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Berea College

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Individual counseling is an opportunity to talk with a counselor about anything you choose and work on issues the two of you have defined. Sessions generally last about 50 minutes.
Here are a few examples of the types of help available:
<ul>
<li>Treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues</li>
<li>Stress management and relaxation training</li>
<li>Couples therapy (one partner must be currently enrolled)</li>
<li>Family of origin issues</li>
<li>LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy</li>
<li>Treatment for trauma experiences (current and/or past abuse; trauma-related events)</li>
<li> Skills Training to address executive functioning (difficulty filtering distractions, prioritizing tasks, keeping items and information organized, and memory impacting academic performance).</li>
</ul>

Individual & Couple Therapy

ADHD/ADD Assessments: Available upon referral or request, with preliminary assessment from a therapist, including psychosocial history.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluations: We cannot provide assessments for autism spectrum disorder. However, <a href="https://psychologyclinic.eku.edu/">EKU Psychology Clinic</a> does offer these services at a reduced cost. For more information on assessment resources for Autism Spectrum Disorder, please visit, <a href="https://www.autismspeaks.org/resource-guide/results?service%5B1516%5D=1516&amp;&amp;location_lat=37.799041&amp;location_lng=-84.3121264&amp;center%5bcoordinates%5d%5blat%5d=37.799041&amp;center%5bcoordinates%5d%5blng%5d=-84.3121264&amp;location=50">Autism Speaks Resource Guide</a>.  
Documentation for emotional support animals:  Counseling Services does not provide documentation for Emotional Support Animals. Please review the information from <a href="https://www.berea.edu/disability-and-accessibility-services">Disability and Accessibility Services</a>, <a href="https://www.berea.edu/disability-and-accessibility-services/service-and-support-animals">Assistance Animal Policy</a>. 
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Psychological Assessments

Counseling Services offers a variety of confidential group therapy experiences. In group therapy, you can count on the expertise of the therapists who facilitate the group and get to learn along with other students experiencing similar issues.
Groups at Berea College are designed for students who want to understand themselves and others in greater depth. These may be students who have concerns about relationships with others, students who feel different from their peers because of the type of problem currently being experienced and students who make choices based on what others want or expect instead of evaluating decisions for themselves. A common theme for group participants is wanting to learn how to change thinking, feelings and behavior to feel better about themselves and cope more effectively with life.
For more information on current groups or if you have an idea for a group, don’t hesitate to contact Counseling Services.

Group Counseling

Counseling Services can also make referrals for medication management to White House Clinic.
Note: Therapists with Counseling Services are unable to prescribe medication.

Psychiatric Services

Counseling Services offers consultations regarding concerns about a student to faculty and staff as needed. Please contact Counseling Services at 859-985-3212 or e-mail <a href="mailto: counselingservices@berea.edu">Counseling Services</a>.

Consultations

If the situation is an emergency and you feel that the student is going to hurt themselves or someone else you need to:
<ol>
<li>Call Public Safety (985-3333) and let them know there is an individual who is going to hurt themselves or someone else</li>
<li>After Public Safety is contacted, call Counseling Services (985-3212)</li>
</ol>
OR
If the student is not in imminent danger of physically harming themselves or others then you should:
<ol>
<li>Call Counseling Services stating, “This is an emergency and the student needs an appointment right away.”  OR walk the student to Counseling Services to make sure he or she is seen right away.</li>
</ol>
If the College Counseling Center is closed and you have an emergency, contact Public Safety (985-3333) and the Student Life team member on duty. They will make sure the student is safe and contact one of the counselors.

What do I do in emergency situations?

<ul>
<li>Infrequent class attendance</li>
<li>Repeated requests for deadline extensions and/or serious grade problems</li>
<li>Dependency (e.g., wants others to take care of him/her)</li>
<li>Fatigue, lack of energy</li>
<li>Abrupt changes in behavior or appearance</li>
<li>Bizarre/inappropriate behavior and/or garbled disjointed thoughts</li>
<li>Know or suspect alcohol/drug abuse</li>
<li>Increased irritability</li>
<li>Highly disruptive behavior (e.g., aggression toward other people, violent outbursts, disruptions of class or work)</li>
<li>Suicidal thought (e.g. referring to suicide as a current option or indirect reference to suicide or death)</li>
<li>Normal emotions displayed for a prolonged period of time to an extreme degree</li>
<li>Uncertainty and anxiety about emotional stability, family situation and/or relationship problems</li>
</ul>

What are some of the signs indicating a possible counseling referral?

<ul>
<li>Talk to the student in private</li>
<li>Listen to thoughts and feelings, allowing the student to talk</li>
<li>Avoid criticizing, judging, and/or giving advice</li>
<li>Explore options instead of trying to “fix it” for the student</li>
<li>Emphasize that seeking help is a sign of health and maturity, not weakness</li>
<li>Contact counseling services for consultation if the student resists help and you are concerned about what to do</li>
<li>Encourage the student to contact the counseling center to make an appointment or ask the student to call to make an appointment at the Counseling Center while he or she is in your office</li>
</ul>
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How do I make a referral to a student?

We understand that you will be interested in the problems of the student you have referred, but we are bound by the principles of confidentiality as defined by the Code of Ethics &amp; Standards of the American Counseling Association.

If I refer a student to counseling, should I follow-up by calling the counseling center?

<ul>
<li>Say whether a student is being seen or has kept an appointment</li>
<li>Discuss the content of sessions</li>
<li>Discuss treatment plans or progress</li>
</ul>
Students may decide it is in their best interest to have the counseling center share information with faculty, staff, family, or significant others. This can be done after the student signs written consent and understands the purpose and content of any disclosure. The exception is when we determine that imminent danger exists to the student or others. In this case, we will inform the appropriate individuals.

What can’t the counseling center tell me?

<ul>
<li>Answer questions concerning steps to take in assisting students in coming to counseling services</li>
<li>Offer information about psychological concerns or problems in general</li>
</ul>