Counseling Services
Scope of Practice: Counseling Services
Counseling Services at the Center for Health and Counseling are here to help students deal with obstacles and challenges so they can achieve success with their academic and personal goals while at SLCC. Some reasons students may seek out therapy/come to counseling may include:
- Test anxiety
- Depression
- Trouble focusing in class
- Stress management
- Thoughts of suicide
- Help making difficult decisions
- Family strife
- Anxiety
- Loss of a loved one
- Relationship repair
- PTSD & Trauma
- Couples therapy
- LGBTQIA+ issues
- Cultural adjustment
- Racial or Gender-related stress
To be eligible for services, students must be currently enrolled for the semester during which they are seeking services at the CHC. Returning students can be seen during the summer if they completed spring semester and are enrolled in fall. Students who withdraw completely from classes during a semester are not considered to be currently enrolled, so will lose eligibility for services and will be given referrals.
- An objective, listening ear to help you set goals, work through concerns, and make changes in your life
- Experienced, licensed, culturally-aware, mental health professionals
- Weekly or bi-monthly 50-minute sessions via telehealth or in person
- Group education and therapy for additional support and peer interaction
- $15 copay per visit ($30 copay for couple therapy)
- Mental health medication management if indicated
- Any mental health condition for which the level of severity cannot be adequately addressed through time-limited outpatient therapy, including chronic suicidality, history of multiple suicide attempts, severe and chronic self-injury, history of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, severe eating disorders, severe substance use disorders
- Individuals with significant psychotic symptoms who are not willing or able to remain on psychotropic medication for stabilization of symptoms or who are at risk for progressive deterioration
- Individuals who present under the influence of alcohol or drugs who are not able to participate meaningfully in session, or with substance use that compromises ongoing therapy
- Excessive use of CHC crisis interventions services and/or an indication that weekly therapy is inadequate to address the mental health condition
- Individuals who are already engaged in an ongoing treatment relationship with another mental health provider
- Individuals who are non-compliant with counseling recommendations or have excessive no-shows or inconsistent attendance, repeated stops and starts, repeated requests to change counselors, or who, despite compliance, are not benefitting from therapy
- Mandated therapy or assessment, including therapy ordered through legal proceedings (such as substance abuse treatment, anger management, parenting education or domestic violence treatment), or therapy required by employers, government agencies, academic departments, or for class credit
- Psychological testing, forensic assessments, custody evaluations, or pre-surgical mental health evaluations. We may refer students for testing if necessary, such as for ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities.
- Formal assessment of potential dangerousness or violence
- Mental “fitness” assessments for study abroad, athletics, internships or for career fields, such as law enforcement, FBI, Peace Corps, etc.
- Assessments for the sole purpose of FML, ADA accommodations or other verification of illness.
- Legal advocacy or expert testimony for court appearances
- Family counseling
- Couple counseling where there is evidence of concurrent domestic violence or abuse
- Students under the age of 18 without parent/guardian consent
- Individuals who engage in inappropriate, disruptive, verbally abusive, threatening or violent behavior towards CHC staff or other clients
- Other situations or mental health conditions deemed to be outside the scope of services or expertise of counseling staff, or that violate professional ethics
Crisis support (walk-in Support)
For individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis:
Visit one of three CHC locations (view operating hours here). Our staff works hard to assist crisis walk-ins immediately, but please be aware there may be a short wait while we find an available provider.
Crisis walk-in visits are no charge. No insurance is required. The visit length is determined by the severity of the situation, but typically doesn’t last more than an hour.
If our office is closed, we suggest accessing one of the many resources available:
- 24-Hour Community Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 9-8-8 (call or text)
- Download SafeUT (messaging app or call 833-372-3335)
If you are in immediate danger of harm to yourself or others, please call 911.
Counseling
We provide both individual and couple counseling. Group counseling offerings vary per semester. Frequency of sessions is every other week, unless your counselor feels you need to be seen weekly. Telehealth appointments are an option, however we recommend having your initial appointment in person. You may choose to do either a phone session or a video meeting. Groups being offered at this time can be found on this website or advertised on our social media pages.
Assessment
In addition to counseling, you may need a mental health assessment to help you access other services or academic options at SLCC. Assessments are available to help you qualify and provide documentation for accommodations through our Disability Resource Center, drop or withdraw from classes after the normal deadlines through a Registration Appeal, or to submit an appeal if extenuating circumstances caused you to fall short of Satisfactory Academic Progress. Psychiatric assessment and diagnosis are also routinely conducted as part of our medication management services.
Medication Management
Some mental health conditions require treatment with medication for optimal improvement. This may include significant levels of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, post-traumatic stress, ADHD, bipolar disorder, psychosis and thought disorder. Our psychiatric nurse practitioner can provide psychiatric evaluation to diagnose your condition, as well as, prescribe and manage medications. Medication management can be provided separately or in combination with counseling by the psychiatric nurse practitioner or by one of our licensed counselors.
Making an Appointment
To make an appointment for any of our counseling services, please call our main number at 801-957-4268.
You will need to complete our intake paperwork forms prior to being seen for your appointment. These forms consist of personal information and required consent to treatment. The forms can be accessed through our online Patient Portal by clicking here. If these forms are not completed by the time of your appointment, your appointment may need to be rescheduled. Once your appointment is scheduled and your paperwork completed, your assigned provider will contact you at the start of your appointment time. Part of your first session will include a review of your paperwork as part of our informed consent.