Services

The Counseling Center provides short-term individual, personal, career or academic concerns.  We also offer topical groups, psychological testing and assessment.  We administer national collegiate mental health screenings and we offer presentations and workshops on theme-specific academic and development issues, and guidance for applications to professional and graduate schools. In addition we provide informational pamphlets, self-help tapes, and a lending library. Consultation and/or training programs for students, staff, and faculty are provided on a request basis.

The Counseling Center provides individual, personal, career and academic counseling sessions, as well as topical groups, psychological testing and assessment.

Substance abuse prevention activities include counseling support and referral to AA groups or Alanon support groups for families and friends of alcoholics.  Counselors can help students assess whether they themselves have a problem with alcohol consumption and can assist them in getting appropriate help, either inside or outside the university. 

For some students with problems such as depression or panic attacks, the staff counselor may refer a student to the Center’s psychiatrist for an evaluation for medications.  For example, when students are severely depressed, they may experience interrupted sleep i.e., inability to fall asleep, waking in the middle of the night or awaking very early. Other symptoms include excessive sleeping, over-eating or under-eating, decreased ability to concentrate, lack of motivation, and/or severe moodiness. Another example where medication may be needed is panic attack, which may increase anxiety to a point where the student is severely limited in everyday life. After assessing the student's needs, the consulting psychiatrist prescribes and monitors his/her medications throughout the course of counseling.

The Counseling Center has a small lending library on topics relevant to student interests. Topics include: all aspects of wellness, anger, eating disorders, co-dependency, relaxation, toxic relationships, abusive relationships, sexual assault and assertiveness. These books and tapes may be checked out with the Counseling Center secretary.  The pamphlets are free.

The Counseling Center typically offers several presentations and workshops each year.  Topics may include relationship issues such as: dealing with break-ups and loss, improving communications between partners, long-distance relationships, drinking and responsible, safe sex. The Center may also conducts workshops on assertiveness training, sexuality, sexual identity and preferences, coming-out concerns and issues involving family and peers.  Stress management and coping are other aspects of wellness that are addressed by Counseling Center programs.  Interested student groups or faculty should contact the Center for further information.

Counseling Center staff provides consultation for faculty as needed, upon their request. We may be contacted by phone, e-mail or a personal visit to our office. A significant percentage of students who have academic problems also have psychological issues or concerns. A referral to our office can be quite useful in helping students resolve or cope with their personal problems and to support them in fulfilling their academic goals.

Faculty are welcome to escort students to our office or provide them with appropriate referral information: our location, hours and telephone number. If the student is uncertain as to whether they want or need counseling, the student may call the Center and speak with one of the counselors. We will also assist and guide faculty in their own efforts to help students who have sought them out for support or guidance.

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