Jessie Kussin introduces the various modes of support the On-Location Counselling Program offers to law students
U of T Law welcomed Jessie Kussin to the Faculty earlier this term as the new On-Location Student Mental Health Counsellor. Ultra Vires sat down with Kussin to discuss her new role.
Ultra Vires (UV): I’d love to start off by getting to know a bit more about your background. Would you mind telling us about your educational background and career?
Jessie Kussin (JK): I’m a Registered Social Worker working at the law school in the role of on-location counsellor with the Health and Wellness Centre. For the past few years, I’ve been in the role of an on-location counsellor at another college at U of T. Prior to joining the University of Toronto Health and Wellness team, I worked in a variety of community mental health services in Toronto and Halifax for two decades. For the past 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with young people and transitional age youth in a variety of support types, including mental health crisis supports, and walk-in and appointment-based counselling. I have completed a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) degree in addition to training in several counselling modalities and areas of focus.
UV: What do you like to do for fun, or what are some of your hobbies?
JK: I love to work with hands-on projects like sewing and re-upholstering vintage furniture. Fabric and chairs can definitely start to take up space quick, so I try to keep it to one sewing project or /chair at a time, but that’s a work in progress!
UV: How has your time been so far at the Faculty?
JK: I’m really enjoying my time working here at the Faculty. People have been very welcoming and it’s been great getting to learn about the variety of types of supports that have been thoughtfully created at the school.
UV: What inspired you to work in mental health and wellness?
JK: There are many aspects that I deeply appreciate about working in mental health and wellness. Some areas that stand out to me include the opportunity to meet people in their work, to name their experiences, to be with their emotions, to explore areas of meaning and value, and connect with their insights, skills and resources in their efforts to cope with challenges and support their movement towards their goals. It is a great privilege to bear witness and collaborate with people in their healing work.
UV: Your position is “On-Location Wellness Counsellor” at the law school. How would you describe your role and responsibilities? What kind of support can you offer to law students struggling with their mental health?
JK: The on-location counselling role extends Health and Wellness services in a ‘local’ capacity. This program works from the idea that it is important for students to have access to a counsellor who is informed with context and some local knowledge of the student’s specific faculty or program. This can include possible themes that students at the faculty or program may be experiencing or navigating. At the same time, the program provides students with access to confidential mental health support that operates as part of the larger Health and Wellness services at the University of Toronto.
The on-location counselling program offers both one-at-a-time same-day counselling sessions and brief counselling appointments. For one-at-a-time same-day counselling sessions, students can book one when they feel it could be helpful or something to try. In these conversations, we may explore their current top-of-mind concerns and focus the conversation based on what the student feels would be immediately helpful. This offers some flexibility for students who may want to try a counselling conversation and/or may want occasional support. Brief counselling appointments are a brief course of appointments typically focused on a few themes, goals, and time in a person’s life where it could be useful to have support with some structure to the frequency of appointments.
In the first meeting with students, part of my work includes gaining an understanding of the student’s identified needs and hopes for support in order to help connect them with appropriate services, whether it be the on-location counselling program, other supports at Health and Wellness, or supports in the community. Counselling work in the on-location counselling program often involves exploring the areas of concern that are affecting a person and their insights into the situation. Areas of focus can include personal values, skills or abilities, and resources that support a person in their efforts to cope with stressors and possible explorations of new strategies and perspectives to help move towards their preferred values and goals.
Part of the support can also include referrals and connecting students with other services at Health and Wellness, or supports within the University or community, such as longer-term counselling.
UV: What do you think is a good indicator that a student would benefit from reaching out to you?
JK: My hope is that students will reach out to counselling services when they are experiencing something that impacts their emotional well-being and mental health. It’s been my experience that sometimes people may feel that they have to ‘wait it out” or that their concern would not be a “valid enough” reason to come to counselling, which prevents people from accessing support in a timely way. I also want to be cognizant of the impact of stigma in our society and that some people have had negative experiences connecting with mental health systems and supports. This can impact people’s sense of what might be possible for them in relation to support. Accessing early intervention mental health services often prevents issues from becoming more intrusive and overwhelming.
UV: How can students set up an appointment with you?
JK: Students can contact (416) 978-8030 ext. 5 to access all Health and Wellness mental health services. To request an appointment with the on-location counsellor at the law school, please indicate you are a law student and would like to meet with the law school’s Wellness Counsellor. Virtual and in-person appointments are available. Students may also connect with other counsellors in our services based on availability or student preferences to see a counsellor of a specific gender. BIPOC-identified students have the option to request a BIPOC-identified counsellor if preferred.
Mental Health Resources:
- Supporting a student in distress: studentlife.utoronto.ca/service/faculty-support-for-responding-to-distressed-students/
- U of T MySSP is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via telephone, video, or chat in multiple languages
Students can contact:
- The Health and Wellness Centre (M–F, 9am to 4:30pm): 416-978-8030, or visit the Student Mental Health Portal online
- CAMH 24/7 Psychiatric Emergency Department: 1051 Queen St. W, or call 416-535-8501
- Talk Suicide Canada helpline: 1-833-456-4566
- See also: ontario.cmha.ca/documents/are-you-in-crisis/; camh.ca/en/suicide-prevention/get-help
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
