Student Health and Counseling Services FAQs

• Attend your sessions regularly and take an active part in them.
• Be as open and honest as you can.
• Be open to trying new or different approaches to dealing with your concerns.
• Apply what you have learned in your sessions to your daily life.
• Talk openly with your counselor about your progress or lack of progress in counseling.

Call 715-394-8236 . After hours an answering machine will take your call and you will be contacted the next morning. Make an appointment in person by visiting Student Health and Counseling Services, Marcovich Wellness Center 1729. For emergencies where you feel that you need immediate attention, please let the receptionist know so that arrangements can be made for a counselor to see you as soon as possible.

Alcohol and other drug screenings are available for currently enrolled students through Counseling Services. Referrals for a full alcohol and drug assessment can be arranged through the Student Health and Counseling office. However, you should consult with your health insurance carrier to determine what is covered and what part of the costs you would be responsible.

The Counseling Services staff consists of certified and trained mental health professionals with backgrounds in psychology and professional counseling. Each counselor has a different counseling style and varies in their technique; however, you may expect that your counselor will:

• Listen and take your concerns seriously.
• Help you remove barriers to achieve your personal goals.
• Maintain the highest ethical and legal standards of counseling practice.
• Answer your questions directly and honestly.

Individual counseling sessions are typically 45 minutes, the number of visits for counseling is determined by your own needs. On average, students meet with a counselor three to four times. Your counselor is committed to providing services that meet your needs in a timely and effective manner.

All counseling records are kept confidential and are not part of university records. With rare exceptions, no information is released to anyone outside Counseling Services, including other University offices, faculty, staff or parents without your written consent. Exceptions to confidentiality include life-threatening situations for example, when someone is deemed to be an imminent danger to themselves or others, in cases of child abuse or appropriate court order. In these cases, counselors may disclose information to protect you or others from harm or to comply with legal mandates. Counseling Services staff members may share information with each other for the purposes of consultation.

During your first meeting with the counselor, you will be asked to describe your concerns and what you hope to gain from counseling. Your counselor may ask a number of background questions to more fully understand your situation and ways to help you. This is an opportunity for you and the counselor to decide whether Counseling Services is the best place for you to help yourself. After this meeting, you may decide to continue counseling and schedule follow-up appointments.

UW-Superior Counseling Services are free. If you wish to see a mental health provider off campus, counselors can help facilitate with that process. You will need to check with you insurance for coverage.

Counseling Services are for all people who experience problems adapting to new situations and changes taking place within them. Most students face normal developmental concerns and academic pressures while in college and at times may feel intense anxiety, anger, sadness or depression. People come to counseling wanting to feel better about themselves and others, and counselors are trained to assist them in doing so. Here are just a few examples of issues that are addressed in counseling: academic concerns, stress, anxiety, depression, anger management, relationship building, homesickness and self-esteem.

Counseling is a process in which you meet with a trained professional who can help you sort out issues, assist in decision making and help you develop and achieve your personal goals. You and your counselor engage in a collaborative process to examine current difficulties or distress in a safe and confidential atmosphere. The counselor facilitates a working partnership which allows you to improve your skills, begin to resolve your concerns and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. Counselors also teach you the life skills and coping strategies for handling challenges today and in the future.