Counseling is a confidential process designed to help you address concerns, come to a greater understanding of yourself, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies.
Counseling incorporates building a trusting, therapeutic and professional relationship with a counselor, a safe environment, and verbalizing thoughts and feelings. While this can ultimately initiate a positive change in your life, it can bring up feelings you may not have dealt with for some time. It is normal to struggle with the counseling process at first and can be very helpful to process these feelings with your counselor.
It is also time for your to focus on yourself and to learn new coping skills, tools, and insights into changing perceptions and behaviors that are negative and prevent you from becoming more resilient and independent.
Please Note: Counselors do not have authorization to excuse students from classes, housing contracts, or academic contracts.
The following are some of the things you can expect:
- For initial appointments, the counselor will want to learn more about you and your goals for counseling. The more you share about yourself, the more holistic the treatment.
- It is O.K. to ask questions of your counselor. If you want more information or clarification, make sure to ask.
- You will be treated in a professional and respectful manner by all staff.
- The session will be confidential, unless you share with the counselor that you have a plan to harm yourself or others, are aware of child abuse or neglect, or if a judge signs a subpoena ordering your records.
- If you need to leave your session early, simply let your counselor know prior to beginning the session.
- If you are fifteen minutes late to your appointment without prior notification, your counselor reserves the right to reschedule your appointment.
- Your counselor may assign you homework between sessions.
University Counseling offers counseling to enrolled students. There is no charge for the counseling sessions.
Groups
Group counseling is currently offered free of charge.
Presentations
University Counseling offers free presentations for groups on campus. If your organization is in need of a speaker on mental health topics, please contact our office for further information.
Consultation
Consultation and referral are generally offered in a single session, free of charge to OCU students.
