Counseling Services

Counseling Services provides a range of clinical services to currently enrolled SUNY Morrisville students. The focus of Counseling Services is to support student mental health and wellbeing, educate the campus on mental health topics, normalize and promote utilization of mental health services, and to provide access to resources to further support mental health. Counseling Services strives to facilitate adaptation, adjustment, resilient functioning, and well-being in order to enable the student to continue enrollment in college to pursue academic, career, and personal growth with minimal disruption or delay.

The Counseling Staff care about the wellbeing of every Morrisville student and all students are welcome to access services to discuss their concerns. Counseling Services provides therapeutic interventions and if a student needs a more intensive level of care, counselors will assist them to transition to appropriate resources.

Counseling can help you develop a better understanding of yourself, your goals, your relationships with others and your environment. Counseling typically involves working one on one with a professionally trained individual to help you resolve your concerns. Counseling has been proven to be helpful with personal, social, emotional, academic, and alcohol/drug related concerns. 

Counseling Services are free of charge for students (part of the mandatory student health fee). Counseling Services are private and confidential. Information from a student’s confidential record is only released if the student gives written consent. Faculty, staff, parents, and friends do not have access to counseling records. By law, there are limited exceptions to this rule in cases of minors, health or safety emergencies, and court subpoenas. Licensed mental health professionals are mandated to report specific information only when there is the possibility of imminent harm to a student or another person, in cases of abuse of a child, or under court order. Information regarding confidentiality and limits to confidentiality is outlined in the Informed Consent form given to students during their first session.

All Counseling Services visits are scheduled by appointment. Students should call the Student Health Center at 315.684.6078 to schedule an appointment.

  • Counseling can help you develop a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your relationship to others. Counselors listen without judgment and work together with you to determine your goals.  Benefits of counseling can include increased skills in coping with relationships, increased ability to handle academic pressures, personal development, and increased confidence.
  • Consultation can address your concerns about important people and challenges in your life. Counselors provide information and materials regarding a variety of mental health topics. Consultation also includes information and resources on relaxation, meditation and other mindfulness techniques.
  • Outreach and Training: Counseling Services offer workshops, informative publications and activities on campus each semester. Look for information about our activities in the All-Campus Email Digest and on posters located throughout campus.
  • In addition to the provision of direct 1:1 counseling, the service also includes referrals off campus as appropriate (including to the SUNY Telepsychiatry Network), as well as case management and advocacy support for students.

Counseling Services utilizes a short-term treatment model in order to provide high quality mental health support to SUNY Morrisville students. Individual therapy is short-term, usually two to ten session, and focused on helping students to resolve or effectively manage a specific problem or challenge. 

Frequency of sessions is determined collaboratively between the counselor and student taking into consideration assessment, needs, and availability. Counseling Services does not maintain a formal session limit. Instead, the counselor and student will determine the number, type, and frequency of sessions that are appropriate based on the nature of the student's concerns as well as available resources. The limits to service are explained within the context of a discussion about each student's presenting concerns.

Counseling Services provides clinical mental health services to currently enrolled SUNY Morrisville students. Students become eligible for services during the first semester of enrollment, and remain eligible if continually enrolled in subsequent semesters. Students on a voluntary or involuntary leave of absence are not currently enrolled and, therefore, are not eligible for services. Student who withdraw, are suspended, or dismissed are not eligible for services. Alumni and prospective students are not eligible for services. Employees are not eligible for services.

Counseling Services does not provide direct psychiatric care or diagnostic services.

Concerns that might require referral to longer-term care include, but are not limited to:

  • Chronic suicidality and/or recent history of multiple suicide attempts
  • Serious addiction/substance misuse
  • Eating Disorders (requiring medical or psychiatric services)
  • Psychotic symptoms (requiring medical or psychiatric services)

Other reasons why we may refer individuals to community resources include, but are not limited to:

  • Client’s needs are beyond the scope of practice available at counseling services
  • Poor compliance or lack of engagement with counseling services and recommendations
    • Consistent missing of appointments 
  • Harassing, inappropriate, dangerous, or threatening behaviors
  • Mandated or required treatment, including but not limited to:
    • Counseling ordered through legal proceedings, such as substance abuse treatment, alcohol education, anger management, parenting education, or domestic violence treatment
    • Counseling required by employers, government agencies, academic departments, or classes
  • Comprehensive psychological evaluation of any type, including but not limited to:
    • Neuropsychological evaluations
    • Forensic assessments
    • Custody evaluations
    • Assessment and documentation for service or emotional support animals
    • Fitness-for-duty evaluations
    • Pre-surgical mental health evaluations

For free and immediate support, refer to the numbers below:

  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
  • SUNY Crisis Text Line: Text Got5U to 741-741
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 800.273.TALK (8255) or online chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org

For all emergencies, call 911.

Therapy Assistance Online (TAO)

TAO is a free and private self-help platform available to all members of the SUNY Morrisville campus community. Start using TAO by registering with your SUNY Morrisville email.

TAO includes over 150 brief, effective, educational sessions covering over 50 common topics and skills related to mental health, wellness, and substance use issues. TAO Includes interactive sessions, mindfulness exercises and practice tools all aimed at helping you achieve your goals.

Click here for more information on Therapy Assistance Online (TAO)

 

For informational purposes only, Counseling Services offers access to free, confidential, and anonymous online screening tools. A screening takes only a few minutes to complete. You will receive an interpretation of your results based on the answers you provided.

Note: These screening tools are meant to be indicators only and do not replace a full assessment by a qualified clinician. If you are at all worried about your results, we urge you to seek support from a mental health professional or call Counseling Services at 315.684.6078 to schedule an appointment.

MindWise Screening CCAPS-Screen

Mental Health Outpatient Services

Madison County Mental Health, 315.366.2327

Liberty Resources (Oneida, NY), 315.363.0048

Family Counseling Services (Madison County), 315.280.0400

Chenango County Behavioral Health, 607.337.1600

 

Substance Use Outpatient Services

Family Counseling Services (Madison County), 315.280.0400

Helio Health’s Regional Open Access Center, 24 hour Hotline, 315.471.1564

Bridges (MCCASA), 315.697.3947

What is mental health counseling and who is it for?

Mental health counseling provides short-term support for students who are struggling with issues including depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, adjustment, and a range of other personal challenges. The service is free for students currently enrolled in classes at SUNY Morrisville. 

I do not know if my problems are “that bad”. Should I still see a mental health counselor?

Whether your feel your struggles are big or small, if they are impacting you personally and/or academically, we are here for you. Reaching out is a sign of strength!

How do I make an appointment to meet with a mental health counselor?

Students should call the Student Health Center at 315.684.6078 to schedule an appointment to see one of our counselors.

Is Counseling Services confidential?

YES! Counseling Services are private and confidential. Information contained in a student’s confidential record is only released if the student gives written consent. Counseling records are not kept as part of the academic record. Counseling Services staff will not answer questions about a student from parents, family members, friends, significant others, faculty/staff, employers, or anyone else. By law, there are limited exceptions to this rule in cases of minors, health or safety emergencies and court orders. Information regarding confidentiality and limitations to confidentiality are outlined in the Informed Consent form given to students during the first meeting.

What happens if a student needs immediate support or to contact a mental health professional after hours?

Counseling Services is NOT a crisis response service, nor is it equipped to provide emergency care. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency please utilize the free and immediate support numbers below:

  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
  • SUNY Crisis Text Line: Text Got5U to 741-741
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 800.273.TALK (8255) or online chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org

For all emergencies, call 911.

Consultation – mental health counselors are available to provide consultation and guidance to college faculty and staff who have concerns about a student or situation involving students. Mental health counselors can help faculty and staff develop action plans for navigating difficult classroom/student situations. Mental health counselors cannot provide faculty or staff with any identifying or specific student information unless written permission is given by the student.

Supporting Students 

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