The University of Melbourne Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential, short-term professional counselling to currently enrolled students and staff.
Looking after your health and wellbeing is essential to being your best at the University of Melbourne. Life at university can be exciting and interesting, as well as bring challenges such as adjusting to a new environment and the general stress of student life.
Sometimes it can be difficult to reach out to family and friends, or deal with things by ourselves. Counselling can be helpful during these times.
Contact CAPS
For all appointments and enquiries
Book, check-in for, or change an appointment
Call us
+61 3 8344 6927
Phone hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pmEmail us
More contact information
Including mailing address, locations and information for staff. Find out more
After hours mental health crisis support
Contact emergency crisis support now
For support and advice outside of opening hours (including weekends and public holidays):
Phone: 1300 219 459
Text: 0480 079 188
Student workshop program
CAPS offers free workshops and webinars on a range of personal development, mental health and wellbeing issues each semester. Mental Health First Aid and other training programs are also available for both students and staff.
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential, short-term professional counselling to currently enrolled domestic and international students and staff. CAPS is committed to providing quick access to our service for those in need.
For all appointments
Students
You can book, check-in for, reschedule or cancel an appointment using our online appointment portal.
Staff
If you are new to CAPS or haven't attended an appointment this year, book an appointment by calling us.
Staff who are existing clients can book, check-in for, reschedule or cancel an appointment using our online appointment portal.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): telecounselling appointments
We are currently offering online appointments via Zoom until further notice. If you have any issues connecting with us, please call or email us for assistance.
Appointment types
Initial consultations
Getting support at CAPS begins with an initial consultation. An initial consultation appointment is up to 45 minutes and includes:
- Questionnaires about your health and wellbeing (15 mins)
- A consultation with a counsellor (30 mins)
The consultation is designed to cover a brief overview of your current situation and address any immediate concerns.
Initial consultation appointments are available Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. They can be booked on the day, or the next day. During semester, with increased demand, wait times can increase.
If a suitable appointment time is not available, contact us during business hours. We can arrange for a counsellor to provide a brief triage phone call to work out options.
You can also check out what you can do while you are waiting, or if you need urgent assistance.
If you would feel more comfortable speaking with a male or female counsellor, or have particular preferences in your choice of counsellor, see our staff page for more details. We will endeavour to place you with someone of your choice, but this may not always be possible.
Short-term counselling
At the end of your initial consultation, your counsellor will recommend some support options. Some people find that the initial consultation is sufficient for their needs, while others may proceed with short-term counselling.
Return appointments are up to 50 minutes and are arranged through your counsellor. Majority of students attend between one to four sessions. A small number of students may require up to six sessions.
For important information about what to expect at your initial consultation or from short-term counselling, see our what to expect from counselling page.
LGBTQIA+ counselling and support
At the University of Melbourne, we recognise the richness diversity brings. We pride ourselves on fostering and promoting a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment free from discrimination, harassment, vilification, or victimisation based on sex, sexuality, or gender identity.
Our counsellors are welcoming and supportive of people of all backgrounds, and many counsellors have a particular interest in supporting students of diverse sexuality and gender identity. We also have have a dedicated LGBTIQA+ counsellor, Jean Popomilkov. You can read more about our staff.
Appointments are booked online or by phone. If you would like to see Jean or any specific counsellor, you can request this.
Special consideration
Can a counsellor help me apply for special consideration?
Students who have been seeing a CAPS counsellor in an ongoing way about issues affecting their study can talk to their counsellor about completing a Health Professional Report (HPR) to support an application for special consideration.
Before making an appointment:
- Please refer to the University's policy and information on Special Consideration.
- Print and complete the Student portion of the HPR. A copy of the HPR form can be found on the Special Consideration page under 'Supporting Documentation'.
What if I haven't been to see a counsellor at CAPS before?
HPR forms are best completed by health professionals who have prior knowledge of your circumstances.
If it's your first time seeing one of our counsellors, we may not be able to complete your HPR. However, you can still make an appointment to discuss personal issues that are impacting your study, and we can discuss options and support with you.
Contact CAPS
For all appointments and enquiries
Book, check-in for, or change an appointment
Call us
+61 3 8344 6927
Phone hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pmEmail us
More contact information
Including mailing address, locations and information for staff. Find out more
After hours mental health crisis support
Contact emergency crisis support now
For support and advice outside of opening hours (including weekends and public holidays):
Phone: 1300 219 459
Text: 0480 079 188
More information
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Why seek counselling?
People attend counselling to talk about personal, emotional, or mental health issues which affect their study and life.
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What to expect from counselling
Important information about what to expect when you visit our service, including how we work, what happens in appointments, and your confidentiality.
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Waiting for your appointment
There are many helpful things you can do to support yourself while waiting for your appointment.
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Worried about someone?
What to do if someone you know is struggling and may benefit from counselling.
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free workshops on a range of personal development, mental health and wellbeing issues each semester. Mental Health First Aid and other training programs are also available for both students and staff.
On this page:
Resilience and wellbeing series
Enhance your learning series
Anxiety management programs
Mindfulness programs
International student programs
Special interest programs
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training
Resilience and wellbeing series
Learn a range of fundamental skills to better cope and adapt to life's challenges in this interactive webinar series facilitated by CAPS counsellors. You are welcome to attend all sessions in the series, or just attend one or two. Please register for each webinar individually using your unimelb email address.
| Date/Time | Webinar | Description | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 9 Mar 1-2 PM | Adjusting to COVID-normal | As COVID-19 restrictions are cautiously eased, people can have different feelings about re-entering university, work, or society. This webinar will help you identify and understand common reactions to change, and adaptive strategies for transitioning to COVID-normal. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Tuesday 23 Mar 1-2 PM | Boundaries and effective communication | Understand what healthy relationships look like, the importance of boundaries and how to set them, and helpful negotiation and effective communication skills to resolve conflicts. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Thursday 25 Mar 1-2 PM | Dropping the struggle: managing difficult emotions | In this webinar, you'll learn about your emotions and why sometimes your attempts to control them can make you feel worse. Join in to learn practical skills to better respond to strong emotions while living the life you want. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Tuesday 13 Apr 1-2 PM | Managing stress and how to relax | Understand how our bodies and minds respond to stress, and how knowing this information can help you build relaxation skills. You will be guided to learn a range of evidence-based relaxation strategies. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Tuesday 20 Apr 1-2 PM | Changing negative thinking | Identify common unhelpful thinking patterns that can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and other difficult feelings. Learn and practise how to reframe and balance your thoughts. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Thursday 29 Apr 1-2 PM | On loneliness and connection | Feeling connected and having a sense of belonging is a natural desire to have as a human being. This webinar will explore the challenging feeling of loneliness we all experience sometimes, and ways to connect when we feel disconnected. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Tuesday 4 May 1-2 PM | Let it go: unhooking from unhelpful thoughts and worry | In difficult times, we can easily get caught up in worries or persistent negative thoughts, but this is often not useful. Learn and practise ways to unhook from unhelpful thoughts so they have less power over your life. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Thursday 6 May 1-2 PM | How to be kind to yourself | Understand what self-compassion is (and is not!), and how this approach can enhance motivation and resilience. Learn practical ways you can show yourself a little kindness when you need it most. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Tuesday 11 May 1-2PM | Better sleep | This webinar aims to help you understand the factors that impact on sleep and offer strategies to get a better night's sleep. | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Tuesday 18 May 1-2PM | Being effective during a tough time | How do we motivate ourselves to get things done during a tough time? Learn how to identify your values and use them to plan and carry out effective actions, so that you can do what matters most even when difficult feelings arise. | Register here |
Enhance your learning series
Learn strategies to enhance your study and learning experience.
| Workshop | Description | Date/time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimising focus and attention | This webinar aims to help you better understand what attention is and how it works. You'll be able to identify the factors that affect focus, and learn about a range of strategies to build your concentration. | Tuesday 16 Mar 1-2 PM | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Studying on the spectrum | People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can perceive the world differently from others. This webinar can be useful for people who identify as being on the spectrum or live with neurodiversity, their family and friends, staff or other people with an interest in this area. It can help you identify common issues you may face as a student with ASD traits, better understand the neurodiverse brain, and learn practical strategies to thrive in your study and uni life. | Thursday 18 Mar 1-2 PM | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Overcoming procrastination: Managing your thinking | Do you put off doing your study until the last minute even though you know it’s going to cause you stress? This webinar will focus on helping you to identify the thoughts you have that lead to procrastination and teach you how to challenge these thoughts and study more efficiently. | Thursday 15 Apr 1-2 PM | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Overcoming procrastination: Practical tips and strategies | This webinar will teach you practical strategies to help you study more effectively, feel more competent and reduce the likelihood of leaving your study to the last minute. | Thursday 22 Apr 1-2 PM | Webinar recording (expires Fri 25 Jun) |
| Dealing with exam anxiety | It's normal to feel tense and worried in the face of exams. This webinar will help you understand what causes exam anxiety, and cover our top tips to manage it so you can be at your best for your exams. | Tuesday 25 May 1-2PM | Register here |
Anxiety management programs
We all feel anxious at times, but it's possible to learn ways to manage this so that it doesn't get in the way of life. Find out more about anxiety and how to cope effectively through these programs.
| Program | Date/time | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Beyond study: Overcoming social anxiety This three-week online program will help you understand social anxiety and offer strategies to overcome it. | Fri 23 Apr, Fri 30 Apr, Fri 7 May 1 - 2 PM | Register here |
| Break free from anxiety for graduate students (March online group) Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, this program aims to provide a supportive group environment for graduate students to connect with each other, and learn a variety of strategies to manage anxiety more effectively through small group discussions and experiential exercises. This requires a commitment to attend both 2 x 2.5 hour sessions. | Wed 10 Mar and Wed 17 Mar 9.30 AM - 12 PM | Completed |
| Break free from anxiety (April online group) Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, this program aims to provide a supportive group environment for students to connect with each other, and learn a variety of strategies to manage anxiety more effectively through small group discussions and experiential exercises. This requires a commitment to attend both 2 x 2.5 hour sessions. All students welcome. | Wed 14 Apr and Wed 21 Apr 9.30 AM - 12 PM | Completed |
| Break free from anxiety (May) in-person workshop Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, this 1-day in-person workshop aims to provide a supportive group environment for students to connect with each other, and learn a variety of strategies to manage anxiety more effectively through small group discussions and experiential exercises. This requires a commitment to attend the full-day. All students welcome. | Mon 3 May 9.30 AM - 4.30 PM | Closed |
| Break free from anxiety for graduate students (June) in-person workshop Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, this 1-day in-person workshop aims to provide a supportive group environment for graduate students to connect with each other, and learn a variety of strategies to manage anxiety more effectively through small group discussions and experiential exercises. This requires a commitment to attend the full-day. | Mon 7 June 9.30 AM - 4.30 PM | Register here (log-in with unimelb email) |
Mindfulness programs
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with an attitude of openness, curiosity, and acceptance. Regular practice can help us better manage stress and anxiety, improve our focus, engage more fully in life, and take effective action.
| Workshop | Description | Date/time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midday mindful moments | This webinar aims to introduce the experience of cultivating calm and wellbeing from within. Give your brain a break from study or work by joining a CAPS counsellor in a guided mindfulness meditation. Suitable for all students and staff. | Every Mon, Wed, Fri (Mon 8 Mar - Fri 25 Jun, except during non-teaching week) 12 - 12.30 PM | Register here |
| Mindfulness for stress management | This online group program aims to provide a supportive learning environment for participants to develop a regular mindfulness practice to better manage stress. This requires a commitment to attend 8 x 1.5-hour weekly sessions and 20 minutes of practice per day. All students welcome. | 8 consecutive weeks beginning Thu 29 April 1.30 - 3 PM | Registration closed |
International student programs
Reflect on your experience as an international student and extend your social network. Gain support from counsellors and other international students in learning ways to adjust to a new environment, build meaningful relationships, and maintain positive wellbeing.
| Webinar | Description | Date/time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making difficult decisions | We make decisions everyday; however, some choices are not easy to make. “Do I stay in Melbourne, or move back to my family?”, “Do I stay in this relationship, or leave?”, “Do I stay in this job - or quit?” Join this webinar to learn tips that could help you make sound decisions in difficult situations. | Wednesday 31 Mar 2.30 - 3.30 PM | Completed |
| Managing family and societal expectations | "My family spent a small fortune to support my studies, so I have to make them proud." Does this sound familiar? We carry expectations from society, people around us, and ourselves. Although expectations can motivate us, they can also sometimes overwhelm us. Join this webinar to share your experiences and explore ways to effectively manage expectations. | Wednesday 28 Apr 2.30 - 3.30 PM | Completed |
| Dealing with loneliness as an international student | Studying overseas is a great opportunity, and can also mean leaving behind your support network and comfort zone. This webinar will explore creative ways to build and maintain healthy relationships in a new culture and country, and how to gain a sense of belonging. | Wednesday 12 May 2.30 - 3.30 PM | Register here |
Special interest programs
| Program | Date/time | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Questioning your sexuality or gender identity? Struggling with sexuality or questioning gender identity? Having difficulty connecting with others who are going through similar experiences? Join a safe space for discussion, ideas, and support. | Fri 16 Apr 2.30 PM - 3.30 PM | Completed |
| Assertive communication for graduate researchers Whatever career you aspire to, the ability to communicate effectively is essential. Assertive communication is a key social skill as well as a tool for making relationships more equal. In this workshop, we will define assertive communication, explore its benefits, and things that might get in the way of communicating assertively. You will also have an opportunity to construct and practise a core assertive communication strategy to build this skill and gain confidence. | Thu 13 May 3.00 PM - 4.30 PM | Register here |
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training
Learn to recognise and assist someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis.
Self-help resources
Explore resources by Counselling and Psychological Services, including tip sheets and guided exercises.
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Mental health problems
Tip sheets on common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm.
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Study-related issues
Information on how to cope with psychological issues which may be affecting your studies, including stress management and motivation to study.
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Relationships
Find out how to make the most out of your relationships at uni or manage relationship issues.
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Life transitions
Get advice on how to handle big transitions in your life, from adjusting to life at University to grief and loss.
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Wellbeing
Tip sheets on wellbeing, including self-care, getting better sleep and dealing with anger.
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Addictive behaviours
Advice about how to deal with or help others with addictive behaviours such as drug, alcohol or gambling addiction.
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Trauma
Information and advice on how to cope with and respond to traumatic life events.
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Guided exercises
Access a range of guided mental health and wellbeing exercises, with accompanying audio files.
Recommended external resources
Explore recommended external online mental health resources.
Ask Counselling
Ask Counselling is an online tool for University of Melbourne students with personal questions about psychological and emotional issues.
You can use Ask Counselling to submit a question to staff at Counselling and Psychological Services. Questions are reviewed regularly, and answers are published on the Ask Counselling website.
Question of the week: Assignment anxiety
I am really struggling with assignment anxiety... I doubt everything I have done. I submit things multiple times because I read over things again and again... Even when I manage to submit an assignment, I stay up all night doubting that I have...
ReachOut NextStep
ReachOut NextStep recommends online and in-person support services based on your situation and needs. Recommendations are tailored for 18 – 25 year olds, however they may still be helpful to those outside of this age range.
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provide a number of services to staff of the University of Melbourne.
Mental health advice for others (secondary consultation)
CAPS can provide secondary consultation; that is we can consult with university staff regarding any mental health concerns about students or other staff. This could include:
- Dealing with a crisis
- Understanding complex student behaviour
- Responding to mental health concerns
- Referring people for counselling.
Secondary consultation is provided by senior counsellors and the manager.
To request a phone or in-person secondary consultation, call us at 03 8344 6927 during business hours.
Other services
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Students at risk
We encourage and promote early identification and support of students who may be experiencing mental health issues or personal distress.
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Mental health training
Counselling and Psychological Services offer a range of mental health training for staff.
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Staff counselling
Staff can access counselling through the Employee Assistance Program, as well as short-term counselling through Counselling and Psychological Services.
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Programs for residential colleges and affiliated accommodation
Counselling and Psychological Services provide a number of specialist training programs for student leaders, tutors and advisors in residential colleges.
Emergency support
Are you or someone else in immediate danger? If you are in an emergency:
- Contact University Security on 03 8344 6666
- Call the Police on 000
- Go to your nearest hospital emergency department
- Contact your local psychiatric triage service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
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Hospitals close to campus
Location Hospital Psychiatric triage service Parkville campus Royal Melbourne Hospital (Phone: 03 9342 7000)
St Vincent's Hospital (Phone: 03 9231 2211)1300 874 243
1800 888 320 (15 - 24 years)Southbank campus The Alfred Hospital (Phone: 03 9076 2000) 1300 363 746 -
If you are in another area
Call the nearest major hospital - they will connect you with the local after-hours mental health service. You can also find the contact details of mental health services near your suburb or town using the Victorian Government Accessing Mental Health Services Finder.
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If you are outside Australia
Please contact your local emergency or crisis services.
Crisis support
A mental health crisis is where you may require same-day or immediate support from a mental health professional.
During business hours
Call Counselling and Psychological Services on 03 8344 6927 and let us know that the situation needs urgent attention.
If you are concerned about a student's wellbeing, you can refer the student to our service. Appointments are voluntary and confidential. You can also contact us for a secondary consultation (mental health advice for others) by calling us at 03 8344 6927.
Learn more about our psychological support for critical incidents.
After hours mental health crisis support
Our standard business hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. For mental health support and advice outside of these hours (including 24 hours on weekends and public holidays), students can contact the University's After Hours Mental Health Crisis Support Service:
- Phone: 1300 219 459
- Text: 0480 079 188
Text or call this service for help with:
- Finding immediate relief from emotional distress
- Identifying coping strategies for the current problems or a crisis
- Exploring pathways for longer-term solutions
- Working out the next steps to take.
Please call 000 (emergency services) if you are in immediate danger. The After Hours Mental Health Crisis Support Service does not offer ongoing counselling, but can link you with on-campus or community counselling, and wellbeing services and resources.
External support services
Explore recommended external support services for mental health emergencies, including suicide and crisis support.