Counseling FAQ
What is counseling?
Counseling is a safe and confidential space for individuals to share their concerns with a trained, caring professional. Through the counseling process a student can clarify thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sessions also provide an opportunity to learn and practice skills for a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Common presenting student concerns in counseling:
- Homesickness
- Adjustment issues
- Academic stress
- Feeling overwhelmed, suicidal or hopeless
- Anxiety and panic
- Depression
- Disordered eating and body image
- Relationship stress and conflict
- Family issues
- Drug and alcohol issues
- Insomnia and sleep problems
- Trauma
- LGBTQIA+ identity exploration
- Stress and trauma around racial injustice
- Exploring intersectional identities
- Stress management
- Exploring and improving on overall wellness
Is there a fee for counseling?
No. Counseling is free to all enrolled SLU students and we do not bill insurance.
What are the hours and Location?
We are located at 76 Park Street and we are open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM -4:30 PM.
Is Counseling confidential?
Yes, confidentiality is respected by all staff members at the Diana B. Torrey '82 Health and Counseling Center. Both law and the ethics of professional practice require that information discussed during counseling sessions be kept strictly confidential. Confidential information about a student's visit to the Counseling Center cannot be released without the student's written consent. Please read our confidentiality policy for more information.
How long will I have to wait to get an appointment with a counselor?
The counseling center is committed to seeing students as quickly as possible. We do our best to schedule appointments within one to two weeks. During our peek stress times it may take longer to see a counselor. Same day appointments are available if a student is experiencing an urgent or crisis situation. These appointments are triaged through a symptom checklist and are on a first come first serve basis. SLU's Crisis and Counseling Helpline is available to students 24/7 as an additional resource by calling 315-229-1914.
How long are appointments and how long does counseling last?
Counseling appointments usually range from 45 minutes to an hour. They are often scheduled on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. During more busy times in the semester counseling sessions may need to be scheduled less frequently as we want to provide all students with support that are requesting our services. We do not have session limits, rather the student and counselor will work to determine the appropriate duration of counseling, taking into consideration the acuity of the presenting issue and balancing the needs of other students.
Can I change counselors?
Yes, we want students to find the best fit in a counselor for them, however, we encourage you to communicate with your current counselor your concerns or needs you have for counseling.
What if I can't make my scheduled appointment?
We understand that students occasionally need to change or cancel an appointment due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness or an academic conflict. Students should call the office at least 24 hours before their scheduled appointment (315-229-5392). This allows us time to schedule another student that may be waiting for an appointment. Repeated no-shows for scheduled appointments will result in the cancellation of future recurring appointments and the student will need to call our office to reschedule.
Can I continue to use Zoom for a counseling session rather than in-person after the pandemic?
St. Lawrence University intends to return to a fully in-person residential experience in the fall of 2021. This includes student support services such as counseling. On occasion there may be a reason to utilize zoom for a counseling session but in-person counseling will be the expected standard of practice.