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A counselor has special training in dealing with stress, academics, career, and relationships. They can also give you confidential, objective feedback and guidance that a friend or family member cannot. A counselor can provide suggestions about behaviors you can modify to help manage your stress, academic performance, or interpersonal relationships.

Anytime you’re experiencing stress is a good time to use the Counseling Center. Your needs and goals provide the focus for counseling. Things you may consider small issues are valid reasons to come to the Counseling Center. Sometimes small issues can become big issues if not addressed.

Your counseling visits are protected by state and federal privacy laws. If you think it would be helpful, you can give written permission for your counselor to speak to the person of your choosing about your counseling participation. You must give us written permission before we can share with anyone (including a professor, friend, or family member). Only in life-threatening situations (imminent harm to self or others, child or elder abuse, court subpoena) are we allowed to share information about you before we gain your permission.

No. In fact, most students who come to the Counseling Center seek help for stress, academic pressure, social issues, and self-development.

Counselors commonly work with students who struggle with depression, anxiety, and relationships. It’s helpful to think of going to counseling as an investment in your health (for example, stress management) and in skill building (understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, etc.) to better manage professional and personal situations in the future. The benefits you gain and skills you learn will actually save you time and energy in the long term.

The paperwork provides us with information about your life and about your concerns. It helps us determine what your needs are so that we can begin supporting you more quickly.

The Counseling Center does not have the power to suspend your coursework; only your college or academic program can do so. There are times when a student decides they need to suspend their coursework due to psychological or medical difficulties. We can help you with course drops and semester withdrawal in these situations. The Counseling Center provides support for students when they are making these choices while also assisting with the paperwork.

Individual counseling is typically 45 – 50 minutes. You would meet every 1 – 3 weeks with the same counselor to provide you with support and work on your goals. Group counseling is typically 90 minutes and consists of 5 – 10 students. These groups meet weekly and are very popular.

While some students may feel better immediately, for others it may take several sessions before they start to feel better. Sometimes a counselor will provide you with additional resources to help you feel better or refer you to a medical doctor for additional consultation. It’s important that you communicate with your counselor how you are feeling so they can adjust treatment as necessary.

We try to simplify your life. It’s helpful to think of going to counseling as an investment — in your health and in skill-building to better manage similar situations in the future. The benefits you gain and skills you learn will actually save you time and energy in the long term.