What Is So Special About Student Counselling? A Foucauldian Analysis of Discourses Shaping Practice in
                    UK
                    Embedded University Counselling Services

James R. Oliver; Raffaello Antonino

doi:10.1002/capr.70031

journal article Open Access Jun 01, 2025

What Is So Special About Student Counselling? A Foucauldian Analysis of Discourses Shaping Practice in UK Embedded University Counselling Services

James R. Oliver

Raffaello Antonino

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Vol. 25 No. 2 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/capr.70031

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background
An extensive theory‐based clinical literature related to the UK student counselling sector belies a deficiency of empirical research investigating UK Embedded University Counselling Services (EUCS). Although research attention has recently been re‐focused on the sector, its concern with standardised outcome measurement, while important in justifying the value of such services, may fail to elucidate any unique features of counselling practice in this setting.

Aims
This research aimed to provide a framework for understanding the influence of the HE institutional context on counselling practices and investigate how practitioners construct the role and functions of their work in an EUCS setting.

Method
Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with six student counsellors working across different UK EUCS, and the transcripts were analysed using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA).

Analysis
The study identified four dominant discourses: academic achievement, life‐stage, mental health crisis and professional counselling practice, which were seen to influence the counsellor role as they manifested through a series of subdiscourses, such as the precedence of educational attainment, loco‐parentis, risk vulnerability and flexible practice subdiscourses.

Conclusion
The analysis suggests that student counselling is broadly constructed as a time‐limited psychosocial intervention which aims to facilitate academic engagement while attending to the perceived developmental needs of student–clients in a highly flexible manner. This may contrast with the expectations of student–clients themselves as well as other stakeholders, especially at a time of perceived mental health crisis within the student population. Implications for practice, supervision and training are discussed.

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Details

Published: Jun 01, 2025
Vol/Issue: 25(2)
License: View

Authors

J

James R. Oliver

London Metropolitan University—School of Social Sciences and Professions/King's College London—Student Mental Health and Counselling Service London UK

R

Raffaello Antonino

London Metropolitan University, School of Social Sciences and Professions London UK

Cite This Article

James R. Oliver, Raffaello Antonino (2025). What Is So Special About Student Counselling? A Foucauldian Analysis of Discourses Shaping Practice in UK Embedded University Counselling Services. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70031

What Is So Special About Student Counselling? A Foucauldian Analysis of Discourses Shaping Practice in UK Embedded University Counselling Services

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