A study that evaluated data from the University counselling service (UCS) by academics in the School of Psychology has found that remote therapy, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, produced outcomes comparable to those of in-person therapy.
The study aimed to compare student outcomes from a previous UK university counselling service research led by Dr Emma Broglia and to assess whether remote delivery influenced progress.
Students seeking support with the counselling service were those with high levels of academic distress, social anxiety, generalised anxiety, and depression. While the severity of these issues was lower than levels reported in earlier studies, the improvements observed were consistent with those seen in pre-pandemic in-person therapy. This suggests that the shift to online counselling did not negatively impact students' therapeutic outcomes.
The move to remote therapy also appeared to increase access to mental health support. By eliminating the need for students to attend in-person sessions, the service became more accessible.
As demand for student mental health services continues to rise, this research supports the continued use of online counselling as a viable and accessible option for universities seeking to meet student needs.
"As a researcher and lecturer who has collaborated with the student mental health, counselling and therapies service for over a decade, I’ve consistently been impressed by their commitment to embedding routine outcome monitoring into their work. Their use of clinical measures in every session not only shapes individual clinical decisions but also strengthens the evidence base demonstrating the positive impact of university counselling services. Seeing them maintain this commitment during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—seamlessly transitioning to remote therapy while continuing to monitor outcomes—was a testament to their dedication and adaptability. This research highlights how such robust practices can support students effectively, even in times of crisis." Dr Emma Broglia, Lecturer in Psychology
This research has important implications for practice and policy in student counselling services. It highlights how online counselling can reduce physical barriers to accessing support. The findings provide a comparison between pre-COVID and post-COVID outcomes, demonstrating that effective support can be maintained through remote delivery.
"As an active clinician in the NHS and having previously worked within the student counselling service, it was important to me to highlight the good work that can be done, even when there appears to be barriers to delivering face to face care. This will never be an argument for either in-person or online therapy but it is vital that we open up our mental health support to be as adaptive and flexible as possible. This paper (whilst acknowledging more evidence is needed to support the findings) really does highlight how therapy delivered remotely can be just as effective for the students as in-person therapy and so we really should be adapting to allow students to access care in a way that best suits them.
Looking forward, I’d really like to see how delivering remote therapy impacts the counsellors also and the wider systems in university counselling services." Dr Connie Newcombe, Clinical Psychologist