The
Counseling Center

McGurrin Hall Second Floor

INFORMATION / RESOURCES FOR FACULTY & STAFF

1. Counseling Center Services

2. Programs/Presentations

3. When to refer to the Counseling Center

4. How to refer to the Counseling Center

5. Emergency/Crisis Information

6. Confidentiality

7. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

8. Staff

COUNSELING CENTER SERVICES

The University Counseling Center provides crisis consultation and individual and group counseling for students. The Center also provides programs for personal growth and enrichment for students, faculty, and staff. All Center services are free of charge.

A student does not have to be confronting desperate or overwhelming difficulties in order to benefit from a counseling relationship. Understanding a situation before it reaches the crisis stage often allows for greater freedom when making choices. The Center staff encourages students to come in and talk, even if they are not sure that counseling is what they need. With a counselor's help, they can discuss alternatives and decide upon the appropriate follow-up for their concerns.

Students can be seen for an initial visit between the hours of 8:30a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (If earlier or later times are needed, please call the Counseling Center to check on counselor availability.) During the first visit, the student and counselor together make an assessment of the situation and decide how best to proceed. Sometimes the best course of action includes referral to another service, either on or off campus. Occasionally, one session proves sufficient. Most often, the student decides to see a University Counseling Center counselor on an ongoing basis, usually once a week. Arrangements are made for sessions to begin as soon as possible. All information about a student's counseling is confidential, except in situations where there is a threat or danger to life. (Please refer to our confidentiality statement.)

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WHEN TO REFER

Throughout the year, the Center receives many telephone calls from administrators, faculty, staff, friends and family. They all have contact with students on a frequent basis and have an opportunity to observe some of the signs and symptoms which could be indicative of the need to refer for professional assistance. Below are some of the general symptoms of distress:

• References to suicide.
• Noted isolation.
• Significant decrease in energy and motivational level.
• Marked change in behavior, e.g.,
  1. appearance change;
  2. erratic class attendance or class performance;
  3. sudden unwillingness to communicate;
  4. drop in grades.
• Alcohol and/or other substance abuse.
• Eating disorder.
• Self-deprecation and excessive self-criticism and guilt.
• Statements reflecting a sense of worthlessness, hopelessness or helplessness.
• Psychosomatic symptoms such as tension-induced headaches, nausea, change in appetite or in sleeping habits.
• Anxiety, depression, stress and "burnout."
• Traumatic changes in personal relationships, such as divorce, death, or ending a relationship with a significant other.
• Academic problems such as career indecision, dissatisfaction with academic major, inability to concentrate and difficulty with workload.
• Threatening bodily injury or harm to others.
• Violent behavior.
• Paranoid state
• Marked disorientation and/or bizarre behavior.
   

You also may wish to refer if you feel overwhelmed by the student and/or the student's problem. Any time you are concerned about a student's psychological or emotional well-being, feel free to call the Counseling Center to consult with one of our staff.

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HOW TO REFER

When you think that a student might benefit from professional counseling, you may wish to refer that student directly to the University Counseling Center. In raising the issue with the student, it is best to be direct and straightforward about your concern for his or her welfare.

You may want to speak specifically about the behaviors that have raised your concern so that both you and the student share the same frame of reference about the situation. Most importantly, always convey your respect and caring for the individual.

Except in emergencies, the most important thing is to present your concern in such a way as to enable the student to freely accept or refuse your recommendation.

Some suggested ways to recommend counseling in a private conversation are:

"You seem very upset; perhaps it might be helpful to call or visit the Counseling Center to talk about this with a counselor."

"Counseling can be helpful for people who feel the way you do. If you would like, you may use my telephone to call the Counseling Center. I'd be glad to walk over to the Counseling Center with you."

"You don't have to continue feeling so depressed (anxious, isolated, stressed-out, angry, etc.). Counseling can help. Why don't you stop by the Counseling Center and speak with a counselor?"

Some people need time in order to think over the decision to seek counseling. A caring and gentle suggestion is usually enough. If a student says refuses, then it is important to respect and accept that decision and to perhaps leave the door open for later reconsideration. Don't hesitate to follow-up privately with a student to let him/her know that you're available to talk and to ask if he/she made a successful contact with the Counseling Center.

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EMERGENCY INFORMATION

If you need immediate help in a crisis, and it is during normal Office hours call the Counseling Center and indicate this to the receptionist who will put your call through to a counselor immediately.

After hours emergency/crisis consultation is available from September through May (while classes are in session) on a 24-hour basis by calling Public Safety at (717) 941-7777. Ask for the on-call counselor and leave your name and phone number. The Public Safety Officer will page the person who is on-call and that counselor will call you back.

If there is a crisis during the times when the University Counseling Center is not on-call, contact the Scranton Counseling Center at 348-6100.

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CONFIDENTIALITY

It is important for the members of the University community to understand that counseling is confidential in nature and the information regarding counseling sessions cannot be released without a student's written permission. The areas of confidentiality include whether the student has or has not come to the Center and the content of the sessions.

These rules hold true for all cases, except in emergency situations where there is (1) a clear and present danger that someone's life is at risk (2) case of apparent abuse of a child and (3) by court order.

If an administrator, faculty, or staff member is interested in follow up on a referral to the University Counseling Center, it is best to speak directly with the student who is not legally or ethically obligated by the same promise of confidentiality as professional counselors.

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