Mental Health and Wellbeing at Faculty of Applied Science

Health includes taking care of yourself every day, understanding that challenges are normal, and knowing what to do when you don’t feel well.

Meet Your APSC Embedded Counsellor

Gordon Lai

Gordon Lai, M.Ed is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who is “embedded” in the Faculty of Applied Science and is specialized in helping Faculty of APSC students.  

As an “embedded counsellor’, Gordon provides a short-term, solution focused approach to counselling to support students during their time at UBC. 

Gordon also provides wellbeing workshops and outreach support tailored specifically to address the concerns that Faculty of Applied Science students commonly experience.  

Students can book an appointment to speak with Gordon about any concerns that might be impacting their personal, academic, or professional lives.  

Gordon’s office is located at the Paper and Pulp Centre, 2385 East Mall. Gordon’s office hours are: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00pm 

How to Book an Appointment:

  • Phone Counselling Services at 604-822-3811 and indicate that you are a Faculty of Applied Science student 

Below are some common questions and concerns that students may have when it comes to speaking to a counsellor at UBC: 

FAQ: 

Q: What does it cost to access counselling at UBC?

A: Counselling accessed through the APSC embedded counsellor is covered by your tuition. There is no additional cost to accessing Counselling Services while you are a student at UBC.  

Q: What do you talk about with a counsellor?

A: There are many reasons why a student may wish to speak to a counsellor, but it usually starts with a problem that is affecting your life and you are unsure how to solve that problem. Some more common topics that have come up with APSC students are: 

  • Procrastination 
  • Imposter syndrome 
  • Anxiety/Test Anxiety  
  • Difficulty concentrating 
  • Relationship conflict 
  • Stress 
  • Depression 

Q: Can I access counselling only for academic-related matters such as test anxiety?

A: While many students access counselling for mental health support around their academics, counselling is also available to students who want support around non-academic matters such as substance use, difficulty managing moods or loneliness.  

Q: How long are counselling sessions?

A: Each session is 50 minutes. UBC counselling is short term and will focus on working on solutions to the problems that you are experiencing. If you feel like you could benefit from more ongoing support, the embedded counsellor can help explore possible options for you. 

Q: What is therapy like?

A: Therapy can look different to different people. Sometimes therapy can be a place where someone can share a particular problem that they are struggling with. For others it can be a place to get a new perspective or organize their thoughts while others may want to work together to come up with an ‘action plan’ moving forward. 

Q: Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

A: Therapy is confidential, meaning that what you share remains between you and the embedded counsellor. There are some exceptions to this such as if there is a concern for the safety of you or other people.  The embedded counsellor will go over confidentiality and possible exceptions during your initial appointment.   

Additional Resources for UBC Students

  • UBC’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO): This is a confidential place for those who have experienced, or been impacted by, any form of sexual or gender-based violence, harassment, or harm, regardless of where or when it took place.
  • Visit Student Health Services to see a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional on campus
  • Check out Health and Wellbeing at UBC to explore a range of resources
  • Get resources for coping with the mental health challenges of Covid-19
  • UBC Student Assistance program offers a free 24/7 counselling and life coaching service, accessible anywhere in the world. The service is offered in multiple languages by phone, video-counselling, and more.
  • At the UBC Wellness Centre you can get tips and resources on stress, studying and navigating university life

Help a Friend

Find information here about how to help if you’re concerned about a friend who is feeling hopeless or thinking of harming themselves.

Crisis Support

If you need crisis support or you’re currently in distress, the following resources are available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week: