Counseling Services provides a range of mental health services to help improve and maintain student emotional health. To provide quality care to as many students as possible in our community, we offer clinical services based on a brief therapy model. Group and individual counseling services offer solution-focused support to help students experiencing concerns impacting their academic and personal goals.

Counseling Services is committed to supporting the emotional health of all our students- there is no concern “too big” or “too small” to seek help. Any eligible undergraduate or graduate student may schedule an initial clinical assessment to determine the best treatment and resources for their concerns. A decision about whether the needs of the student fall within our scope of clinical care is made by the clinical provider after considering the information gathered at the initial assessment or as needs become apparent during the course of treatment.

Concerns that may be well addressed within the brief therapy model include, but are not limited to:

  • Mild to moderate anxiety (stress, worry, guilt) and depression symptoms (sadness, irritability, anger)
  • Adjustment and phase of life (adjustment to college, graduation, life transition)
  • Identity development (e.g., personal, racial/cultural, sexual, gender, spirituality)
  • Interpersonal concerns (family, friends, romantic partners, roommates)
  • Grief or loss
  • Academic performance or motivation
  • Effects of trauma or interpersonal violence
  • Mild to moderate substance use concerns
  • Some body image and eating concerns

Counseling Services acknowledges the inherent limitations of providing mental health care in a university setting. Students requesting or requiring consistent weekly, specialized, or intensive clinical services, or with needs that otherwise cannot be accommodated through our brief services may be best served by community providers. Students can meet with our Referral Coordinator for assistance in finding an off-campus provider.

Concerns that are best served by off-campus referrals include, but are not limited to:

  • Eating disorders without medical stabilization or requiring intensive treatment
  • Significant alcohol or drug use requiring specialized care
  • Non-suicidal self-injury that causes significant injury or is increasing in frequency or severity
  • History of chronic hospitalization or suicidality
  • Needs requiring immediate intensive care (e.g., severe disruption in day-to-day functioning)
  • Needs assessed to best benefit from more than weekly sessions or long-term treatment or students seeking guaranteed weekly sessions

Services that are NOT available through Counseling Services include

  • Intensive outpatient or inpatient treatment
  • Mandated assessments and/or treatment
  • Evaluation to diagnose and/or treat ADHD, or other neurological/neurodevelopmental concerns
  • Evaluation or letters for emotional support animals
  • Psychological assessments or evaluations for selection, performance prediction, or forensic purposes (e.g., professional school application, employment security assessment, litigation, or legal adjudications)
  • Family Therapy

Notice to Students Seeking Psychiatric Evaluations or Medication Management

  • Counseling Services does NOT provide psychiatric care internally. Our staff can help students connect with psychiatric services available through local resources.

Other reasons a student may be ineligible for services or offered a referral to off campus provider:

  • Demonstrated lack of motivation, poor compliance with treatment recommendations, or failure to comply with critical directives
  • A pattern of missed appointments (no-shows or late cancellations/reschedules)
  • Students who are receiving therapy with another mental health provider
  • Students seeking therapy for the sole purpose of obtaining documentation for another office (e.g., Disabilities Resources, Residence Life, etc.)
  • Students seeking services while outside the state of NC (e.g., away over summer break, Study abroad or Study USA, etc.). Due to state licensure laws, our clinicians only provide services to students physically located in North Carolina
  • Students required or encouraged to engage in services to meet an academic requirement or solely to gain clinical experience
  • Inappropriate, harassing, threatening, or violent language or behavior directed towards clients or staff
  • Situations that are determined by the clinician or Director of Counseling Services to be outside the scope of services

Search community provider listings on our Referral Resources page.