An exclusive Roar investigation has found that students who applied to King’s counselling services faced an average wait time of 16.7 working days in 2024/25, an increase from 11.6 in the previous academic year.
The wait time includes the time between signing up for counselling and the first contact with a member of the team. In 2022/23, this number sat at 10.1 working days, displaying a 65% increase in waiting times across two years.
Roar spoke to 43 students who have used King’s counselling services. 53.6% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the wait time between registering and the first meeting.
Several students recounted that the wait time meant they could not receive when they most needed it.
“I was in a really bad spot, it was like 6 weeks till I could get a counselling appointment, which wasn’t awful, but I wish there was some kind of support in the meantime for those 6 weeks. In the end, I just didn’t do it because it didn’t seem worth going into it all with someone for only 6 sessions.” – A student told Roar
Another student said: “I had a very circumstantial need for their counselling services (war happening in my country). By the time I got the appointment, the war was over.”
Despite this increase in wait times, the number of students applying for counselling has slightly decreased. In 2023/24, 3,261 students signed up. In 2024/25, this number decreased by 187 to 3,074.
Roar found that King’s has increased the total number of staff employed for counselling services over the last three academic years. Last year, King’s employed 18 part-time workers and 17 full-time workers within the counselling services, including two NHS-funded roles.
However, King’s told Roar the additional roles have been provided to specific scopes such as supporting Mandarin speaking students, and coordinating care for eating disorders, therefore are not considered an increase in general counselling services.
King’s counselling services offer cognitive behavioural, integrative, or psychodynamic group or individual therapy, depending on students’ mental health needs. Alternatively, KCL offers Mental Health Advisors who provide advice on more moderate and short-term mental health difficulties. However, King’s notes that the university cannot provide long-term counselling treatments.
53.5% of respondents surveyed by Roar answered ‘No’ when asked if King’s counselling services offered enough appointments and services for their needs.
King’s students’ testimonies reflected this. One student said that service was good, but the limited number of sessions made it “practically useless” in achieving a “real change”.
“The therapist I saw with King’s counselling was great. However, we were not given enough time to explore the issues at hand. In addition, after the sessions finished, I received no support, and have found it hard to apply advice or continue with the support given.” – A student told Roar
However, some students did express their satisfaction with the services on offer. 39.6% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the services. Students told Roar counsellors were “understanding and very supportive”. One student credited a counsellor for “saving their life” after helping them reach a diagnosis and start medication.
Rhiannon Thomas, Director of Student Support and Wellbeing at King’s said:
“At King’s, we take the wellbeing of our students very seriously. Every request for counselling is carefully assessed by our mental health support teams, and students with more complex or serious concerns are contacted within two working days.
“In line with our holistic approach to supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing, we closely monitor where provision is most needed. Counselling is just one part of the wide range of support services we provide at King’s, which also includes access to a Specialist Welfare Support team, including a Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisor, Residential Welfare and Wellbeing Support, Disability Support, Faculty Wellbeing Advisors, financial and housing guidance, hardship support and a 24 hour online wellbeing platform.
“It is important to note that if a student is experiencing a mental health crisis, it is vital they contact the NHS which can provide the appropriate clinical and medical care.”
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