Access Advisors
An Access Advisor can help you navigate the services offered by the Student Wellness Hub. Through one-on-one appointments*, Access Advisors can:
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Provide general mental health support and address questions regarding services.
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Complete initial triage/discussion about your mental health and what options are available to you.
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Make referrals to appropriate care, both on- and off-campus
*If you don’t see any availability for an Access Advisor appointment, please check back again soon. Access Advisor appointments open 72 hours in advance so new availabilities open up every day.
Access Advisors also offer wellness outreach through our social media channels.
If you would like to review off-campus care, we've developed a wellness map with the option to filter by insurance accepted, service type, and location. If you would prefer to receive support from a peer, please review our Peer Support page.
Your First Session
Access Advisor appointments are a great first step towards getting the care you need. Appointments can be up to 80 minutes long. This includes time to complete any intake forms.
During a consultation appointment, your Access Advisor will:
- Conduct an assessment and discussion
- Develop a wellness plan with you based on your needs and/or refer you to an on- or off-campus resource.
The goal is to provide you with guidance, information, and access. Documentation is only provided at follow-up appointments with a clinician (not an initial consultation).
Your Access Advisor can't refer you directly to a psychiatrist. They can connect you to a doctor if a referral to a psychiatrist is necessary.
Not sure where to start? Access Advisors run a weekly workshop to help you understand your wellness needs and learn about the resources available to you. Sign up for Navigating Wellness on myInvolvement.
Do I need to meet with an Access Advisor in order to book an appointment with another professional at the Hub?
No. To directly book an appointment with a Family Doctor (GP), Nurse, Dietitian, or Counsellor (Therapist) at the Student Wellness Hub, please call 514-398-6017. https://www.mcgill.ca/wellness-hub/contact-us
I need a medical note/supporting documentation or I'm interested in academic accommodations
Due to Hub policy, Access Advisors and Nurses cannot provide notes or supporting documentation. Doctors can provide a medical note on a discretionary basis. Counsellors and Local Wellness Advisors can provide a letter of support on a discretionary basis. Documentation is only provided at a follow-up appointment (not an initial consultation). Please refer here (https://www.mcgill.ca/wellness-hub/get-support/physical-health/medical-n...) for more details about the Medical Notes & Letters of Support policy at the Student Wellness Hub.
Academic accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities that may be permanent, temporary, or episodic. You can visit the Student Accessibility and Achievement website for more information on eligibility and registration. (https://www.mcgill.ca/access-achieve/exams-accommodations/accommodations) To determine if you're eligible for academic accommodations, you can also meet with a Student Accessibility and Achievement advisor.
The Student Wellness Hub does not make any decisions regarding academic accommodations.
What’s the difference between meeting with an Access Advisor, Local Wellness Advisor, and Counsellor?
Access Advisors, Local Wellness Advisors, and Counsellors are all licensed professionals with training in the mental health field.
Access Advisors are a great first step if you aren’t connected already to a professional at the Hub. Access Advisors typically only meet with students for a one-time appointment to offer guidance/counselling and development of a wellness plan suited to their needs.
Local Wellness Advisors (LWAs) offer faculty- or community-specific support and are embedded within faculties and areas within McGill University. LWAs have deeper knowledge about the needs of a specific faculty (eg, engineering), area (eg, Macdonald campus), or community (eg, 2S&LGTBQ+ identifying students, Black or BIPOC identifying students). LWAs offer one-on-one support and facilitate wellness programming like workshops that are tailored to their faculty or community. You can learn more about LWAs here: https://www.mcgill.ca/wellness-hub/about-hub/clinicians/local-wellness-a...
Counsellors are located within the Student Wellness Hub with the majority being trained psychotherapists. Counsellors meet with students one-on-one to develop a wellness plan suited to their needs. The plan could include one-on-one sessions, group therapy, peer support, a referral to another professional, or another type of support. If you’ve already connected with a Counsellor at the Hub, it is recommended to follow up with your Counsellor for continuity of care.
I’d like to book an appointment with an Access Advisor but can’t see any availability.
Access advisor appointments open 72 hours in advance. If you don’t see an availability, please check back again soon, as new appointments become available every day.
I’m looking for a psychologist or psychotherapist off campus. Do I need a referral?
Referrals are generally not required to make an appointment with a psychologist or psychotherapist. You can find suggestions for private counselling and therapy options under our Community Resources section:
https://www.mcgill.ca/wellness-hub/get-support/find-community-resources#
