1. I am worried about my child. Can you
go to his/her room and talk to him/her?
Our staff members do not initiate phone calls,
e-mails or room visits to students. We do, however, have
daily walk-in hours (Monday 2-3:30; Tuesday 1-2:30;
Thursday 8:30-10; & Friday 10:00 – 11:30) available for
students to come in and meet with a counselor. If you
believe your child is reluctant to call the Center, we
would be happy to consult with you individually about
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2. Can I make an appointment for my
child?
We prefer that your son or daughter call the Counseling
Center to schedule his or her own appointment. We have
found that they know their schedule best and that they
are more likely to keep their appointments if they have
scheduled them.
We invite parents to call the Counseling Center to speak
with a counselor if they have any questions about our
services or if they are wondering how to assist a son or
daughter struggling with a particular issue. To contact
us, please call (423) 614-8415. A counselor can talk
with you about ways to encourage your student to
schedule an appointment and how to talk to him or her
about counseling. We can also provide parents with
referrals to counseling services outside the University.
In order to see a counselor, your child can come by the
Counseling Center during our walk-in hours (Monday
2-3:30; Tuesday 1-2:30; Thursday 8:30-10; & Friday 10:00
– 11:30) and see a counselor on a first-come,
first-served basis. If they cannot make it during our
walk-in times, they can call the Center (614-8415) and
ask the receptionist for assistance.
During the walk-in session itself, which normally lasts
20-30 minutes, a counselor will work with your child to
determine how and where his/her needs can be best met.
She or he may be referred to an individual counselor, to
a group, or referred to another agency in the community.
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3. How do I know if my child needs
counseling?
Students seek counseling for many reasons including,
but not limited to the following: loneliness and
adjustment issues, concerns about career choice and/or
academic performance, family concerns such as alcoholism
or divorce, emotional difficulties such as depression or anxiety, roommate conflicts,
food or body image issues,
problems with substance use, and suicidal
feelings. Students may be seen at the Counseling Center
or referred for other psychological or psychiatric
services depending on the nature of their presenting
issues.
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4. How can I help my child?
The college years, late adolescence and young adulthood,
are a critical developmental time in the life of your
son or daughter. In addition to growing intellectually,
he or she is learning to live independently, make
choices, accept responsibility, form relationships with
others, contribute to the community and further develop
a sense of identity and purpose in life. These important
steps are never easy and often are quite stressful. This
is also a time when some individuals first experience
problems with depression, anxiety or other psychological
disorders.
As clinicians, our staff members understand the concerns
and anxieties that parents of university students
experience. We view parents as critical partners in
helping students survive and thrive in the university
environment. Whether you have questions about adjustment
to the university or other psychological or emotional
issues confronting your student, we welcome the
opportunity to discuss your concerns and answer your
questions within the bounds of
confidentiality.
Because psychological wellness is such an important
component of every student's success, we also encourage
you to become familiar with the information on our
website, to learn about the symptoms of depression,
anxiety disorders, eating problems, substance abuse and
to become familiar with our services. In this way we can
be effective partners for our students' wellness and
mental health.
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5. What if my child needs a service
you cannot provide?
We can provide parents with referrals to counseling
services outside the university. However, it is best to
have your child come in to the Center during our walk-in
hours (Monday 2-3:30; Tuesday 1-2:30; Thursday 8:30-10;
& Friday 10:00 – 11:30) and speak to an intake
counselor. We can assess the situation and make a more
appropriate referral if we meet personally with your
daughter or son.
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6. Are there any other resources that
might be helpful for me as a parent concerned about my
child?
Please click here for additional
resources.
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