What
kind of counseling is provided?
The mission of Counseling Services is to provide short-term
assistance in areas of decision-making, crisis intervention, problem-solution,
adjustment, or matters of personal concern that could interfere
with a student's academic success. We offer individual and group
counseling services for a variety of issues including stress management,
communication and assertiveness skills, depression, anxiety, coping
with crises, sexual concerns, time management, biofeedback, and
more. Couples counseling is also available but those needing family
therapy for themselves and their children are referred to the community.
When time-limited service is not sufficient to meet the student's needs, the counselor will then determine if any extended care can be managed within the time and service availability of this agency or if referral alternatives within the community would be more appropriate.
Are
your staffed by professionals or students?
The staff at CS-KSU are trained professionals and consists
of licensed psychologists, masters-level therapists/counselors,
biofeedback specialists and other professionals. In addition, this
agency is a predoctoral
psychology internship site accredited by the American Psychological
Association. As such, we also have on staff several psychology interns
who are in the last stage of their doctoral program in professional
psychology; this is comparable to the residency status of a physician-in-training.
Our interns are selected each year from all over the country during
an intensive application and interview process and, once here, receive
ongoing clinical training and supervision.
Occasionally, the agency may also have 1-2 graduate students from
the Counseling & Educational Psychology department , the Psychology
Department, or the Marriage & Family Therapy graduate programs
at K-State. Trainees are assigned tasks at the level of their training/experience
and are closely supervised as part of their learning process.
Are
there limits to services we provide?
Sometimes a student's mental health needs require longer duration,
more intensive or more specialized forms of treatment than we provide
in a short-term facility. In these situations CS-KSU may provide
some assessment with the student and will facilitate referrals to
off-campus mental health providers. This is essential because CS-KSU
is not a 24-hour, comprehensive mental health agency.
What
kinds of problems do students present when they come to CS-KSU?
Information from the agency's 2003 Annual Report shows that 68%
of clients report depressive symptoms and 63% indicate stress or
anxiety concerns. Seventy percent of clients report concern in relationships,
a majority of which are around family matters. Grief or loss reactions
were present with 23% and health concerns with 13%. (note: a client
may have identified more than one problem area.)
Making decisions or resolving problems of specific situations are common points of entry for many students. The following is a list of common problems presented in the last year: stress/anxiety, situational problems, relationship issues, developmental issues, depression, academic skills, educational/vocational choice, physical problems, abuse, grief, suicidal feelings, personality problems, substance abuse, eating disorders, ACOA/Codependency, Legal Problems, Sexual Assault/Rape.
Are
there charges for the service?
Enrolled students may receive up to 4 sessions per fiscal year (July
1-June 30) at no charge. Sessions 5-10 will cost $12.00/hour, sessions
beyond 10 cost $20/hour. Psychiatric Consultations, available only
upon referral by a CS-KSU staff, cost $24/thirty-minute consultation.
After one initial free group session, therapy groups, workshops,
biofeedback
training sessions cost $5.00 per session. The office can be
contacted for information about additional fees for testing and
other services.
One free consultation session may also be possible for a those not currently registered at K-State but who are planning on attending soon or those needing information/referral to resources in the local community.
Will
students have to wait?
Our philosophy is to get students in contact with a counselor in
a timely manner. Once a currently registered student has completed
the application information online or in the office, a counselor
will make a brief contact (in person or by phone) to assist in determining
the appropriate service, help the student obtain an appointment,
or make recommendations about resources in the community if pertinent
to the student's needs. Usually an appointment at CS-KSU can be
found within a few days of that brief contact. Of course, students
in crisis, are seen ASAP that same day by a crisis on call staff
person.
Are
there services provided besides individual counseling?
Yes! For example, we offer groups
and workshops , stress
management training , performance
enhancement training for athletes, presentations
to student groups or classes on campus, career
workshops, and consultations to students/faculty/staff. And
of course, the education provided by our website's helpful
topics section. In addition, our staff teach courses, provide
clinical training, and are involved in a variety of campus committees
as a service to the campus community. Also located at our office
is the AODES office, a program that provides education about alcohol
and other drugs on campus.
Does
CS-KSU provide career counseling?
Yes! We provide career
assessment and interpretations and will assist students in addressing
career difficulties and decisions in group or individual sessions
as needed.
Do
you provide couples or family therapy?
Couples counseling may be provided as long a one member of the couple
is a registered K-State student; sometimes couples may be referred
to the community for more extensive treatment needs. If a partner
is not registered as a student and individual therapy is recommended
for the partner, the partner will be referred for that individual
service to resources in the community. Because our agency does not
work with children, couples wanting/needing family therapy that
would include their children would also be referred to resources
in the community. Further questions about couples work can be answered
by a contact with a CS counselor by calling our office at 785-532-6927.
How
private and confidential is contact with CS-KSU?
Information shared in therapy at the Counseling Services at Kansas
State University is held in strict confidence and applicants for
service are given an information sheet that describes this at the
time of their first contact.
This agency maintains records that are separate from those held
at the Student Health Center or any other agency on the K-State
campus. Confidentiality
means that what a client discusses in sessions and any written records
of contact with this office does not go on the student's academic
record, into the student's medical charts, and will not be disclosed
to any other office or individual unless the person
has signed a written release for this to occur. Our overall goal
is to make this a place where people will feel safe to talk about
personal concerns.
There are, however, some exceptions to confidentiality. Counselors
are required to release certain information in situations in which
there is potential harm to the person or danger to others, in instances
of child or elder abuse, or as a result of a court order. While
these types of events are extremely rare, it is important to note
that these possibilities exist.
In addition, files may be reviewed in the process of agency accreditation
visits by professional review teams; all materials are handled confidentially
and no materials with identifying information will leave the agency
without obtaining specific release to do so. Files are retained
for 7 years past the date of last contact and are then shredded.
However, a secure, computerized, very-limited record of the dates
of contact is retained indefinitely. Any questions about confidentiality
can be directed to our office for further details if needed.
Self-help
materials?
We have developed several brochures on common topics of interest
to many University Students. Our copyrighted "Help Yourself" Series
is available in paper format in our foyer at 232 English/Counseling
Services Building; a person can stop by and pick up a copy of any
topic of interest. These helpful
topics are also available at our website.
Will
staff give talks, presentations, or brief workshops to organizations,
classes, or campus office groups?
We are glad to take requests for presentations
and ask that requests be made at least two weeks ahead of the needed
date. If we are unable to meet the request, we will try to suggest
other options or resources to help meet your needs.
Evening
appointments?
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8-5p.m. We are unable
to offer evening appointments at this time. If your schedule requires
appointments in the evening, we recommend you contact mental health
providers in the community.
What
about parking near the Counseling Services Building?
Parking is a perennial problem on campus. We try to be
helpful by offering limited parking near our building for our clients.
There are a total of eight parking spaces clearly designated for
Counseling Services clients: four are at the side of Seaton Hall/studio
building as a person is driving towards the circle driveway on the
south side of the English/Counseling Services Building while four
are closer to the driveway entrance to the English/Counseling Services
Building .
These limited number of spaces are to be used ONLY by clients
during the brief time that they are in an appointment at the Counseling
Service.
Clients are not allowed to park there at other times of the day,
so if a client drives onto campus for an appointment and leaves
the car there to go over to the library or to a class, he/she will
likely get a parking ticket. Also, there are several handicapped
parking spaces near the building and there is a substantial fine
given for illegal parking in one of those spaces without the appropriate
sticker. The receptionist at the Counseling Services can only validate
a parking ticket for the time that a person was actually in the
office for an appointment and cannot validate a parking ticket for
illegal parking in a space designated for a handicap sticker.
Is
the building accessible?
Yes! There is an elevator available near the driveway entrance that
will provide easy access to our reception area and offices on the
second floor of the English/Counseling Services Building. Also,
the restrooms on the second floor are accessible for wheelchairs
as are all the offices at the Counseling Service.