Individual Counseling
At the student's first visit to the UArts Counseling Center, information and consent forms will be filled out prior to the session. During the first appointment, the Staff Therapist and/or Clinical Trainee (under supervision) will begin to assess the student's needs and to determine the most effective interventions for treatment. Options may include counseling at the Center and/or a referral to a higher level of care.
Counseling sessions are completely confidential, and due to ethical and legal restraints, cannot be shared without written permission from the student. Exceptions to confidentiality involve situations where there is cause to believe that there is danger of harm to self or others.
Weekday Walk-In Hours: Initial Meeting
Counseling starts with a 15-20 minute in-person walk-in/triage screening session with a UArts Counseling Center staff member. In Triage, we assess the nature and urgency of the students' concern to arrange the most appropriate next step to help.
When you contact the Center (either in person or by phone), you will be scheduled for this 15-20 minute in-person triage screening appointment. You will be asked a variety of questions, will have the opportunity to discuss your personal situation and ask questions.
Please come in person to to set up a first screening appointment.
During this private consultation, the student has the opportunity to discuss his or her concerns. If further services are indicated, the staff therapist or clinical intern/trainee may recommend individual counseling at UArts, suggest further evaluation, or refer the student to other services on or off campus. Sometimes, students find that this initial consultation meets their needs and requires no further services.
At the end of this meeting, appropriate options will be reviewed with you. These could include an appointment for an initial meeting to pursue short-term counseling at UArts and/or referral to other resources on campus or in the community. Crisis and urgent situations are addressed as needed and may involve collaboration with the UArts Public Safety staff if emergencies occur.
Individual Therapy
Short-term individual counseling may be offered to help students navigate life stressors and to gain a deeper awareness about the basis of their concerns and the need for problem-solving skills. For issues that would be better resolved through longer-term individual counseling, a referral to a therapist community may be recommended.
UArts offers short-term counseling. If a student is interested in a longer term therapy relationship, we can help by offering referrals to outside low-fee and sliding scale therapists and advise on arranging services in the community. Keep in mind, however, that no student is ever turned away and that length of treatment at our Center is determined on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: Students should not pursue services at UArts Counseling for the sole purpose of obtaining a letter of support relating to Educational Accessibility (i.e. academic accommodations) and/or class absences. UArts Counseling does not provide letters at the time of an initial consultation and cannot provide documentation regarding a student's mental health without a history of services at UArts Counseling during the specified time period. If necessary, students are encouraged to seek letters of support from individuals directly involved in their care such as past or present psychological/psychiatric providers or medical doctors and practitioners.