Common Question About Mental Health and Wellness Services
How do I know if I need counseling?
We meet with students with a wide range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, homesickness, loneliness, loss, sexual orientation, gender identity, relational, eating disorders, trauma, and many others.
How do I make an appointment?
Mental Health and Wellness Services offers individual, couples, and group mental health services. We also provide outreach programs and consultation services to students, faculty, and staff, as well as classroom instruction, training and advocacy for university-wide mental health and wellness initiatives.
Students can make appointments by visiting us at the Center for Mental Health and Wellness located in North Hall, Room 116, or Drubner Athletic Center, or emailing us at http://[email protected].
Students can also book a brief drop-in appointment, at any point, to discuss and set up services by also emailing http://[email protected].
Off-campus referral information is available upon request.
Students who feel they are in crisis and require emergent services, should call 911, 988, or go to their local hospital. Mental Health and Wellness Services does not provide 24/7 services to students
Do you offer Mental Health and Wellness Services to online students?
While counseling services are not offered to online students due to ethical and logistical reasons, Mental Health and Wellness Services offers numerous resources, including referral information, hotline numbers, wellness apps, and confidential online mental health screenings. Online students who are looking to engage in counseling for their mental health concerns may be able to find a local provider using Help PRO. This site helps students find a provider who matches their unique needs, location, and insurance provider.
Are mental health issues considered a disability?
Yes. If you have a documented mental health issue, please contact the Director of Title IX and Disability Services at 203.596.6027. For more information, please see Post’s Students with Disabilities.
What types of therapy do you offer?
Mental Health and Wellness Services primarily offers short-term individual therapy to Post main campus students. We also see couples and meet with students and family members. Therapy groups are created to address student needs and interests.
Mental Health and Wellness Services also provides psycho-educational programs throughout the year, such as healthy relationships, stress management (Massage Mondays, Wag Your Tail Wednesdays, Stress-Less Day), substance use awareness, STD testing, suicide awareness, and other issues relevant to the student body.
For more information regarding programs, check out the Campus Events and Activities Calendar. If there are issues that you would like the Mental Health and Wellness Services to address, please stop by or e-mail us your suggestions at [email protected]..
Do I have to have a serious psychological problem to use Mental Health and Wellness Services?
No. Students come to the Mental Health and Wellness Services with a wide range of personal issues.
How do I know if I need to see a psychiatrist?
You and your counselor will discuss whether you need to see our psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medications and has advanced training in mental health. If you and your counselor decide a psychiatric consultation would be helpful, Post University’s consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Robert McWilliam, will see you.
Will people at school know that I am coming to counseling?
No. Your relationship with your counselor is strictly confidential. We are bound by federal and state statutes as well as by professional ethics to maintain confidentiality. We may only speak to someone with your written consent. Exceptions to this rule are as follows:
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If information is shared that someone is suicidal or homicidal
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If there is suspicion of physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect involving a child under the age of 18 or an adult over the age of 65, or of anyone who is disabled
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If a court order authorizes us to release information
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A subpoena does not authorize us to release information unless it is accompanied by a court order or proper written authorization to release information provided by the client.
How much will it cost?
Counseling sessions are at no cost to all Post main campus students.
What will I do at my first appointment?
During your first meeting with your counselor, we will gather information regarding your current situation and determine how we can best help you. This is a collaborative process where you and your counselor will develop a plan that addresses your situation and works for you. Your counselor will also review your rights as a client as well as issues of confidentiality.
How often do I have to come?
You and your counselor will determine a meeting schedule. Typically, students meet with their counselor once a week for fifty minutes.
How do I cancel an appointment?
It is very important to cancel your appointment as soon as possible if you are unable to attend. Please call our office at 203.596.4585 to cancel. If you miss two appointments without canceling, we may have to stop providing services to you and offer your time to another student.
May I change therapists?
If you are uncomfortable with your counselor, it is important to discuss your feelings and concerns with your counselor to determine whether you should continue with her/him or see someone else.
Our goal is to provide high-quality counseling services to Post students. If you are dissatisfied with our services, we encourage you to discuss it with your counselor.
What about emergencies?
Students who feel they are in crisis and require emergent services, should call 911, 988, or go to their local hospital. Mental Health and Wellness Services does not provide 24/7 services to students.
How do students feel about coming to counseling?
Most students are initially nervous about coming to counseling because they do not know what to expect. Some feel that coming to counseling means that there is something “wrong” with them. However, most students find counseling to be a very productive and positive experience. Counseling is a time for students to care for themselves, step back from the pressures of school, and see a personal dilemma from a new point of view.