Current students of Southeastern can seek mental health services free of charge on campus at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located at 307A Virginia Street, near central campus tennis courts and university dormitories.
UCC services are available to students, faculty and staff as well as their immediate legal families, such as child dependents and spouses. The center provides confidential support to clients (students, faculty and staff) year-round, including single or multiple consecutive sessions depending on individual needs and wants. Clients can freely seek UCC services at any point during their enrollment or employment at Southeastern, although they are encouraged to do so sooner rather than later to ensure that problems are handled in a timely manner.
“I always encourage students when I talk to them to go ahead and take advantage of our services now. Learning about yourself and learning how to manage your emotions is just as important as the academic side of the university,” said Amy Oberschmidt, staff counselor at the UCC.
Four licensed practitioners are on staff during all semesters, and interns in the process of earning certifications provide services during spring and fall semesters. The center offers individual counseling, group counseling, couples counseling and family counseling. It also provides information on workshops and consultation.
Mental health services provided by the UCC are in place for anyone seeking help with any problem. The center works to provide support and guidance for issues such as stress, relationship problems, academic-related problems, depression and anxiety, to name a few.
“Anyone with any issues can come in,” said Oberschmidt. “I left that wide open because it is wide open. If someone feels like they need to talk, we definitely want them to come in.”
The center often works with students that are new to the college environment, who may be struggling with new responsibilities and adjustments.
“Learning to parent yourself is difficult,” said Oberschmidt. “I recommend those that are early in their college careers really think about counseling, even if just to touch base. The number of students that seek counseling tend to do well in school because they have someone who is supportive, that is confidential, that is available for them.”
Project PAWS (Prevention and Wellness for Students) is a program provided through the UCC that gives educational presentations throughout the semester. Group sessions and college survival skills classes are also available to all students throughout the semester. Clients are encouraged to sign up for these events early by contacting the UCC at 985-549-3894 and to keep up with scheduling information for the events, because the time schedules are subject to change.
A disclosure statement, completed before a client’s initial appointment, outlines UCC services and confidentiality and exceptions to confidentiality (harm to self or others, child or elderly abuse or court subpoena.)
The UCC also has on-call services in the event of an emergency. Office hours for the UCC are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but if an urgent situation arises at any other time, clients may call the University Police at 985-549-2222. The police will then contact the on-call counselor, who will provide counseling or referral information for emergency services off-campus if necessary.
University counseling services provided through the UCC play a vital and important role in student and faculty support networking on campus.
“Check us out,” said Oberschmidt. “We want students to be comfortable and work with us to help them succeed.”
Those seeking more information about UCC and its services or wishing to schedule a session may visit www.selu.edu/admin/counseling or call the office at 985-549-3894. Clients may be required to go to the office to fill out forms that include confidentiality, services and emergency contact information before their first appointment.