Oxford is an extraordinary place to study, but it can also be a very intense one. Terms are short and packed, the workload can feel relentless, and many students arrive having always been the high achiever, only to find themselves surrounded by people who seem to manage effortlessly.
The pressure behind the scenes
Over the years I have worked with many students in Oxford. What they bring is often hidden from friends and tutors: the essay that won't get written, dread before tutorials, the fear of being found out, nights spent going over the same worries. Some are also dealing with homesickness, relationships, money or questions about identity.
Signs it might help to talk
You feel constantly behind, however much you work
You avoid work you care about, then feel ashamed
Your sleep, eating or drinking has changed
You've lost interest in things you used to enjoy
You feel you have to hide how you're really doing
Therapy, coaching, or both
Some students want practical help: planning a dissertation, getting unstuck on a piece of work, or thinking about life after university. Others need space to understand the anxiety or self-criticism underneath. Often it's a mix of the two, and I can work in both ways.
Keeping going in the vacation
Because terms are short, support can easily stop just as it's starting to help. Sessions can continue online during the vacations, wherever you are, so the work doesn't have to pause.
Read more about therapy and coaching for students, or get in touch if something here sounds familiar.
