Scope of Practice

Counseling is a collaborative treatment based on the relationship between an individual and a counselor. Grounded in a variety of therapeutic approaches, it provides a supportive environment that allows you to talk openly with someone who is objective, neutral, and non-judgmental. You and your counselor will work together to identify and change thought and behavior patterns. Counseling helps empower students to learn skills and develop strengths to approach obstacles as they arise.

Eligibility for Services

At this time the Counseling Center provides services to full-time, currently enrolled undergraduate students. Services are provided via the wellness fee that all undergraduate students pay, therefore there are no additional charges for counseling services.

Scope of Care

Services include:

  • Initial screening/assessment
  • Short-term counseling*
  • Mandated alcohol/other drug assessments for violations of the university conduct policy
  • Crisis Services (24/7 on-call counselor coverage for mental health crises – i.e. suicidal ideation, self-harm, sexual assault, etc.)
  • Consultation (faculty, staff—including international personnel, parents, students)
  • Group Counseling
  • Prevention programming (primarily provided by s.w.e.e.t. peer educators)
  • Referral services to access mental health and/or psychiatric providers outside of the university as necessary

Some of the issues commonly addressed in short-term counseling or consultation at the Counseling Center are:

  • Personal issues: stress, anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, guilt, self-esteem (such as body image/food preoccupation issues), performance anxiety, perfectionism, motivation, grief, trauma.
  • Relationship issues: romantic or sexual concerns, friend/roommate conflict, issues with family.
  • Cultural issues: impact of oppression, power, privilege, identity and intersectionality.
  • Developmental issues: identity development and life transitions.
  • Other issues: survivors of intimate partner violence/sexual assault and alcohol/drug concerns for self or others.

*Length of service will be determined on an individual basis. This will be decided based on the client’s presenting concern and resources available, and will be discussed with the assigned counselor.

Limits of Service

Due to the high volume of demand and/or requirement for more specialized care, the Counseling Center is unable to accommodate the treatment needs of all students. Every student will be given an initial screening, where these limitations may be identified and discussed. The Counseling Center reserves the right to determine if a client is appropriate for the level of care provided by the Center. Counselors will work with the client to identify the best treatment option. This may include an appointment with the center’s Case Manager for referrals to outside providers or a higher level of care.

Limits of service include:

Intensive or long-term treatment indicated by:

  • Students who require more than weekly individual therapy for an extended period of time.
  • Students who have had extensive treatment in the past and need/expect extensive long-term additional treatment.
  • Students who require excessive utilization of crisis intervention.
  • Students who present a chronic, ongoing risk of harm to self or others, and whose symptoms do not respond to outpatient crisis intervention or require specialized services. This includes students with a history of multiple hospitalizations, chronic suicidality, homicidality, history of repeated suicide attempts, a diagnosable eating disorder, PTSD, substance use disorder and other behavioral addictions.
  • Students presenting with a concern or disorder that requires expertise or resources not sufficiently available at the Counseling Center. Examples may include, but are not limited to, court-ordered/mandated assessments and treatment, forensic assessments.
  • Students who are unable to maintain prolonged periods without treatment (i.e. academic breaks).

Other exclusions include, but are not limited to:

  • Students who are actively engaged in ongoing psychotherapy or medication management with an outside provider/prescriber
  • Couples, marital and family counseling
  • Students requesting assessment, psychological testing and/or documentation for any disability, including accommodation for an Emotional Support Animal
  • Students who attend counseling but are unwilling to follow treatment goals or who do not meet appropriate behavioral expectations regarding a professional counseling relationship
  • Students who are noncompliant with treatment (counseling or medication management), as defined by excessive no-shows/cancellations, demands for a specific provider and/or repeated requests to change providers. The student will no longer be eligible for treatment at the Counseling Center but will be referred to an outside provider
  • Students who demonstrate harassing, menacing, threatening or violent behaviors toward a member of the Counseling Center staff
  • The Counseling Center will not see any mandated students outside of drug and alcohol referrals.**

**Outside of drug and alcohol mandates due to violations of the AOD policy, the Counseling Center will not accept mandated referrals of any other kind. Research has shown that mandated counseling is ineffective due to the general unwillingness of the client to participate in treatment. Faculty and staff are welcome to encourage students to seek counseling if they feel it may be beneficial and may also recommend a consultation with a counselor to learn more about treatment options.