An analysis of the effectiveness of university counselling services

Abstract

It is important to demonstrate replicable evidence of the effectiveness of counselling procedures. The study aimed to contribute to the currently limited evidence base examining the effectiveness of university student counselling in the UK. Information on therapeutic outcome [based on Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) scores] for 305 individuals attending a large UK university counselling service was analysed. Following counselling intervention: there was a statistically significant improvement in CORE-OM scores with 63% of individuals showing a reliable improvement and only 2% showing a reliable deterioration. Of those who began with a score in the clinical range, 49% showed a clinically significant change. These results provide additional evidence for the effectiveness of university counselling interventions. Future research should aim to build on this preliminary research using randomised controlled trial designs.

Keywords:

• student counselling
• effectiveness
• clinically significant change
• reliable change

Notes on contributors

Aja L. Murray is a Ph.D. student at the University of Edinburgh and researcher at the University of Cambridge.

Karen McKenzie is a professor of psychology at Northumbria University and conducted the research while an honorary associate with NHS Lothian.

Kara R. Murray worked as a volunteer research assistant on the current research while studying for her degree in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh.

Marc Richelieu is the Assistant Director of the student counselling service at the University of Edinburgh.

Disclosure statement

The fourth author is employed at the counselling service being evaluated, but was not involved in the analysis. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest.