During 2020 and 2021, the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) at Stellenbosch University (SU) had to buy in more consultants than ever before in the history of the centre.
This was according to Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, director of the CSCD at SU.
The CSCD offers free counselling services to SU students. “After about two to three months [from the start of lockdown], the numbers increased significantly,” said Dunn-Coetzee, with reference to the number of students using CSCD’s services, in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
The frequency of student applications for free counselling, as well as the severity of the cases themselves, increased significantly, according to Dunn-Coetzee. The CSCD applied for additional funding from the rectorate, so as to be able to increase the number of consultants working for the centre, she said.
“The funding was granted, and it helped a lot and still helps,” said Dunn-Coetzee.
Online therapy
There are only some parts of counselling work that cannot be done effectively enough online, said Dunn-Coetzee.
There are other “skills” needed for an online therapeutic model, said Dunn-Coetzee. If the cameras are off on the virtual platform, it makes an intervention “very difficult”, as non-verbal behaviour (body language) is a very important component of assistance, she said.
“We have also found that it makes the psychologists/counsellors tired sooner if they work online, [compared to] when they are physically in the presence of students,” said Dunn-Coetzee.
Claire Ruby, a graduate in quantitative management at Stellenbosch University (SU), said that she had used the university’s counselling sessions via Zoom call. “My counsellor said that although I am finishing up my degree, if I, in the next few months, need someone, and if I just need to talk, I can still contact her. She went out of her way to help me,” explained Ruby. PHOTO: Heléne Leonard
Hiccups with online communication
Charl Davids, deputy director of the CSCD, told MatieMedia that he “has not received any complaints from students yet”, with regards to their online services.
However, some students have indicated frustration with the initial scheduling of appointments.
Zahlé Eloff, an honours student in philosophy at SU, told MatieMedia that after her first appointment with the CSCD, she was told to send her schedule to the therapist she was assigned to. This was so that the therapist could schedule another appointment, she said.
However, the therapist did not schedule an appointment, and did not follow up with Eloff for over a month.
“The therapist [at CSCD] contacted me […] to book a slot over [Microsoft] Teams. After our first appointment, the therapist assigned to me didn’t contact me again for a follow-up appointment for almost a month. By that point I was unsatisfied and requested to change my therapist,” said Eloff.
“Service to students is extremely, extremely important to me and if anything like this is brought to my attention, I follow up immediately,” said Dunn-Coetzee.
Claire Ruby, a graduate in quantitative management at Stellenbosch University (SU), speaks about the positive experience that she had when using the free counselling service provided by the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) at SU. AUDIO: Heléne Leonard
Other students had positive experiences with counsellors at CSCD, who were “quick to respond and helpful”, according to Claire Ruby, a graduate in quantitative management at SU. Ruby made use of the CSCD’s counselling services during the lockdown in 2020.
*Students enrolled at Stellenbosch University can reach out to the Center for Student Counselling and Development at 021 808 4707 or studysuccess@sun.ac.za