Emergency Resources
Counseling Services provides a combination of telehealth and on-ground services. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (203) 392-5475, or explore this website for more information on our services, including free and confidential online screening, resources related to mental health emergencies, and support finding referrals to local providers.
Why Consider Counseling?
College life can be challenging and stressful, and many students report feeling overwhelmed by anxious or depressed feelings or relationship problems at some point in their college careers. When this happens, getting support from others can be a sign of strength and resourcefulness. While some students who seek professional counseling have ongoing emotional difficulties, many are dealing with difficult life events and simply need an objective listener – someone unbiased who doesn’t judge and who can help them see new alternatives and further develop their coping skills and strengths.
First Appointment
To Schedule An Appointment
To make an appointment, call our office at: 203-392-5475 or come to the office in Engelman B219. All enrolled graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for services. Let the receptionist know if you would prefer an on-line or on-ground meeting. Meetings are available in Engelman and in our satellite office in the Schwartz Wellbeing Center.
What To Expect
At the first meeting, called an initial consultation, a counselor will meet with you for about 20 minutes to get a better understanding of your specific concerns and how to best help. At the end of the meeting, they will collaborate with you to develop a plan to address your needs, which may include one session only, ongoing individual, group, or couples counseling, or a referral to another campus office or an off-campus mental health provider. Individual counseling services provided on campus are brief and goal-directed.
Before Your Appointment
Be sure to complete your pre-appointment online questionnaires prior to your first appointment. These will help the Counselor prepare for the meeting. You will be provided a link prior to your appointment. If you are unable to complete them online, please come to your first meeting 10 minutes early to do so in the office.
FAQs
Yes. You may request a specific counselor or a counselor of a particular gender and we will do our best to accommodate your request based on availability.
All currently enrolled SCSU students are eligible to receive a free and confidential initial consultation to clarify their treatment goals and develop a plan to address their specific needs. At times, a student's requests or treatment needs extend beyond that which can be reasonably offered at Counseling Services (such as specialized clinical services, court-mandated treatment, ongoing or long-term psychotherapy, or more than weekly individual meetings). In such instances, Counseling Services staff will assist students in identifying referrals to off-campus providers or programs that can better provide these services.
Group counseling options vary based on the semester, but usually include a mix of drop-in workshops, ongoing groups with the same students, and groups addressing particular student populations and challenges. In most cases, there is no limit to the number of group sessions students can attend
Call our office at: 203-392-5475.
SCSU Counselors share a brief, strength-based, developmentally informed approach intended to empower to students to address their own challenges with confidence and skill. Individual counselors draw on a variety of theoretical approaches to best meet the needs, preferences, and learning styles of each individual student. Your counselor will collaborate with you to determine an approach that you feel will be a good fit. To learn more about individual counselors’ approaches and areas of specialty, see Meet the Staff.
- Anxiety and stress management
- Sad or depressed feelings
- Difficulty adjusting to college
- Social anxiety or loneliness
- Relationship problems (friends, partners, families)
- Difficult experiences, losses, or traumatic events
- ,Problems with motivation, confidence, or decision-making
- Coping with mental health challenges (such as OCD, Bipolar, etc.)
- And many other unique, individual concerns!
Counseling Services adheres to all professional ethical standards, as well as all appropriate state and federal laws. Once a student has engaged in treatment, Counseling Services is not permitted to disclose any information, including the fact that they have attended counseling, without their informed consent. Records at Counseling Services are kept fully confidential and are not part of a student’s academic or medical record. The primary exception to this rule is if the student is in significant danger of causing harm to themselves or others. Additionally, there are special considerations for students who are 17 years of age or younger.
Your counselor will email you the telehealth link. If you can’t find the link, feel free to call the receptionist for assistance (203 392-5475).
Find a private location where you can speak confidentially with your counselor without being overheard or disturbed. If you live with others, ask them to respect your privacy during your appointment. To increase confidentiality, some find it helpful to wear headphones, use a fan or other form of white noise, or find a location outside of their home to talk, such as their car.