[cinnamondolce11]

It's really cheap to go to the mental health center at my campus, but I've heard a lot of bad stories about people being turned away if they're suffering from anything worse than mild depression/stress. I really don't want to work up the courage to go and be turned away..... Has anyone had experiences with their college's mental health center? Were they helpful or did they just refer you somewhere else/the hospital?

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It doesn't surprise me that they don't handle more than mild issues. Many school-based services are often staffed by counselors rather than actual therapists; it's a difference in training level and level of services involved. For the most part, they do short-term counseling with stressed students.

That said, my first therapist actually was through my university (mind you, that was 30 years ago), and he did work with me long-term, but I think even then that was unusual. He was wonderful, but I suspect they don't really provide long-term services anymore.

You might call and talk to someone there to see if yours is a case they would serve more long-term, and if not, they probably can make recommendations to help you find someone nearby.

[ThisWayOut]

I found one of my bestt's at the university's mental health services. I guess it depends on the school. That one was staffed with a combination of licensed therapists and students working towards their doctorate or licensing. They handled a wide variety of issues (and I believe still do). It was also a huge university with multiple mental health clinics, one run by each department offering a degree in a mental health field in addition to the one associated with the school's health center. I was dealing with a moderate eating disorder, severe depression, dissociation, and self harm at the time, and they not only kept seeing me, but helped keep me in school at least part time so I could finish my degree and not have to return to a really crappy home environment. That said, one of the girls in my dorm made a serious suicide attempt and they referred her out (and she left school)...
I think calling them to ask about their services may be a good idea. If they handle mostly mild depression and stress or anxiety, they will be able to tell you.

[laxer12]

A lot of universities will limit your number of sessions so that may be why they will refer you out if you have something a little more serious or something that may take a little more time to work through. I think my university limited it to 10 or 12 sessions per school year which is only about 3 months if you go every week.

I tried my university's counseling center during undergrad but I only went three times. I think it was more that I just didn't connect with the therapist than anything else. I'm in grad school now at a different university and I considered going to the university for counseling. However, I wanted the option to go long term if I wanted/needed so instead I found an affordable T who works in a local community practice. I've been seeing her now for 6 months so for me, I think it was a good choice.

I say give it a try though! If they decide to refer you out, they've done the work for you of finding someone who can help you out.

[stopdog]

Some of the students at my university report they have found the counseling center useful.

[feralkittymom]

Univ centers are under tremendous pressure for the last several years due to increasing demand for services and funding cut-backs--as well as some changes and lack of clarity in federal regulations that have potentially increased liability for universities. I would definitely call and inquire. Many school insurance policies allow for a certain number of free sessions, so you could take advantage of that to assess whether they can meet your needs.

I had a great experience at my Univ center, but it was 30 years ago, and the center was APA accredited for internships. So the staff was very highly credentialed: a full-time psychiatrist; several PhD psychologists; many MSW/LCSW therapists in addition to MA and postdoc interns. My T was the director, supervising the interns, and I was able to see him at very low cost for an unlimited time. When I was no longer student eligible, I switched to his private practice. I don't know if such a long-term arrangement would be possible now. If a client was actively suicidal and needed inpatient care, they were referred to the local hospital; but other than that, the severity of a condition wasn't an issue because the staff was large and credentialed.

[critterlady]

The counseling center at my university limits each student to about 12 individual sessions per academic year. With over 20,000 students, they really have to do that, or they'd be swamped. They're excellent with short-term issues - transitioning to academic life, stress, grief, relationship problems, things like that. They're staffed with psychiatrists and licensed psychologists for most individual therapy, with grad student interns for group therapy and some individual work.

If a student needs longer-term therapy, the center refers them to someone on a list of recommended therapists in the community who are on their insurance or will work on a sliding scale for students. The list is pretty tough to get on - the school vets the therapists on it pretty thoroughly before referring students.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by critterlady

The list is pretty tough to get on - the school vets the therapists on it pretty thoroughly before referring students.

At my school - everyone is super tweaky about not getting the university sued - so they do go to extreme lengths before putting people on lists like this.

[cinnamondolce11]

thanks for your fast replies everyone! they were very reassuring. logically I know it can't hurt to at least ask and see, but it's hard to convince myself of that! also, can school therapists share what you tell them with the university? for one, I work for the university and don't really want my boss to know I'm in therapy. Also, I've been accepted to study abroad in the fall and there were multiple questions about seeing a counsellor/psych meds/personality disorders on the application. Could a therapist share my medical info with the school and prevent me from going????? sorry for the bombardment of questions I just can't find any answers to this and I don't trust the university to give me a straight answer

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[Ididitmyway]

My first therapy experience (as a client) was at the college where I was taking general psychology classes. They offered a limited number of session (it was 8) to anyone who cared to use some counseling. I didn't hear of anyone being turned down on the basis of the severity of their problem or for any other reason, but, as I said, a number of sessions was very limited - only 8. But that was about 15 years ago. I don't know how they do thigs now.

As to your records, your health information cannot be shared without your permission with anyone except in some extraordinary circumstances. However, technically, the file with your records belongs to the university and those who work at the univiersity health center or counseling center will have an access to it. But no one outside of that department will have that access, and certainly not your boss, nor would anyone from the counseling center share your information with outsiders. So, your boss definitely wouldn't know. If he gets your information somehow, that would mean someone broke the law, but I don't believe they would do that.

[ThisWayOut]

double-check about the sharing of info, but generally it is limited to the individual department within the university. I had to sign a release if I wanted to allow my therapist to write a letter to dean of the university to keep me in school... In the US, it falls under HIPPA so they technically cannot share info without consent.

[feralkittymom]

HIPAA notwithstanding, there have been several cases fairly recently, often as a result of lawsuits, in which counseling health records have been shared with non-counseling Univ officials. In some cases, Universities have used such records to prevent students from matriculating. You are wise to be cautious about this. It stems from the lack of clarity I referenced in federal regulatory changes, and as far as I know, those issues have not been further clarified. As Stopdog mentioned, some Universities' practices are being very influenced by concerns of liability.

As far as the study abroad applications, while it's understandable that schools want to do a bit of vetting of students' psychological health in order to protect them in overseas environments in which psychological support options may be very different, it does open up potential for changes in confidentiality. I think if I were in your position, I would seek help outside the University.

Just as an example of where this lack of clarity originates (and how it really hasn't been settled at this point) a case discussion: https://home.campusclarity.com/when-ferpa-meets-hipaa/

[dj315]

I'm almost positive this applies to every university (HIPPA), but I know at my university, they don't and can't tell anyone about anything you discuss in a session unless you're planning on harming yourself or someone else. I've been seeing a therapist at my university's counseling services for free for 2 school years now. 99.9% of the therapists are LCSWs (there's one clinical nurse specialist), so they don't do med management/chronic treatment period, but I think technically they're supposed to limit the amount of sessions you go in for. There was talk of a wait list (I was put at the "top" because I was physically ill and on the verge of not being able to function from my anxiety and was referred from the school's health services and when I asked my therapist about this "list", he did say there was one). But this mysterious list stopped being mentioned eventually, and I was never told that I had to stop.

I don't know if my therapist was supposed to let me keep coming in, but I've been going on a consistent every other week basis, and it was even at every week for a month or two this past semester. Granted, I go to a relatively small university (~7500 students), so it might not be as big of a deal. As far as my experiences, I got lucky and was placed with a therapist who has been perfect for what I needed. It has been more than helpful for me. Unfortunately, my school decided to stop hiring contract therapists next year, and he was one of them (as are like 5 or 6 others). So there's always that chance of sudden termination with little warning. It shook me for a few days and then I was fine, but I know some people become pretty attached, so that's a strong negative for relying on campus services.

At the very least, you should try. If they do turn you away, ask for suggestions or referrals to therapists in the community based on what you need and can afford. And I really wouldn't worry about being prevented from going on study abroad unless you're suicidal or homicidal. They have to maintain your confidentiality and won't share anything without your permission, and it's hard to think of a reason they would want to share anything.

[divine1966]

When I was in my masters program I saw a therapist there and she was very inexpensive almost free. She was good but it didn't much for me as I wS too busy with full time job little kid and school at night so I used my therapy as small talk time. We also often discussed politics or world news etc she was very intellectual. My daughter had therapy at her university that was actually free and it was good too

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