• What if I am in crisis?
• Who is eligible for services at the SCC?
• Where is the SCC located?
• What are your hours?
• What is the cost?
• What insurance plans does the SCC accept?
• How do I schedule an appointment?
• Can I schedule an appointment for someone else?
• What can I expect in counseling?
• What is an Intake appointment? Will I see the counselor then?
• What kinds of counseling do you offer?
• What about confidentiality?
• Do you have students or professional staff? Is your staff licensed? What are they (Psychologists, Psychiatrists, etc.)?
• How long are sessions?

What if I am in crisis?

During business hours (M-F, 8:00 am --12:00 noon and 1:00 pm -- 5:00 pm), students can call 405-744-5472 or come to 316 Student Union and request to see the on-call counselor. After hours, a crisis counselor can be reached through the OSU Police Department at 405-744-6523.

Who is eligible for services at the SCC?

The SCC offers counseling to currently enrolled students only. During the summer, a student is eligible for counseling if enrolled in summer or fall courses. Enrollment entitles a student to 12 individual or couples counseling sessions per academic year (July 1 through June 30), as well as unlimited group counseling sessions. Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) students enrolled at the Stillwater campus are also eligible. Students are also eligible for couples counseling even if their partner is not an enrolled student. Please note that the SCC does not provide services that require court testimony/reports or involve legal proceedings.

Faculty and staff seeking counseling services may contact the Employee Assistance Program at 405-744-6415.

Where is the SCC located?

The SCC (as well as all of the offices of University Counseling Services) is located on the third floor of the Student Union in room 316 (near the escalators). The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center is in 336 Student Union.

What are your hours?

M-F, 8:00 am -- 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm -- 5:00 pm

What is the cost?

Students may apply for a waiver or reduction of fees. This determination is made by the SCC and Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid based upon financial need.

What insurance plans does the SCC accept?

The SCC is fortunate to be able to provide students with services at no or low cost. As such, we avoid the need to accept insurance payments, which further protects our clients' confidentiality and privacy while allowing us to devote more resources toward providing quality care.

The OSU graduate student insurance reimburses SCC services and we can provide documentation of services to assist with reimbursement.

How do I schedule an appointment?

There are two ways to schedule an appointment at the Student Counseling Center. One way is to come by our office at 316 Student Union in person and request an appointment. The other is to call the center at 405-744-5472 and request an appointment. The person who responds will ask you a few questions about your contact information and specific needs. Usually, we are able to provide you with an appointment time during that same phone call or office visit. If you have specific requirements or preferences for a counselor (e.g., gender), please make these known when you request an initial appointment.

Please note that we do not accept requests for appointments over email or other electronic communications because we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of email communications, and maintaining confidentiality is very important to us.

We do encourage students seeking services to download the intake and service agreement forms from our website and fill them out prior to the initial (intake) session. Doing so can greatly reduce waiting time during an initial visit.

Can I schedule an appointment for someone else?

It is the policy of the SCC that only the person who will be utilizing the center’s services (i.e., the enrolled student) is able to schedule an appointment. We do this out of privacy and confidentiality concerns for clients, and to avoid uncomfortable situations where a well-meaning family member or friend surprises a student with a previously scheduled appointment, resulting in resentment and resistance in the student that may well need counseling.

It has become clear to us that clients have to be invested in their own well-being and acknowledge that they need help in order for the counseling process to be successful. That is not to say that you should just stand by helplessly when someone you care about is in distress. Encourage the student to contact the SCC and give it a try. You can also call the center during business hours and speak to a counselor about how to approach the student and express your concerns to them. Ultimately, we can’t control what others decide for their own lives, but we can show concern and support.

Obviously, if there is a concern that a student (or anyone else) may be a danger to themselves or others, then immediate action should be taken. Call the OSU Police Department at 405-744-6523 or the Stillwater Police Department at 405-372-4171 (non-emergency), or 9-1-1, or get the student to the Emergency Department at Stillwater Medical Center at 1323 West 6th Street.

What can I expect in counseling?

Counseling is a confidential process designed to help students address concerns, come to a greater understanding of self, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies. Counseling involves a relationship between you and a trained counselor who has a desire and willingness to help you accomplish your individual goals. Counseling involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information that may at times be distressing. During the course of counseling, there may be periods of increased anxiety or confusion. Your counselor is available to support you through this process. During counseling, you may expect the following.

• For your counselor to listen and be nonjudgmental

• To possibly experience painful feelings before feeling better

• For counseling to be confidential--others are not informed about what is discussed during sessions

• For limits of confidentiality to be explained during your first visit

• To talk about whatever concerns you

• For your counselor to help you explore your concerns and assist in finding a means to fulfill your goals

What is an Intake appointment? Will I see a counselor then?

An Intake appointment is generally the initial appointment at the SCC. During this time, you will complete paperwork if necessary. The main focus of the Intake is information gathering, so that we can best understand how we can help you. You will meet with a counselor who will ask questions, not only about what has brought you to the counseling center, but also about other aspects of your life such as family history. The counselor that you meet with for the Intake appointment may or may not be your ongoing counselor.

What kinds of counseling do you offer?

Individual Counseling: Clients meet one-on-one with a counselor to discuss and work on the issues of concern. Individual counseling can cover almost any issue across the broad spectrum of mental health concerns, including but not limited to, homesickness, career indecision, time management, depression, anxiety, sexual assault recovery, or Bipolar Disorder.

Couples Counseling: Couples can seek counseling as long as at least one partner is an OSU student who has paid student fees. Enhancing communication, dealing more effectively with conflict, understanding family issues, and addressing other concerns can greatly improve a relationship.

Group Counseling: Groups provide an opportunity to gain support and learn from others in the group, to realize others struggle with similar issues, and to work on relational issues in a safe environment. Some issues are ideal for a group setting. Groups are open to undergraduate and graduate students at OSU. A variety of groups are offered at the SCC each semester. Groups usually have a general theme that is the focus of discussion. Groups meet weekly with one or two counselors who serve as leaders and guides for discussions. While there are no session limits for group counseling, most groups are time-limited and last between 8-14 sessions. View current SCC group offerings.

The Student Counseling Center also offers:

Crisis Counseling: Crisis counseling is available for students on a walk-in basis during Center business hours (M-F, 8:00 am -- 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm -- 5:00 pm). After hours, emergency counseling consultation can be accessed by contacting OSU Police Department at 405-744-6523.

Psychiatric Services: In addition to counseling, the Student Counseling Center offers psychiatric evaluation and medication management.

Referral Services: Because of the short-term nature of our services we often make appropriate referrals to mental health professionals in the community. Students whose concerns require long-term, more intensive, or specialized services not available at the Student Counseling Center will be referred to other professionals or agencies on campus or in the community.

Other Services:

Alcohol and Drug Counseling: For students with alcohol and drug use issues, group and individual counseling is available from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center, which is also a part of University Counseling Services.

Nutritional Counseling: Students have access to counseling by a registered and licensed dietician through the Seretean Wellness Center. Services include diet education for medical conditions, weight loss counseling, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle using nutrition.

What about confidentiality?

• Imminent Harm to Self  If a staff member has reason to
  believe that you are in danger of physically harming
  yourself, a counselor is legally and ethically required to
  report this information to the proper authorities or another
  person as needed to ensure your safety.
   
• Imminent Harm to Others  If a staff member has reason to
  believe that you are seriously threatening harm against
  another person and if s/he believes that you are a threat
  to the safety of another person, s/he is legally and
  ethically required to take action (such as contacting
  police, notifying the other person, seeking involuntary
  hospitalization or some combination of these actions) to
  ensure that the other person is protected.
   
• Abuse of Children  If a staff member has reason to believe
  that a child under age 18 is being physically or sexually abused
  or neglected, s/he is legally obligated to report this situation to
  the appropriate state agency. This legal obligation also extends
  to abuse or neglect of disabled or elderly persons.
   
• Court Order  A court order, issued by a judge, may require
  the SCC staff to release information contained in records and/or require a counselor to testify in a court proceeding.
  

Do you have students or professional staff? Is your staff licensed? What are they (Psychologists, Psychiatrists, etc.)?

The SCC staff is comprised primarily of professional staff that have a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) or masters degree (MS or MA), and all are licensed or license-eligible. There are some doctoral and masters-level graduate students who train at the center and work with clients. A member of the professional staff individually supervises each case when a graduate student is working with a client. There is also a psychiatrist on staff who treats clients medically. Learn more about our staff.

How long are the sessions?

Individual and couples sessions typically last 45-50 minutes. Group sessions generally last 90 minutes. Appointments with the psychiatrist may last 15-60 minutes.