Being a college or university student is a stressful (and hopefully also exciting) time of life! You are probably (or will be!) trying to balance your physical and mental health alongside the stress of studying, prepping for never-ending assignments, figuring out finances, managing family and personal relationships, and working towards your dreams and goals. For many students, mental health challenges may also be a part of life.
Whatever You Are Experiencing, You Are NOT Alone!
In the spring of 2022, the National College Health Association reported high rates of student challenges with procrastination (82%), personal appearance (63%), academics (60%), career-related concerns (48%), family concerns (47%), intimate relationships (42%), anxiety (32%), depression (25%), microaggressions (20%), and sexual harassment (13%). 26% of cis men, 34.4% of cis women, and 54.3 of trans and non-binary Canadian students reported “serious psychological distress” in the twelve months prior to their national survey. Over 55% of all students (and over 70% of trans and NB students) reported feeling lonely and 15% of reported using various forms of self-injury or self-harm to cope.
Where Can I Find Help?
Your first step is to contact your school’s counselling centre. Find out how many sessions they offer (some stop at five or six sessions, some tailor treatment length to your individual needs), and how long you will need to wait to speak to someone. Campus counselling centres and student mental health resources are an important part of any student’s potential support system! Sadly, they are also typically not able to meet the needs of all the students who would benefit from help.
At TE, our compassionate, warm, patient, and highly skilled therapists are available to provide evidence-based psychotherapy to treat common mental health problems. We’re here to support you with overall stress and life’s ups and downs to keep you on the path to achieving your goals, and we tailor the treatment to your needs, your schedule, and your budget! We will also help direct you to important free supports at your own school – supports like counselling centres, career centres, supports for international and Indigenous students, accommodations for mental health, learning difficulties, and ADHD, access to doctors, and support related to sexual assault and understanding consent. We also understand the nature of academic systems and the importance of understanding drop deadlines and academic appeal deadlines for your financial and mental well-being.
We Understand the Challenges that Students are Facing
Before opening Transforming Emotions, Dr. Sarah Thompson was a staff psychologist at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Student Development and Counselling for eighteen years. Yep, eighteen years! In fact, a number of team members at TE still work in substantial roles at TMU, including:
- Dena Marcos, who also works as a TMU Career Education Specialist with a passion for helping students navigate major life transitions including starting college or university studies, and graduating from post-secondary and moving into the world of work.
- Amanda Masterton who focuses on working with individuals living with visible and invisible disabilities and long-term health challenges.
- David McNeill and Dr. Immaculate Antony both provide psychotherapy and supervision to student psychotherapists at TMU’s Centre for Student Development and Counselling.
In addition to our regular team members, we supervise graduate student therapists every year at TE as they manage their own lives as students while completing their training as future psychologists, social workers, and psychotherapists. Graduate student therapists have special insight into both mental health and the current stressors facing students today. They also offer reduced fee therapy while being supervised by an experienced clinician so your therapy dollars go further!
I Want Help Now! How Can I Pay for Therapy?
Did you know that the vast majority of university and college students are automatically enrolled in extended health benefits plans through their school? Check online to learn what your plan covers. Our graduate student therapists offer sliding scale rates to help you stretch your dollars further. If you are open to talking to your parents or guardians about your mental health challenges, you may also be eligible for coverage under their work-extended health benefits, often up to age 25 for students enrolled in full-time studies. If you are eligible for OSAP and you have received a mental health diagnosis from a family doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist, you can also apply every year for the Bursary for Students with Disabilities, which provides you with money you can use to pay for therapy or a psychological assessment (among other things). Contact your school’s academic accommodation support office to learn more about how to apply.
