY information about the student to ANYONE, including the person who made the referral, without a written consent from the student. If you want to know about the progress of a student whom you have referred to us, it is best that you approach the student directly.