Services
Use the menu below to answer some questions that you may have about our Center and the counseling process. For any additional information, please feel free to contact us at 620-2602.
Counseling involves a collaborative relationship between the individual and the counselor. This dialogue aids in expanding self-awareness, identifying existing skills, learning new skills, and increasing understanding of situations, conflicts, people and choices. Counseling is a confidential process. Information you share in counseling will not be disclosed outside of the Center without your written permission (except when a failure to disclose could result in physical harm to you or others). Also, your records are not included in any of your official educational records.
Each of us will occasionally have concerns that bring about questions and conflicts. Some of these may cause us emotional stress or make it difficult to function as well as we would like. Reasons to seek counseling include, but are not limited to:
- Feeling lonely, alienated and isolated
- Finding direction and purpose
- Transition and life issues (e.g. separation, divorce, relocation)
- Relationships (e.g. families, friends, co-workers )
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
- Grief or loss
- Trauma (e.g. sexual assault, accident, catastrophic incidents)
- Drug/alcohol concerns
- Self-esteem
- Eating habits and patterns
- Academic difficulties
- Enhancing motivation and work performance
Your first meeting with a counselor is a screening session. This is an opportunity for you to share your concerns and provide background information. This information will help the Center staff to match you with the most appropriate counselor for your needs. At the conclusion of your screening session,your counselor will tell you when to contact the Center to schedule an appointment with your assigned counselor. Counselor assignments are generally made within three days of your screening session.
Information shared with your counselor will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Center's professional staff without your written permission, except when: (1) doing so might result in physical harm to yourself or others, (2) case records are subpoenaed by a court of law, or (3) child or elder abuse is suspected which must be reported as required by Florida law.
Call the Counseling Center at 620-2602 or visit us at Bldg 2, Room 2068. Our office staff will help you make an appointment with a staff counselor as soon as possible. Visit our contact page.
The Counseling Center offers brief counseling for students on a one-to-one basis. Your counselor will help you identify specific goals, in keeping with your primary concerns. Fifty minute sessions are scheduled weekly,bi-weekly, monthly or as needed.
Group programs can improve your self-understanding and increase your effectiveness in relating to others. Group offerings vary by semester, meet weekly and are limited to 7-10 students.
For further information go to Groups.
Medical Consultation/Assessment
This service is available to students whose presenting issues suggest that evaluation by a medical professional would be appropriate or helpful. When medically necessary, a student may be given a prescription for medication to treat their clinical symptoms (e.g., depression, ADD, anxiety). Often, students are encouraged to participate in counseling in addition to taking medication.
The Center offers the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a psychological instrument for personality testing. This is available for individual, classroom or small group interpretations. A nominal fee is charged for scoring.
Based on the assessment, individuals will receive a four letter "type" designation and explanation of their personality type. The MBTI is most commonly used to increase people's understanding of:
Individual differencesInterpersonal relationships
Communication styles
Leadership abilities
Learning styles
Career choices
Resources for Relaxation and Meditation
The Center has more than forty audiotaped programs available for student use. Guided program topics include:
The Counseling Center conducts seminars, workshops and presentations for student groups, classes, residence halls and other departments on campus on a variety of mental health related topics. Some of these include stress management, dating relationships, eating issues, international student support, body image issues and drug and alcohol concerns. If you or your department would like to request an outreach presentation, contact: Richmond Wynn, Outreach Coordinator, 620-2602, email rwynn@unf.edu