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FAQ's
Why do individuals come to the Counseling Center?
What services are offered by the Counseling Center?
What services are available for alcohol and drug problems?
What are my responsibilities in counseling?
How do I start the counseling process?
Do I have to pay?
How many sessions would be available to me?
How many sessions do individuals usually attend?
How long do sessions last?
How long do I have to wait once I call to schedule an appointment?
What can I expect during my first appointment?
If I would like to meet with a different counselor, what should I do?
What happens if I miss my scheduled appointment?
What if I have concerns about another individual?
Is everything that I say to the counselor confidential?
What kinds of tests are available?
Can I obtain or renew prescription medication for mental health concerns?
Why do individuals come to the Counseling Center?
During your years in college you will have many opportunities to develop your academic and career interests, form close relationships, examine your values and beliefs, and learn about the world around you. These opportunities can often feel exciting and engaging, but they can also be stressful. Problems with sleeping, anxiety about tests, difficulties with friends and loved ones, and uncertainty about the future are common complaints of college students. We work with students who are just starting to experience problems as well as with those who have struggled for a long time with psychological difficulties. Above all, we want to help you learn ways to achieve positive mental health and to avoid serious emotional distress so that you can make the most out of your Lafayette experience.
The following list includes typical goals that students have for counseling:
- Enhancing relationships with friends and family
- Managing stress more effectively
- Exploring issues related to one's sexuality
- Improving academic performance
- Coping with the loss of a loved one
- Overcoming loneliness or homesickness
- Reducing preoccupation with weight, food, and exercise
- Reducing alcohol and drug-related problems
- Recovering from sexual assault or abuse
- Coping with acts of discrimination
- Overcoming depression
- Reducing anxiety
- Making decisions about transferring or withdrawing from college
- Helping a friend
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What services are offered by the Counseling Center?
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What services are available for alcohol and drug problems?
Alcohol and drug use can interfere with your ability to achieve your goals. Counselors can help you learn more about how your drinking or drug use is affecting your life and work with you to make changes that can improve your health and well-being. If you violate the College's alcohol and drug policy you may be referred to the Center by the Office of the Dean of Students. In this situation, the Dean of Students will ask for permission for us to confirm your attendance at an alcohol and drug evaluation, but no other information will be shared. Alcohol and drug evaluations are conducted in a non-judgmental manner with an emphasis on helping you to set your own goals for change. If alcohol and drug use is interfering with your ability to function in a demanding college environment, your counselor may refer you to an outside alcohol and drug treatment program.
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What are my responsibilities in counseling?
In order to make the most of your counseling experience it is best to attend your scheduled sessions, talk about what is bothering you as openly and honestly as possible, and challenge yourself to explore new ways of meeting the challenges you face.
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How do I start the counseling process?
Appointments may be scheduled by calling the Counseling Center at 610-330-5005. Students may also stop by the Counseling Center (Bailey Health Center - 2nd floor) and talk to the secretary to set up an appointment. IF YOU ARE HAVING AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AT 610-330-4444.
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Do I have to pay?
All Counseling Center services are provided free of charge.
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How many sessions would be available to me?
Students may meet with a counselor for up to 15 sessions each academic year. There is no limit for group sessions or consultation appointments.
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How many sessions do individuals usually attend?
Usually students start to notice positive changes after just a few meetings, and the average number of counseling sessions at Lafayette is about 4.
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How long do sessions last?
Counseling sessions typically last 45 to 50 minutes. When you schedule your first appointment, you may be asked to arrive a few minutes early to complete your initial paperwork.
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How long do I have to wait once I call to schedule an appointment?
Typically, you will be seen within a day or two of making your appointment, depending on your schedule. During certain times of the semester the wait may be somewhat longer. If you are having an emergency, please let the secretary know so you can be seen as soon as possible.
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What can I expect during my first appointment?
During your first appointment, you will be asked to complete confidential forms that ask you to give us some background information about you and your family as well as to describe the reasons for seeking counseling. When you meet with your counselor, he or she will likely review the information on the form and ask you to describe more fully your reasons for seeking counseling. Some students are very clear about why they have come to see a counselor while others are not as sure. You and your counselor can use the first meeting to clarify your goals and to begin to identify some possible ways to achieve these goals. At the end of the first session, you and your counselor will decide together whether or not you would like to arrange another session.
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If I would like to meet with a different counselor, what should I do?
Our approach to counseling uses weekly feedback to make sure that students are seeing improvements in the concerns that brought them to counseling. If for any reason you don't feel that there is a good fit between you and your counselor, we are happy to arrange for you to meet with another counselor at the Center or to provide referrals to mental health professionals in the Lehigh Valley. You may speak directly with your counselor regarding this, or you may inform the secretary that you would like to reschedule with a different counselor.
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What happens if I miss my scheduled appointment?
If you are unable to keep an appointment or if you wish to discontinue counseling, it is very important that you call the Counseling Center as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment. If you miss a scheduled appointment and do not call within 48 hours to reschedule, you will be sent a reminder letter through campus mail. We do not hold appointment times for students who do not call to reschedule after missing a session.
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What if I have concerns about another individual?
The Counseling Center provides consultations for students who are concerned about friends or family members. We will work with students on how to express their concerns in a respectful and effective manner, and we provide information about campus and local resources. In situations where it is apparent that the student of concern may be engaging in behaviors that present a danger to themselves or to others, the counselor will consult with the College's Behavioral Health and Safety Review Team in order to assure that the student receives the assistance they need.
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Is everything that I say to the counselor confidential?
All of your information about your contacts with a counselor will be kept confidential with the following exceptions:
- In situations involving: 1) danger or risk to yourself, 2) danger or risk to an individual(s) who is identified specifically, 3) child abuse or 4) dependent adult abuse, your counselor is required to contact other people in order to protect you or others. Such individuals could include parents or guardians, off-campus medical and mental health professionals, certain college officials, and police and campus public safety officials.
- In certain legal situations, including court orders, your counselor is required to disclose information as necessary to comply with the law in that situation.
In a situation occurs where your counselor decides that it is necessary to contact a third party, he or she will make every effort to fully discuss the reasons for the disclosure and will limit the information that is revealed to what is necessary in his/her professional judgment.
If you would like us to release information about your contacts with the Counseling Center to another person, we will ask that you sign a consent form. Please be advised that once this information is released, we cannot guarantee that it will remain confidential.
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What kinds of tests are available?
The Center offers a number of assessments of career and personality styles to enhance your understanding of your strengths and interests. Personality instruments can also be used with groups to enhance understanding of group interactions. The Center does not provide testing for learning disabilities.
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Can I obtain or renew prescription medication for mental health concerns?
The Center's psychologists do not prescribe medication. If you wish to receive a consultation on whether or not medication can be helpful please call the Bailey Health Center at (610) 330-5001 (x5001 from on campus) to request a meeting with a consulting psychiatrist.
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