| Counseling
& Health Services |
| Counseling Services |
| Personal concerns and challenges are
a normal part of the college experience. Students frequently seek
counseling for help with family or relationship difficulties, depression
or anxiety, or dealing with stressful events. We offer crisis intervention
during regular working hours, confidential short-term individual and
group counseling, workshops on requested topics, and consultation.
Appropriate community referrals are provided when necessary. |
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|
| Wondering about depression/alcohol/anxiety? Take an anonymous self-test! |
| Location & Hours |
| Suite 107, Ellison Campus Center,
North Campus 978-542-6410 |
Monday, Wednesday,
Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| During summer
and college breaks: |
Monday – Friday 8:30
am - 4:30 pm |
| What
to do if you have a mental health emergency or crisis |
During
business hours
You may come to Counseling Services without an appointment during normal
business hours. |
After
business hours and on campus
For a mental health emergency that can not wait for normal business hours,
that is, an emergency that occurs at night and on weekends, contact Campus
Police at 978-542-6111 or your RA or Resident Director. |
After business hours
and off campus
For a mental health emergency that can not wait for normal business hours,
that is, an emergency that occurs at night or on weekends, contact: |
- 911 - your local police emergency service;
- Your usual healthcare provider, e.g., your therapist, primary
care doctor, clinic, or HMO;
- Or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room
|
|
| Reasons to seek
counseling |
| Students seek counseling help
for a range of reasons including, but not limited to: |
Depression
Anxiety
Family problems
Relationship concerns
Sexual Issues
Traumatic experiences
Coping with racial/ethnic bigotry or discrimination |
Domestic violence
Identity Issues
Stress
Grief and Bereavement
Sexual orientation questions
Concentration problems
Controlling angry impulses
Balancing college-work-family life |
|
| How to make
an appointment |
| Call 978-542-6410 or come
to the office at ECC Suite 107 to make an appointment. Usually appointments
are available within one week. In cases where more urgent needs require
an appointment sooner, that can be arranged and you will be seen immediately. |
| Once you make
an appointment |
| When a student meets with
a counselor, the first few sessions are focused on identifying the problem/s
and determining the best coping strategy. For many students, by the third
session the issue is resolved or the student experiences sufficient relief
to end meetings. For other students, additional counseling sessions may
be helpful. If so, we offer to meet for short-term counseling, which usually
means to the end of the semester. For others it may be determined that the
services we provide are not the most appropriate: in these cases we work
with the student to locate providers who can meet their counseling needs. |
| Confidentiality |
Your privacy is covered by
state law. What you discuss in counseling sessions is confidential, meaning
that it will be discussed only in confidential staff and supervision meetings
in CHS. Information about you or any contact with us will not be released
to anyone unless you give your explicit consent. Notes kept of counseling
sessions are only for use in working with you and never become a part of
your student record. [read more]
However, there are important
exceptions: |
- If, in our professional judgement, you are in real danger of seriously
harming yourself or others
- If current child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of a disabled person
is involved
- Under rare circumstances, if a court of law orders that we provide
information, or where otherwise required by law
|
| Counseling E-mail
Policy |
| E-mail is not a confidential
form of communication. SSC, like many other employers, reserves the right
to monitor e-mail usage, so your privacy is not guaranteed. Also, although
we check our e-mail often, we make no promise concerning when or how often
e-mail is read. You have no way of knowing whether the recipient is unavailable
due to vacation, illness, or other reason. Therefore, your message may not
be read promptly. Instead, contact the office or your counselor at 978-542-6410. |
| Consultations |
| Counseling Services
staff is available to students, faculty, administrators, and concerned others
for consultation on mental health-related issues. In any consultation, the
confidentiality of our student clients is always preserved, as appropriate
and required by law. |
| Outreach |
| We interact with
the SSC community through various outreach activities such as workshops
on requested topics. Student groups and faculty may request a presentation
by contacting the office at 978-542-6410. Recent topics have included: Identifying
Eating Disorders; Assertiveness; A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Stress
Management; Diversity Issues and Student Leadership; Grief and Bereavement. |
| Counseling Links |
| The links provided
are for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical
or professional advice. If you are an SSC member, contact CHS at 978-542-6410
to arrange a consultation. [Links
page] |
