The Student Counselling Unit has rolled out various programmes to help first-year students make the transition from school to university.

Currently, the head of the Bellville-based unit, Dr Abie de Villiers and his staff members are holding workshops with first-year students and sharing some much-needed tips on how to cope with the demands of university life.

“Many of the students don’t realise that there is a difference between school and university,” he says.

De Villiers says university life is fast-paced and students are required to cope with a large volume of work.

“We emphasise engaging in academic activities. We also encourage students to attend class, join study groups and make use of the resources on the campuses,” he says.

De Villiers says the unit will work closely with first-year students throughout the year.

The unit plans to host workshops on various student-related issues, from how to handle stress to coping with academic workloads.

First-year students as well as returning students are also encouraged to make use of the services offered by the Student Counselling Unit, which has offices on the Cape Town, Mowbray and Wellington Campuses.

The unit’s services range from individual counselling to career development. All services are free of charge.

More information on the Student Counselling Unit can be found under the Student Affairs and Services section on the CPUT homepage.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT students are encouraged to make use of the wide variety of services offered by the institution’s Student Counselling unit.

Each unit is staffed by psychologists and social workers, each skilled to offer counselling and therapy.

The unit also offers career counselling, which includes psychometric assessment. Other services available include welfare services, academic support and skills development.

Students also have access to free self-help material at the unit’s resources venues on the Bellville and Cape Town Campuses. The resources include video, audio and computerised information all aimed at aimed at the personal, emotional, academic and career development of students.

The unit has offices at the Cape Town, Bellville, Mowbray and Wellington Campuses and their services are also available to all students studying at the institution’s service points.

The services are free of charge.

To make an appointment to see a specialist at the Student Counselling Unit please contact them at the following numbers:

Bellville Campus
Ground Floor, Library Extension
021 959 6182

Cape Town Campus
The second level, Administration Building
021 460 3237

Mowbray Campus
Room 0.03, Barkly Davies Building
021 680 1501/ 1574

Wellington Campus
Extension to Administration Building

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Our attempts to resume normal university activities today were  frustrated by large groups of protesting students who disrupted classes on most of our campuses. The Bellville campus was particularly hard hit where students had running battles with police and security guards .

Twelve students were arrested in Bellville, three in Cape Town and four in Mowbray. We also suffered infrastructure damage and a vehicle and guard hut was also set alight.

We wish to thank those staff members who bravely stood their ground against extreme student intimidation and threats.

Given the fact that we have no guarantee that the security situation will be any different tomorrow, a decision has been taken to suspend classes at the University until further notice. At a practical level this will mean the following :

• contact classes are suspended but in some cases , where the curriculum must still be completed, online and other forms of tuition will take place .
• where possible, alternative forms of assessment will be used  
• staff will be on duty and can  operate off campus, either from home or from other designated locations as determined by their line managers.
• faculties have devised  business continuity plans for all academic programs which will be communicated to students via their departments.

We know that the vast majority of our students desire to finish their academic program. We trust that by putting the above contingency plans into operation , we will make it possible for them to do so.

We are operating under very trying conditions and wish to thank staff and students who have so diligently stood by us during these very difficult  times. The services of our Student Counselling unit are available to any student who feels they need assistance.

Written by CPUT News
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At CPUT all students have access to a range of high quality and holistic services offered by the institution’s Student Counselling unit.

The unit has a presence on the Cape Town, Bellville, Mowbray and Wellington Campuses and their services are also available to all students studying at the institution’s service points.

The units are staffed by psychologists and social workers, each skilled to offer counselling and therapy. Other services include career development such as preparation for job interviews, welfare services, academic support and skills development. All services are free of charge.

The unit also has a resource library that contains self-help material and up-to-date information on a variety of topics related to student life.

Psychologist AB de Villiers encourages students to make use of their services.

“If you need help, then come to us as soon as possible. This is a safe and confidential environment,” he says.

During the next few weeks, the unit’s staff members will meet with first year students and share much needed tips on how to cope with the demands of university life.

To make an appointment to see a specialist at the Student Counselling Unit please contact them at the following numbers:

Bellville Campus
Ground Floor, Library Extension
021 959 6182

Cape Town Campus Second level, Administration Building
021 460 3237

Mowbray campus
Room 0.03, Barkly Davies Building
021 680 1501/ 1574

Visit the Student Counselling Unit webpage

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

The Student Counselling Unit is encouraging members of the CPUT to let 2021 be the year that they prioritise healthy relationships.

“There is no such thing as a perfect relationship,” says Counselling Psychologist, Lynn Fick. “Just as you need to water a plant to help it blossom to its full potential- so you will need to engage in certain actions to create and maintain a healthy relationship.”

There are many characteristics that can describe a healthy relationship, but Fick  outlines the following few key characteristics that stand out:

Communication - Being able to communicate your feelings and thoughts in a constructive, honest, and open way is important for a healthy relationship. Actively listening and being listened to are good ways to show one’s partner that one cares about what they have to say.

Trust - Knowing that you can rely on one another is essential in creating a feeling of safety and security within the relationship. Honest communication can help to establish this trust.

Respect - Respect for oneself, one’s partner and the relationship are essential. This demonstrates that one feels valued and that one values one’s partner and the relationship that one has.

Support - Feeling supported and supporting one’s partner is important in creating an atmosphere of encouragement and unity. A healthy relationship is one in which one knows one can go to one’s partner when one needs assistance or guidance.

Boundaries - It is important to communicate one’s boundaries to one’s partner. Explaining what one likes and dislikes helps one’s partner to understand what one is okay with, and when they overstep one’s boundaries. This includes one’s sexual, physical and emotional boundaries.

Independence - As much as one might enjoy time with one’s partner, it is equally important to make time for one’s own friends, hobbies and interests. It is equally important to have one’s partner to respect one’s independence.

Having a good time - It is important to have fun in a relationship. To laugh, explore and make new memories can help bring partners closer together. Life can become very serious, so a moment to break away from that and enjoy yourself is important.

Fick adds that a healthy relationship requires time, effort and a willingness by both partners to make it work. “It is not easy, and you might need to try and try again until you eventually succeed.”

She argues that the above healthy relationship characteristics should not only define one’s relationship with one’s partner, but with one’s family and friends too. “You deserve to have more than one healthy relationship. You deserved to be loved, respected and supported.”

Written by CPUT News
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Student Counselling support does not only mean engaging on an individual psychotherapeutic level – it also plays an important role in holistically developing students.

Dr Charlene Petersen, who has been an educational psychologist for the past 20 years, explains that the Student Counselling Unit’s programmes are also geared towards the development and self-growth of students and “this also further enhance academic development of our students”.

Petersen’s career journey started as a guidance counsellor/ teacher at a secondary school on the Cape Flats. “It is here where my passion for assisting young people to develop their potential started.” Her psychology career started soon after she qualified as a psychologist and “it inspired me to further my passion in developing young people”.

Petersen continued to shine as she moved to a higher level, working for the University of the Western Cape Psychology Department for eight years before moving to the then Peninsula Technikon in 2001.  She was employed on a contract basis until she was appointed permanently as a student counsellor in 2006.  

“I find training and development of young people very rewarding and, as a psychologist, I assist students to further their potential through our training interventions.”

Petersen says 2020/2021 was challenging due to the negative impact of the pandemic on student engagement. “The limitations that the pandemic brought about forced us to become innovative and find alternate and creative ways to support our students’ needs and provide a holistic support service despite our limited contact.”

Reflecting on her career path and aspirations, she says: “Being in the psychology fraternity for more than 20 years I find myself leaning towards applying my knowledge and achievements on a much broader spectrum. Through expanding and applying my knowledge via training and development opportunities I can develop others.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Student Counselling Unit will be streaming an online suicide prevention campaign from 26 July to 30 July.

The campaign will be called #Stay today.  The campaign has three aims:

• To create awareness around suicide in the hope that it becomes a topic that the CPUT community is comfortable to speak about.
• To encourage those who are contemplating suicide, for whatever reason, to seek help and to feel that they are not alone.
• To provide information regarding where to get help and how you can help.

The campaign will be launched with a word of support and the lighting of a virtual candle, from the Office of the Dean of Students.  A checklist that can help to identify risk factors will be shared on the Unit’s online platforms as well as various videos.  On the 27th of July at 6:30 pm, the Unit will be hosting an interactive webinar. The Unit will be collaborating with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) for this webinar. 

Counselling Psychologist, Thirushni Sam, says they will also be sharing information on the myths related to suicide, tips for self-care, protective factors and helplines, throughout the week. “As Student Counselling [Unit], we feel it is vital that as a CPUT community we start to open up this conversation.  When we talk openly, we can address the issue by gaining a better understanding, equipping ourselves with knowledge regarding how to assist and where to get help,” Sam remarks.

She says South Africa records 23 completed suicides a day and 230 serious attempts. “CPUT as a microcosm of society experiencing this problem can significantly contribute to reducing these numbers.  Suicide has often been thought of as an individual problem. The problem with only viewing it as an individual problem is that we neglect the importance of social forces contributing to suicide. Suicide can affect anyone.”

Sam adds that understanding why people consider suicide as an option together with how to assist someone is vital if people want to reduce this number.  She says this can only happen if people are willing to open up the conversation of suicide. “If we ourselves, have not ever considered suicide, it might be difficult to understand why someone else has. Individuals who have considered suicide often experience a huge amount of shame related to being judged for their actions. Opening up this conversation therefore also means listening to those who have attempted and those who have family and friends who have attempted or completed suicide.”

She adds that this will significantly contribute to addressing the stigma and, hopefully, in turn, will contribute to more individuals reaching out for help when they need it most. “Let’s join together and make our Campuses the safe spaces we would all like it to be!”

Student Counselling Unit would like to encourage everyone who would like to join them in this effort to address suicide and to make our Campuses stigma-free zones to watch their online platforms http://www.cput.ac.za/student/life/counselling,  https://www.facebook.com/CPUTStudentCounselling/, https://www.facebook.com/CPUTSTUDENTS/

Please look out for posters on CPUT Newsflash messages which will have details of the webinar and how to join.

#Stay Today #It’s okay not to be okay #CPUT let’s talk about suicide #It’s not a secret suicide happens!

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT is committed to producing healthy and well-rounded graduates.

To this end, the university provides its registered students with a range of primary healthcare services, general wellness and holistic development services, as well as personal safety and protection services.

These services are offered by the following units which are located on all of the university’s main campuses and are also accessible to students attending our service points:

• Our Campus Health Clinics, which provide primary health care services to students, focus on the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the prevention of illness. We provide a professional, discrete health-care service that follows World Health Organisation practices and guidelines. Clinics operate between 08H00 and 16H30.
• The university has an active Protection Services Department, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The department is committed to protecting the safety of the university community and its property, as well as maintaining order in accordance with the university’s policy.
• All CPUT students have access to a range of high quality and holistic services offered by the institution’s Student Counselling Unit. The units are staffed by psychologists and social workers, each skilled to offer counselling and therapy as well as other career development services.
• The HIV/AIDS Unit offers a wide variety of services including HIV Counselling and Testing, ongoing care and support, community outreach programmes and workshops for students, staff, and the community.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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