Support your mental health with UWaterloo Student Counselling Services. Empowering students through accessible, compassionate counselling.
At Upstream Counselling, we recognize the pressing mental health challenges faced by UWaterloo students. Our dedicated team of professional counsellors and psychotherapists offers tailored therapeutic support that addresses the diverse needs of current students.
We provide accessible and confidential care that complements on-campus resources. With a range of counselling options, we ensure students receive the personalized care they need to navigate university life.
We strive to support your mental well-being and promote a healthy and balanced life. If you're seeking counselling for students, our expert care and guidance are here to support you through the next steps of your mental health journey. Book an appointment today to begin your journey toward lasting wellness.
Our counselling provides students with tailored psychological care that reflects their lived experiences and individual needs, aligning therapeutic goals with academic and personal success.
Our therapeutic approach strengthens cognitive skills and reduces academic anxiety by helping students manage pressure, sustain concentration, and adopt effective study strategies, enhancing academic outcomes while supporting overall student mental wellness.
Students gain actionable techniques to manage the ups and downs of university life. Our counselling fosters resilience, teaching practical tools to handle stress, meet deadlines, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Through individual therapy, students explore their values and aspirations. This process promotes introspection, confidence, and self-direction, laying the foundation for lifelong personal growth and informed decision-making during the university years.
Our counselling enhances communication skills and emotional insight, empowering students to form meaningful bonds, resolve conflicts, and confidently explore complex social dynamics in the campus setting.
We offer guidance that supports cultural transitions for both international and domestic students, helping them maintain cultural identity while adapting to a new environment, ensuring smoother integration into UW student life.
Students are equipped with the skills to identify emergency signs and seek urgent support when needed. Counselling fosters preparedness and ensures access to relevant support and resources during critical situations.
Take control of the process.
Beginning therapy can feel daunting but the truth is you decide what (and when) to share. Our diverse team specializes in a range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship issues. No matter your situation, we're here to support your journey to empowerment and mental wellness.
Your therapist is your guide.
Finding the right therapist is key to achieving your goals. Dip your toes into the therapy experience by booking a free consultation with one of our registered psychotherapists. These appointments are an opportunity to address your questions and explore your challenges, needs, and aspirations.
Commit to the experience.
To maximize the benefits of counselling it’s important you attend sessions consistently. When in session, we encourage you to lead the agenda. (Remember, this is YOUR therapy!) Between sessions, we hope you will strive to apply new insights, practice new skills, and develop new habits that support personal growth.
Are you looking for mental health support tailored to your unique university experience?
Our mental health and wellness service is tailored to support the well-being of every student through flexible, student centred care. We ensure that our counselling interventions are responsive to the diverse needs of students across all levels of study.
Every student deserves access to quality support that understands their unique journey. We’re here to help you thrive, not just survive, during your university experience.
Our multidisciplinary team of licensed mental health practitioners, including social work professionals and psychotherapists, provides a broad range of support, from clinical assessment to individual and short-term psychotherapy. These mental health services are provided through both in-person and virtual consultations across Waterloo, Ontario, increasing accessibility for all students.
We recognize that each student’s experience is different. Whether facing undergraduate pressures, graduate studies, or adjusting as an international student, our therapeutic methods are grounded in evidence-based practices.
Through personalized counselling, we support students in developing effective coping strategies for academic challenges, relationship dynamics, and future planning. Our approach ensures that every student receives meaningful support and guidance throughout their academic journey.
We are committed to providing a confidential, inclusive space where students can feel safe to share, grow, and strengthen their emotional well-being. We aim to empower students to become more resilient, self-aware, and emotionally equipped to face university life and beyond.
At Upstream Counselling, we want you to feel comfortable with the counselling process. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about talking to a therapist about this type of therapy.
Choosing to book an appointment with Upstream Counselling is the first step toward prioritizing your mental and emotional wellness. We aim to make this process simple, welcoming, and centred on your academic, personal, and relational well-being. Our counselling programs are designed to support you in navigating the challenges of university life with clarity, resilience, and care.
Individualized Intake Process: Our intake process prioritizes your unique background, presenting concerns, and preferences in order to match you with the most appropriate care provider. This helps ensure that your counselling experience is shaped by relevance, trust, and mutual understanding from the outset.
Use of Campus Wellness Framework: We align with the principles of Campus Wellness, ensuring that our care complements the institutional system. This integration supports a seamless and coordinated student experience.
Initial Assessment and Goal Setting: Your first appointment typically includes a structured conversation to identify key concerns, explore underlying factors, and collaboratively define therapeutic goals. Establishing direction early on helps guide the process and enables meaningful progress over time.
Flexible Consultation Formats: We offer both in-person and virtual formats to support student needs and preferences. This allows individuals to engage with care that fits within their schedules and comfort levels.
Confidentiality and Safety: Discussions are treated with utmost discretion, fostering an environment where individuals feel safe to express themselves. Respect for privacy is a fundamental principle throughout the process.
To meet the evolving challenges faced by students, Upstream Counselling provides a range of responsive options grounded in reflective care and practical guidance. These are thoughtfully structured to support academic success, identity development, emotional regulation, and social well-being throughout the university experience.
Individual Counselling for Focused Support: One-on-one counselling offers a confidential and personalized space where students can explore emotional, academic, or relational concerns. Each appointment is oriented toward enhancing emotional insight and building adaptive strategies for daily challenges.
Short-term Psychotherapy for Specific Goals: Students may engage in brief, goal-directed conversations targeting specific concerns such as decision-making, stress management, anxiety, or motivation. These support clarity, resilience, and direction over a defined time frame.
Culturally Inclusive Counselling: Our clinicians are trained to offer sensitive, inclusive care that respects and affirms diverse cultural identities, values, and experiences. This ensures that international and local students alike feel acknowledged, understood, and supported throughout their academic and personal transitions.
Mental Health Plan Tailored for Students: Together with each student, we co-develop a personalized mental health plan aligned with their academic workload, emotional needs, and wellness goals. This promotes sustained engagement and self-management.
Emergency and Crisis Response Integration: When serious challenges arise, we guide students toward timely action and appropriate external referrals. Our care model includes preparation for identifying signs of distress and responding with appropriate urgency.
The care team at Upstream Counselling consists of highly trained and experienced professionals dedicated to supporting the academic, emotional, and personal growth of students. Guided by ethical standards and best practices, they foster an environment of trust, reliability, and continuous learning. Each team member contributes unique expertise while upholding a shared commitment to student well-being and success.
Licensed Mental Health Experts: Our team includes registered providers who meet the qualifications established by relevant regulatory bodies in their respective disciplines. Their credentials reflect extensive experience in working with youth and emerging adult populations, particularly within postsecondary settings.
Specialization in Youth and Emerging Adult Psychology: Our clinicians are especially attuned to the developmental stages and psychosocial challenges characteristic of university life. This specialization allows for targeted conversations around identity, autonomy, transitions, and life planning.
Evidence-Based Practice: We employ validated therapeutic strategies such as cognitive reframing, emotion-focused strategies, and solution-focused techniques. These evidence-based methods ensure that interventions are grounded in research and tailored to each student’s needs.
Ongoing Training and Supervision: Team members regularly engage in workshops, peer reviews, and academic seminars to refine their skills. This commitment to professional development ensures continued relevance in a changing student landscape.
Collaborative Care through Partnership: Our practice works in partnership with other care providers when needed, forming networks of support that benefit each student. Coordination with institutional and community-based allies enriches the care experience.
Sustained support is essential for students managing persistent, layered, or evolving challenges throughout their academic journey. At Upstream Counselling, we offer a structured model that emphasizes continuity, consistency, and adaptability across the academic term and beyond, ensuring care remains responsive and relevant.
Continuity of Care through Regular Scheduling: Students may engage in recurring appointments over an extended period, allowing them to explore complex matters in depth. Regular scheduling fosters a strong therapeutic alliance, builds trust, and enables incremental yet meaningful progress across each encounter.
Customized Treatment Pathways: Our counselling process includes the co-creation of an individualized treatment roadmap tailored to the student’s evolving academic, emotional, and personal contexts. This allows for flexibility, personalization, and sustained relevance in care.
Support for Co-occurring Issues: Challenges such as academic fatigue, emotional isolation, and interpersonal strain often intersect. We address these overlapping concerns through integrative and holistic discussion models.
Holistic Wellness Integration: In addition to counselling, we promote sustainable wellness through strategies like time management, boundary-setting, reflective journaling, and mindfulness. These tools foster long-term resilience both within and beyond the classroom.
Coverage: If you would like to learn more about financial coverage options, such as whether StudentCare applies to your situation, we encourage you to reach out for clarification. We can help guide you toward the appropriate resources to understand what supports may be available to you.
Learning and living off-site should never be a barrier to emotional and psychological support. Upstream Counselling is dedicated to reaching remote learners through secure and adaptable modes of care. We recognize that students studying or residing away from campus still require connection, stability, and affirmation in their mental health journey.
Virtual Platforms: We use user-friendly platforms to provide care at a distance. This ensures privacy and consistency for those studying or residing away from institutional grounds.
Digital Mental Health Resources Available: Beyond live counselling, students have access to a range of digital resources, including guided reflections, coping toolkits, and structured self-help exercises. These materials promote ongoing self-awareness and emotional regulation between meetings.
Integrated Student Support System: Remote learners can still benefit from collaborative efforts between our care providers and institutional support units. This ensures they remain connected to broader community frameworks even from afar.
Initial Consultation to Tailor Remote Plans: Each remote user begins with a structured consultation to determine preferences, objectives, and communication formats. This individualized entry point helps align expectations and promote consistency.
Our team at Upstream Counselling is here to help you explore issues, gain insights, begin your journey towards healing, and work towards the goals you identify during the counselling process.
Personalized therapy designed to address specific mental health issues while also nurturing personal growth and well-being.
A counselling program focusing on fostering effective communication, resolving conflicts, and nurturing healthy relationships.
A program designed to support clinical growth, whether you’re a student or a seasoned professional.
We are ready and looking forward to meeting you. Get started today by clicking the link below and booking your free 15-minute discovery call. All our services are private and confidential.
Disclaimer: Content on this website is for informational purposes only. Visiting this website does not establish any type of therapist-client relationship with Upstream Counselling or its staff. Information obtained from this site does not substitute for a thorough medical and/or psychiatric evaluation by an appropriately credentialed and licensed professional.
