Individual Counseling

Counseling sessions are typically goal-oriented and focused on a specific concern. Clients referred to individual counseling on average meet with their clinician for approximately 3-5 sessions, depending on treatment needs and availability; however there is no limit to the number of sessions a student may attend.

What is counseling?

Counseling is a collaborative effort between a clinician and a client. What it looks like often depends on those involved as well as the type of presenting concern. However, there are some common goals of counseling: making positive changes, exploring a painful experience, learning new skills and strategies, breaking an unhealthy pattern, accepting and/or reducing distress, etc. All University Counseling and Wellness Center clinicians are committed to helping their clients make positive changes and improve the quality of their lives. There are no guarantees that counseling will work for you; however, based on our most recent student feedback the majority of our clients have found our services helpful. Counseling at USA UCWC is confidential, free and voluntary. Counseling sessions are typically 30-50 minutes long and happen between once a week to once a month, depending on availability.

Do I need counseling?

It depends. Not everyone who is upset needs counseling. Sometimes feeling bad is a normal reaction to painful events, unhealthy relationships, or significant changes. However, just because it is a normal reaction doesn't mean you should go through it alone. It can also be possible if you've dealt with something long enough, that it can become "normal" and easy to talk yourself out of doing something new. Some people are so embarrassed about what they feel or believe they never share it with anyone, even though it might be a common experience. Here are some things to consider as you decide if counseling is right for you. 

• Take this free, online assessment. It may highlight some potential areas of concern. Once you have that information you can decide what might be a good next step.
• Individual counseling might not be the best treatment option. For symptoms that are relatively recent and where you are able to function in most areas of your life, you may want to start out by visiting our self-help resources which provide accurate information and recommendations about how to make positive changes.
• If you are motivated to address your presenting concerns, have specific goals, and are willing to discuss them with a clinician, you may consider individual counseling. Your issue may be appropriate for our short-term treatment model. However, since we cannot provide all the services necessary to meet every student's needs, there are times we have to provide referrals for longer-term or specialized treatment.