Getting started

A partial list: stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, grief, struggles with spiritual issues, struggles with academic issues, anger, suicidal thoughts, alcohol and other drug abuse, self-esteem, family issues, body-image concerns, preoccupations with food, eating disorders, addictions, trauma, violence, identity issues …

Services are available only to currently enrolled SPU undergraduates and are free of charge.

Yes — though sometimes we will see a student on an emergency basis without an appointment as soon as a counselor is available.

During the regular school year, stop by the Student Counseling Center between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Step one: We will ask you to fill out a brief form, which takes 15 to 30 minutes. Once that is done, you will normally leave with an appointment for an assessment session.

It’s where services begin, where an SCC counselor will discuss your concerns and review areas of your life. You might then participate in one-on-one counseling at the SCC, be referred to one of our SCC groups, be placed on the SCC waiting list, or referred to community services.

Follow the same procedure as above.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes. You can usually receive up to six sessions per academic year.

You’ll want to see an academic counselor in Student Academic Services for questions about drop/add, curricular choices, and other scheduling or registration issues. And you’ll find academic support at the Center for Learning.

A number of students are taking medication and see nurse practitioners at SPU’s Health Services. We can collaborate with health care providers on campus or off.

Consistent with our ethical standards and state law, we release no client information without your written consent. That means we will not tell anyone — including friends, parents, or professors — that you are involved in therapy, or the content of your session.

Several exceptions are required by law. In this state, we are required to break confidentiality if we believe a client is at high risk for suicide or if we hear a direct, specific homicidal threat from a client to another person. We must also report abuse or neglect of a child, dependent adult, or developmentally disabled person if we believe such an incident has occurred.

If you cancel or don’t show up for an appointment, you’ll hear from a counselor by voicemail or email. You’ll then need to contact the counselor within one week or the case will be closed. If you cancel or don’t show for the second scheduled counseling assessment, your case will be closed.