About Care

Care – Student Support and Respect Unit

Care is a dedicated support service at ULB and HELB for students who have experienced violence, bullying, sexual harassment and/or discrimination.
We provide a safe and confidential space, always respecting your pace and your choices.

Sylvie Boët

Head of the Care Unit

Holding a PhD in Psychology from the University of Liège, Sylvie spent 16 years working in a service dedicated to preventing and addressing violence in school settings before joining ULB in 2020 to establish Care.
Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in active listening, trauma-informed support, and rebuilding connections when possible and desired, including in situations involving significant power imbalances.

"Creating a safe environment is essential for people to feel able to speak openly. It is when people feel safe and supported that they can begin to share their stories, recognise and express their inner strengths — the very strengths that have helped them keep going and ultimately brought them to us."

Charlotte Janssens

Psychosocial Counsellor

Trained as a psychologist, Charlotte holds a Master's degree in Social and Intercultural Psychology and a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology from ULB. She has several years of experience supporting young adults in school and university settings.

"What matters most to me is welcoming students into a safe, supportive and compassionate environment where they feel heard, supported and secure. I respect each person's choices and individual pace."

Patricia Mélotte

Psychosocial Counsellor

Patricia holds a PhD in Psychology from ULB, which she completed in 2017. Her doctoral research focused on women's responses to sexist remarks. She subsequently contributed to several projects at ULB addressing issues such as sexist harassment on public transport, the prevention of sexist and sexual harassment, and the promotion of diversity, before joining Care in 2021.

"The most effective way to prevent sexual harassment and violence is through consent education. My goal is to help young people put the principle of 'if it's not yes, it's no' into practice."

Matthias Burlet

Psychosocial Counsellor

Holding a Master's degree in Psychology (with a focus on Cognitive-Behavioural and Social Psychology), completed in 2017, as well as a Master's degree in Public Relations, Matthias has placed the well-being of young people and students at the heart of his professional practice since the beginning of his career.
He began his career as a social worker in a youth support service in Brussels before moving to Canada, where he worked as a mental health counsellor for a French-language school board in Ontario. He later chose to dedicate his experience and commitment to supporting students at ULB.
Driven by strong values of social justice, he supports students facing situations that fall within Care's areas of expertise.

"Believing in a fairer society begins with ensuring that everyone has a place where they are treated with dignity and respect."

Emma Chomez

Administrative Secretary

Emma answers your phone calls and follows up on your emails. She coordinates appointments and provides the team with essential logistical support to carry out its work.

After working as a secretary for the Brussels Fire Brigade, she spent a year in Canada, where she provided secretarial support to the Secretary General of ENAP in Quebec City.

"I know ULB from the inside, particularly how its student societies and folkloric traditions operate. Returning to ULB and working within a service like Care gives my work a new and deeper sense of purpose. I strive to offer students a warm and welcoming first point of contact. What matters most to me is that everyone feels welcome."

A listening ear, a space to share, and a search for solutions: here's what support from Care looks like in practice.

1. You get in touch with Care.

By email, phone, WhatsApp, or anonymously through our online form.

2. We take the time to listen to you.

You can share your experience at your own pace. We take the time to listen, without judgement.

3. Together, we explore what you need.

We explain the options available to you and work together to identify the most appropriate ways forward for your situation. We also assess any potential risks together.

From there, you can choose whether to continue or stop, depending on what feels right for you.

4. Together, we decide on the most appropriate support.

We agree on a course of action and work through it together.Your situation can remain entirely confidential. We may meet with you over several sessions to provide support, or seek assistance from trusted individuals who commit to handling your situation discreetly.If you wish, we can contact the other party involved. We can also support you in filing a formal complaint with the Vice-Rectorate for Student Affairs, if this is considered an appropriate course of action by both you and Care.

No one will be contacted without your explicit consent.

5. We stand by your side for as long as you need.

You can change your mind or choose a different course of action at any time. Care remains by your side throughout the process.

Cellule Care Campus Plaine
Boulevard de la plaine, 11
1050 Ixelles

Cellule Care Campus Erasme
Bâtiment BUCOPA local 115
Route de Lennik 808
1070 Bruxelles

Is it really confidential?

Yes. Nothing you share with Care will be disclosed to anyone (your professors, other students, friends, family, etc.) without your consent.

Is my situation "serious enough" to talk about?

Whether your experience is recent or happened a long time ago, whether it was a one-off incident or something ongoing, or even if you're simply unsure about what you've experienced, you are always welcome to reach out.
Your voice matters, and your concerns are always valid. We are here to listen without judgement and help you gain a clearer understanding of your situation.

What happens after I contact Care?

Care's administrative secretary, Emma, will respond to you within two working days and offer you an appointment within ten working days.
During your appointment, we take the time to listen to you and understand what you're going through. Together, at your own pace, we explore what you need and the best way to move forward. Care will never take any action without your consent, and you can change your mind at any time.

How can I contact Care?

Email is our preferred way of communication (care@ulb.be), but you can also reach us by phone or WhatsApp (0477/652551).
You can also contact us through our online form, either by providing your name or anonymously if you'd prefer to keep your identity private at first.
The choice is yours!

Can I contact Care if the incident happened a long time ago or took place off campus?

Yes. There is no time limit for reaching out to us, even if the incident happened several months or years ago.
This applies to situations that occurred both on and off campus.

Do I have to file a formal complaint or take official action?

You will never be required to file a formal complaint. Contacting Care does not commit you to anything. We take the time to explore your options together and find what feels right for you.

Can I remain anonymous?

Yes. Our online form allows you to contact us without revealing your identity.
However, it is important to know that if you choose to remain anonymous, Care cannot take any official action based on what you share, or even keep a record of it.
You can decide at any time whether you would like to continue the conversation by identifying yourself.

Can a student association, society or student representative body also contact Care?

Yes. Care supports both individual students and student associations, societies and representative bodies facing situations within their organisations.
You can contact us directly on behalf of your organisation or refer a member who may need support.

Can Care help me if the situation involves a staff member (professor, supervisor, etc.)?

Yes. What matters is that you are a student at ULB or HELB.
The person involved in your situation may be another student, a member of academic or administrative staff, or even someone you share accommodation with, a family member, someone at your student job, etc.

Can I change my mind during the process?

Yes, at any time. Whether you want to slow things down, take a break or choose a completely different approach, nothing moves forward without your consent.

Can Care provide emergency assistance?

Care is not an emergency service and cannot guarantee an immediate response.
If you are in danger or your situation requires urgent intervention, please contact 112 (emergency services) or campus security (02/6502614).
If you have experienced sexual assault, please contact the Sexual Assault Care Centre (CPVS) at 02/5354542.
If you urgently need someone to talk to because you are feeling overwhelmed, you can call 0800 32 123.
Care is available Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, and offers appointments upon request.

I contacted Care but wasn't satisfied with the support I received. What can I do?

Have you discussed your concerns with your counsellor? Don't hesitate to share how you feel. They may genuinely understand your concerns and be able to help.
If you find this too difficult, you can contact the Head of Care directly at 0474/563097.
You can also contact the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs at vraffetud@ulb.be.
If you would prefer to speak to someone outside ULB, you can contact:

• Marcelle (https://espace-marcelle.be/), the listening and support service of the Brussels Academic Hub, if you are studying in Brussels.
• Say It (https://www.polehainuyer.be/sayit/), the support service of the Hainaut Academic Hub, if you are studying in Charleroi.

Both services are staffed by professionals who work independently of ULB.

What happens during an appointment with Care?

You can find out more about how we work in the dedicated section here: How We Work.

Can Care take disciplinary action?

No. Whether the situation concerns your student society, representative body, association, faculty or the university itself, Care does not have the authority to take disciplinary action against anyone.
However, we may be able to help you share your experience with the people who do have that authority.

What are Care's responsibilities?

You can find out more about our role and responsibilities in the dedicated section here: What Situations Does Care Address?.

How does the formal complaint process work?

You can always file a formal complaint directly with the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs without involving Care.
If we decide together that filing an internal university complaint is the right and necessary course of action for you, we will help you prepare your complaint.
We will then submit it to the Vice-Rectorate on your behalf, copying you into the email.
Following this, we meet with the Vice-Rector and the university's Legal Department to explore whether protective measures against retaliation or other precautionary measures can be put in place to ensure your safety.
We then get back to you to explain what options are available.

You decide whether or not you wish to continue with the process.

If you choose to proceed, the Vice-Rectorate takes over. You will be invited to a meeting where the Vice-Rector or Vice-Rector's representative will explain the procedure.
Only the university authorities have the power to decide on and impose disciplinary measures.

We remain by your side throughout the entire process.

care@ulb.be to email us directly
0477652551 to contact us by phone or WhatsApp
Fill in our online form to reach out to us anonymously in writing.

Our opening hours:

Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.