Counseling Services

How to Make an Appointment

Individuals may schedule an initial appointment by calling or visiting any of the ASU counseling centers. Most appointments may be made the same day or within 24 hours. At the appointment, the counselor will assess the student's needs and make recommendations for appropriate services, either focused time limited services at an ASU counseling center or through an appropriate off campus provider.

Because email is not a confidential means of communication, ASU Counseling staff do not communicate via email.

Individual Counseling

In individual counseling, clients meet with a counselor to discuss concerns and learn coping strategies in a private, confidential setting. The counselor will collaborate with the student to set counseling goals and evaluate progress toward those goals. Individual counseling services at ASU are time-limited.

Group Counseling

ASU counseling centers offer therapy groups and psycho-educational workshops. Group therapy can be the treatment of choice for individuals who have concerns about interpersonal relationships, assertiveness, anxiety, depression, loneliness, shyness, and many other concerns.

In group, members can learn from others' experiences, receive and give feedback, practice skills, receive support, and learn that they are not alone in their concerns.
Groups offer clients the unique opportunity to share personal concerns in a safe, supportive environment and to learn new skills for dealing with their concerns.

See each campus counseling center's website for more information about groups offered at that site.

Psychiatry

Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners are on staff at the ASU Health Center at the Downtown Phoenix Campus and the ASU Tempe Campus counseling centers. Clients are referred to a psychiatric provider by their counselor. They may not self-refer to a psychiatric provider.

At the first appointment, which lasts approximately an hour, the psychiatric provider will ask questions to assess your symptoms and concerns. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have. If medication is prescribed, the provider will see you for frequent medication checks to assess how the medication is working and to monitor any potential side effects. Usually, psychiatric services are provided until the student is stabilized on an appropriate medication (typically after two to three months), then the student is referred to a psychiatrist in the community for ongoing services.

Crisis Services

ASU counseling centers provide crisis intervention for students who are experiencing a mental health crisis. During normal working hours, students may contact any ASU counseling center to request a same day appointment to discuss urgent situations.

After office hours, EMPACT Suicide Prevention Center, Inc. is available for crisis consultation by calling 480.921.1006.

If You Are Concerned About a Student

Faculty, staff, and parents can be very helpful in helping a student in distress to access counseling services. ASU counseling center staff offer consultation assistance to concerned parents, faculty, staff, and other students who have concerns about a student.

By speaking with a counselor, you can receive information about how to talk with a student experiencing difficulties and how to access various resources. You may call any ASU counseling center and ask to speak to a counselor who will help you decide what options are available.

If a crisis occurs on or near campus students, faculty, and staff may be affected. ASU counseling service staff will schedule meetings with groups of faculty, staff, and students who have been affected by a crisis. To request this service, please contact any ASU counseling center.

Confidentiality

Counseling at ASU counseling centers is confidential and is most effective when a student can be direct and honest with a counselor without fear that personal information will be shared.

Counselors do not release information about a student (age 18 or older) without that student's written permission, except, as directed by Arizona law, in cases of imminent danger to self or others, child/dependent abuse, court order, or where otherwise required by law. Notations of counseling are not part of a student's university records.

For individuals under the age of 18, one assessment session is provided. Further services require a parent's or legal guardian's notarized signature on the "Parental Consent for Services for Underage ASU Students."

When couples seek services, a case file will be created for the purpose of documentation of the services received. Documentation of individual counseling sessions will not be included in the "couples" file.

In order to provide quality care, counselors may consult with or receive supervision from another member of our professional staff concerning the service we are providing.

Information about the characteristics of the individuals who use counseling services and the services clients have received is maintained in a secure, electronic database. This information is gathered for the purposes of program evaluation, and, in selected situations, research studies. Data is only provided in summarized form and will not identify individual clients.

Client Rights

Clients have the right to:

Receive services regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation
Receive information about the methods being used, and the training background and credentials of the counselor
Refuse treatment at any time.
File a complaint about services with the Director.
Review clinical records in the presence of a counselor, unless in the opinion of the counselor the information would be harmful to the client or to the client's progress.
Request and be granted a change in assigned clinician. The request may be made to the assigned clinician or to the Director.

Outreach Services

ASU counseling staff provide preventive and educational interventions through outreach programs offered to student organizations, residence halls and academic classes. Counseling center staff provide staff, academic advisors, residence hall staff, and faculty with training in identifying and assisting students who may be experiencing depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, or other risky behavior.

Outreach topics might be in areas such as academic skills, personal concerns, career choice, or interpersonal relationships.

Consultation Services

ASU counseling center staff offer consultation assistance to concerned parents, faculty, staff, and students who have concerns about an ASU student. By speaking with a counselor, you can receive information about how to talk with a student experiencing difficulties and how to access various resources. You may call any ASU counseling center and ask to speak to a counselor who will help you decide what options are available.