Mental Health & Counseling Services
The center supports and enhances student health and wellness by providing person-centered and strengths-based mental health services.
Mental health services are a collaborative effort between counselor and client that involve the development of a unique, confidential helping relationship.
We serve students by assisting with problem resolution, enhancing coping skills, providing support during times of crisis, enhancing personal growth and supporting academic success.
Client Portal
As of Monday, September 7, 2020, you will access all appointments with a counselor through the Student Client Portal.
You will be able to login for an appointment up to 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. For your first appointment, we recommend you allow 15–20 minutes to complete all necessary paperwork.
- Please login to the portal using your SUNY Plattsburgh user ID and password.
- Once you are in the portal, you will see a MENU on the left-hand side.
- Go to APPOINTMENTS. Once you are in appointments, click “Appointment Check In” and follow the instructions. If paperwork is required, you will be instructed to complete it.
- To start your Zoom appointment, click the tab on the right-hand side of the screen which says: “Click here to join the meeting.” Your session will start as soon as your counselor logs in to the Zoom appointment with you.
- Once you are in Zoom, you can use video to see your counselor or just audio to talk to your counselor like being on a phone.
If you experience any problems, you can call 518-564-3086 and speak with our administrative assistant.
No-Show Policy
The Student Health and Counseling Center strives to optimize access to services. If you no longer want, or are unable to keep an appointment, please call us to either cancel or reschedule. Providing us with advanced notice enables us to fill that appointment spot with another student who needs services, and if needed, to reschedule your appointment as quickly as possible.
You will be charged a no-show fee if:
- You do not provide at least 24-hour notice for cancellation or rescheduling. If you have an appointment on a Monday, please call on Friday, which allows us time to schedule someone else into your appointment slot.
- You fail to attend a scheduled appointment.
The following no-show fees will apply to the following scheduled appointments as of Fall 2019:
| Counseling | Health | Psychiatry (Dr. Astill) |
| $15 for 30 minutes | $10 for 20 minutes | $30 for 30 minutes |
| $30 for 45 – 50 minutes | $20 for 40 minutes | $60 for 60 minutes |
| $30 for 60 minutes |
We do recognize there are often legitimate reasons for missing an appointment. As a result, you have the right to appeal no-show charges. If you wish to do so, you must submit an appeal request form with the appropriate office within two weeks from the date of your missed appointment.
Counseling and psychiatry appeal forms can be requested from and submitted to the counseling center office. Health center appeal forms can be requested from and submitted to the health center office.
Mental Health Services
Individual & Couples Therapy
Our primary focus is on short-term, goal-oriented therapy. Counseling sessions are scheduled every other week. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, all services are being offered through Telehealth; either as video conferencing on the Zoom platform or as phone sessions. If students need or want weekly therapy, referrals to alternative resources will be made. Wait times for initial appointments average five to seven business days during the first half of the semester. After mid-semester, however, wait times can increase up to 15 to 20 business days.
We view our role as counselors as helping you to gain insight into your situation, strategize solutions, and develop valuable coping skills that will allow you to more effectively manage the challenges of college and life.
We believe your role as a client is to form a partnership with us, identifying specific goals for yourself and help us help you find solutions to the challenges you face. Couples are welcome for therapy. However, both members of the couple must be SUNY Plattsburgh students.
Group Therapy
Group therapy focuses on developing insight, changing behavior and improving relationship skills. In the group setting, students struggling with similar concerns can share feedback with each other and learn new ways of coping. Group members typically meet weekly for 45 to 60 minutes with one to two group facilitators for the duration of scheduled groups.
Groups can change from semester to semester based on student and staff interests. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be NO in-person therapy group offerings for Fall 2020. However, we are planning to offer online support opportunities. Dates and times are TBD. Please check your email, our social media platforms and/or call us at 518-564-2187 (Option 2) for more information. All calls are strictly confidential.
Crisis Service
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or are in immediate danger, call 911.
You are free to call the office to speak to a counselor and remain anonymous. Contact us at 518-564-3086.
Consultation
A consultation is a first-time appointment with a counselor in the Student Health & Counseling Center. During this appointment you will provide information about your presenting concerns and history relevant to your presenting issue(s). You and the therapist will then determine a plan for moving forward. For issues that might be better served by on-going long-term therapy, a referral to a community provider might be explored.
Confidentiality
All contacts with the counseling center are treated with the utmost confidentiality.
In general, mental health ethics and law protect the privacy of all communications between a client and a counselor, and a counselor can only release information about you with your written permission.
Due to legal and ethical guidelines, there are certain situations in which all counselors will break confidentiality and are obligated to take action to protect a client and others from harm. These situations include the following:
- Your counselor has any cause to believe that you are at imminent risk of killing yourself or someone else.
- If your counselor believes that a child, an elderly person, or a member of a vulnerable population is being abused or neglected, he or she will be required to file a report with the appropriate state agency.
- In the event of a legal proceeding, a judge may order or subpoena your counseling records if the judge determines that the case demands it.
Mental Health Referral Options
Both on- and off-campus referral options exist for students.
On-Campus Resources include:
Resources
Outreach
Counseling staff are available to provide interviews, training and educational outreach on a variety of mental health topics. Requests for interviews and outreach should be directed to the Assistant Director of Counseling, Christy Minck at [email protected] at least 10 business days prior to your event.
Please also understand that in regard to trainings and programs, during certain times of the year the clinical demands of our students take precedence. If we cannot meet your request, we will make attempts to assist you in considering alternative options.
Additionally, we do work collaboratively with the Title IX office in supporting programming for sexual and relationship violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who Are the Counselors in the Counseling Center?
- How Do I Arrange to See a Counselor?
- How Much do Counseling Center Services Cost?
- Do You Have a Wait List to Get In to See a Counselor?
- How Long Does Counseling Last?
- How Private Will My Visits to the Counseling Center Be?
- Is Treatment With Medication Available Through the Counseling Center?
- What Can I Do If I Think a Friend Needs Counseling?