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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are you offering online services?

    Yes! We are offering almost all of our services and support by phone or video call using Zoom. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please submit an appointment request

    Please send an email to counselingctr@unf.edu to cancel or reschedule an appt. with your current counselor. You will get a response within 48 hours.

    We also encourage you to self-enroll in our Canvas Page (Mental Health and Wellness) to gain access to our Zoom groups and other remote services/resources.

  • What is counseling all about?
    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.
  • Why consider counseling?

    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
  • Who is eligible?
    Counseling Center services are available to current UNF students, Counseling services are voluntary, confidential, and free of charge.
  • What happens during an initial consultation?
    Your initial consultation is an opportunity for you to share your concerns and provide background information. This information will help our clinicians to match you with the most appropriate services for your needs. At the conclusion of this appointment, your counselor will provide you with recommendations, which may include a variety of services at the counseling center and/or referrals to community-based services and resources.
  • How does confidentiality work?

    Information shared with a counselor will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Center without your written permission first, except when:

    1. The client presents as a serious danger to him/herself or others.
    2. There is reasonable suspicion of abuse, neglect, or threat of harm to a child or minor, elderly person or another vulnerable adult.
    3. The case file is subpoenaed by a court of law.
    4. There is a threat to campus safety.

    If you have any questions about our confidentiality policy, and how we protect your privacy, please view our informed consent form, contact our office at 904-620-2602, or walk-in for a consultation.

  • How do I make an appointment?

    If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please submit an appointment request

    Please send an email to counselingctr@unf.edu to cancel or reschedule an appt. with your current counselor. You will get a response within 48 hours.

    We also encourage you to self-enroll in our Canvas Page (Mental Health and Wellness) to gain access to our Zoom groups and other remote services/resources.

  • What is individual counseling?

    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. In general, we are able to offer up to 12 sessions per academic year on a bi-weekly or monthly schedule. Students in need of additional counseling, long-term counseling, or whose presenting concerns exceed our scope of services, will be provided referrals and support in connecting with community mental health providers.

    More about individual counseling 

  • What are therapy groups?

    Each semester the Counseling Center offers a wide variety of opportunities to enhance your college experience through working with others in a group. Knowledgeable therapists facilitate the group experience by creating an atmosphere of safety and respect that is conducive to learning and personal growth. Each semester, group programs that cover topics relevant to your success as a college student will be offered.

    For further information go to Groups.

  • What psychiatric services are offered at the counseling center?
    The UNF Counseling Center provides psychiatric services, including consultations and medication management, to students whose presenting issues suggest that evaluation by a psychiatric professional would be appropriate or helpful. When psychiatrically indicated, a student may be given a prescription for medication to treat their clinical symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety). Often, students are encouraged to participate in counseling in addition to taking medication.
  • What are the prescription medication guidelines?

    The Counseling Center does not regularly prescribe any scheduled drugs (e.g. Benzodiazepines, Stimulants Sedatives, or Sedative-Hypnotics). These are medications that have a high potential for abuse recreationally, and dependency both physically and psychologically.

    We do not prescribe medical marijuana at the UNF Counseling Center. If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition that you feel qualifies for medical marijuana, it is recommended that you consult with your primary care provider about a prescription.

    Additionally, In order to provide psychiatric services to students who have been identified with ADD/ADHD , we have established the following guidelines.

    • Only non-stimulant medications will be provided by the Counseling Center. Our providers will not prescribe stimulant medications, including but not limited to Focalin, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Adderall, and Concerta.
    • If you have an established diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, the Counseling Center will first need a copy of the related comprehensive assessment and diagnostic report for your file, prior to providing medication.
    • If you do not have a documented diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, the Counseling Center requires a comprehensive assessment to clearly establish this diagnosis, prior to providing medication and will be happy to refer you to a local provider who may provide such an assessment.
    • Medication records will be requested from previous providers.

    It is imperative that the client follow our recommendations which include attending follow-up appointments both for therapy and medication management. If a prescription for a controlled substance is lost or stolen, there must be a police report or the prescription will not be replaced.

  • How do I obtain a SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) Appeal Letter?

    All new and first-time Counseling Center clients requesting a SAP Appeal letter must complete at least a screening and multiple other counseling appointments, such as individual counseling, group therapy, medication management, or assessment, before a counselor will write them a letter.

    If you are a current client, or a previous client, you may obtain a SAP appeal letter by contacting our center and making a request for a letter. The Counseling Center asks that you provide us two (2) weeks to complete your letter. Additionally, our counselors will only be able to speak to the circumstances you experienced during the time frame that you were an established client at the center.

  • Are licensed counselors available on-campus in locations other than the main counseling center office?

    The counseling center has a licensed counselor who is located and embedded in the Department of Housing and Residence Life (Building 14 B). This counselor is available to meet with students for individual counseling appointments at this location. However, all appointments must be scheduled through the UNF Counseling Center's main office by calling 904.620.2602 or by walking into the main office, located in Founder's Hall, Building 2, Room 2300.

    The embedded Housing and Residence Life counselor is also available for walk-in consultations in Building 14B during select days and times. For more information regarding the embedded Housing and Residence Life counselor's walk-in consultation schedule, please visit or call the UNF Counseling Center's main office at 904.620.2602. Students experiencing a mental health crisis or who are in imminent need of services should come or be escorted directly to the Counseling Center's main office.

    Other than the embedded Housing and Residence Life counselor, all other counselors staffed by the UNF Counseling Center are located in our main office.

  • What are the counseling center's and university's policies regarding service and emotional support animals?

    UNF Counseling Center Policy

    While many of our staff love animals and are pet owners, our office is unable to provide assessments to document the need for a Service Animal or an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). As a result, we do not issue letters of support for service and/or emotional support animals.

    If you want to be evaluated to see if you are eligible to have a Service Animal or an ESA, you must find a mental health provider in the community that is qualified to diagnose you and recommend that obtaining a Service Animal or an ESA is a reasonable course of treatment given your condition.

    To find a mental health professional in your area to help you meet this need, a good place to start is to contact your health insurance provider. See the "Health Insurance" section below for questions to ask your health insurance provider. As an additional resource, Psychology Today allows you to search for local therapists.

    UNF Department of Housing and Residence Life Policy

    P2.0 Pets/Wildlife You may have a non-aggressive fish, in no more than a 10-gallon tank with the consent of your roommate(s). Other service animals, emotional support animals, and/or pets must be registered and approved with Housing and Residence Life prior to being brought to campus.

    For questions regarding the process of registering to receive accommodations for service and/or emotional support animals on-campus, please contact the UNF Student Accessibility Services (SAS) by calling (904) 620-2769.

  • What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)?

    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 differences
    • Interpersonal relationships
    • Communication styles
    • Leadership abilities
    • Learning styles
    • Career choices
  • What outreach services does the counseling center offer?
    Time permitting, 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 please complete this outreach request form. You may contact our office by email for more information.
  • Questions to Ask Your Health Insurance Company
    • Does my insurance plan cover outpatient and/or inpatient mental health services? If so, what kind of services? (e.g., individual counseling, psychological assessment, group counseling, couples counseling, psychiatric evaluations, and/or medication management)
    • Does my insurance plan require pre-authorization for services obtained?
    • Does my insurance plan authorize me to see only certain mental health professionals? (i.e., Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Licensed Counselors, Licensed Social Workers, etc.)
    • Do I need to obtain a mental health provider referral from my primary care physician (PCP) for these services?
    • May I have a list of counselors in my area who are on your preferred provider list? (Many insurance companies have an arrangement with some counselors for a larger percentage of coverage of the fees associated with counseling)
    • If I want to see a provider that is not on the preferred provider list, how much of the cost will insurance cover?
    • Is there a limit to the number of sessions my insurance will cover in a benefit year? Can a counselor request that the number of sessions is extended?
    • Is there a co-pay for services? If so, what is the co-pay amount? (A co-pay is the fee you pay out-of-pocket at the time of the appointment.)
    • Does my plan have a deductible? If so, how much is the deductible? (The deductible is how much you have to pay before the insurance will start paying for some or all of the counseling fee. For example, if the deductible is $100, then you must pay the first $100 of the covered medical costs before the insurance will pay anything at all.)
    • Does my insurance plan have a maximum benefit (a maximum dollar amount) they will cover per calendar year for mental healthcare services?
    • Do I pay the counselor and get reimbursed by the insurance company or does the insurance company pay the counselor directly? (if the insurance company reimburses you, ask for the form(s) you will need to fill out and submit to get reimbursed.)