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Counseling Services Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Counseling Services FAQ What is personal counseling?

Personal counseling is a process of self-discovery and growth. It can help us to learn more about ourselves, increase our self-confidence, improve relationships, and help us achieve our goals. Counseling is a process that is an aid to improving our ability to make good decisions for positive emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual well-being. Most people, at one time or another, can benefit from mental health counseling. The Student Counseling Center provides individual counseling for personal concerns that are common among undergraduate and graduate students. Common concerns that students face include communication problems, navigating relationships, stress and time management, dealing with change, and coping with feelings such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, anger and guilt, etc.

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How do I make an appointment?
For an initial session, contact Student Counseling Services at 651-2340 and ask for an available appointment time. This will be your triage session. At this session you will meet with a counselor to discuss the issues that brought you to SCS. At the end of your triage session you will work with the triage counselor to develop a plan of action to address your presenting issues. 

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What are your hours?
Monday - Friday8:00AM - 5:00PM

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Is there a fee for counseling?
Any student enrolled at WTAMU for a least 1 class per current semester AND has paid the Health Fee is eligible for counseling services. The Health Fee is $70 per long semester and $25 per summer session. Students are eligible for up to eight sessions per fiscal year at no additional cost (September 1 to August 31). Most issues that are brought in by students can be addressed within these ten sessions. If both counselor and student feel there is a need for additional sessions, a referral to community counselors outside of this center will be considered. 

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What if I miss or cancel an appointment?
Keeping appointments and being on time is a part of the commitment you must make. If, due to an illness or emergency, you must miss an appointment, please contact SCS as soon as possible. If you miss an appointment and do not reschedule, your time slot will be given to another student. Note: late cancellations or reschedules (later than 8 am the day of your appointment) and no showed appointments (you miss your appointment without contacting our center) will be charged a $10 fee.

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Is it confidential?
No information about counseling is released outside of Student Counseling Service to anyone without a student's written permission. A student's counselor will consult with a supervisor and/or with other professional staff members of SCS and Student Medical Services for the purpose of providing the best possible service. There are limits to this confidentiality and they include the following:
    • When a student presents a risk of imminent harm to themselves or another person, a therapist has a legal and ethical duty to do whatever is necessary to protect life.
    • When any individual has reason to believe that a child, mentally disabled person, or an elderly person is in danger of or is being abused, that individual is obligated by law to report such abuse to the proper authorities.
    • When required by law to report incidences of misconduct on the part of other therapists.
    • When required by law because a court order has been placed.
    • When requested by a parent or legal guardian of a student younger than 16 years of age.

 
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Who are the staff?

Please click here to view counseling staff and contact information.


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