How do I meet with a counselor?
Step 1 -- Contact
- Students may come in during our daily drop-in to talk to an on-call counselor. OR…
- You may choose to schedule an intitial intake session with a counselor.
What should I expect before coming in?
Drop-in sessions are available between 1:00 to 4:45pm. It is highly advisable for students to come in no later than 4:00 PM as students meet with a counselor on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis.
Students who prefer to schedule an initial session will be scheduled for either an appointment later that same day or an appointment during the next business day. Please call 346-3227 or stop by the Counseling Center to schedule an appointment.
Please be aware that there can be a high demand for counseling services and limited resources available. As a result, if students are late or do not show up for their scheduled initial session, they may miss their chance to talk to a counselor during a scheduled initial appointment. In this case, students are always welcome to return to the counseling center during our daily, Monday-Friday 1:00 to 4:45pm, drop-in hours to discuss their concerns with a counselor.
Step 2 -- Arrival
- Arrive to your appointment 15 minutes early to fill out some paperwork
- You will need your student ID number to check-in
Note about your first visit: Before meeting with a counselor, students need to present their student ID so that staff can verify enrollment. Additionally, students will be asked to complete a few information forms on the computer. During the initial session, the drop-in counselor will assess the nature and urgency of the student’s concern and, together with the student, determine a cause of action. Options may include for the student to return for a few problem-solving sessions, to engage in brief individual or couple’s counseling, to participate in a support/ therapy group or assisted with a referral to another resource/ community therapist/ treatment center.
Step 3 – Meet
During the initial screening, a counselor will...
- review your situation and needs
- answer any questions you may have
- help you determine next steps
Your counselor will take advantage of many options for counseling...
- individual or group counseling at the UCTC
- counseling in the community
- health, medical, and psychiatric referrals
- referrals to other campus resources
- referrals for specialized care
Note about referrals: Referrals to a community therapist might be appropriate if it seems the student would benefit from longer term therapy, the concerns presented require an expertise or treatment modality not available at the UCTC or if there is a waitlist for ongoing sessions and the student’s needs are time sensitive. If a referral is indicated, counselors work closely with the student to identify resources or community therapists/ treatment centers that would be a good match in regards to the needs and financial means of the student. Counselors gladly assist students with contacting community therapists/ agencies to set up first appointments.
Step 4 -- Connect
Depending upon what you and your intake counselor decide, Step 4 may look different depending on your unique situation. For students receiving services at the UCTC, your intake counselor will help match you with a staff therapist for counseling. Our counselors work with UO undergraduates, graduates and professional students who are experiencing a wide variety of personal, psychological, and academic problems.
Learn more about how individual counseling and group counseling work.