FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UMASS DARTMOUTH COUNSELING CENTER

 

1.   How much does it cost to see a counselor?
Counseling Center services are free to full-time students.  

2.   What about part-time students or students in the Division of Professional and Continuing Education?
Although we can not provide on-going services, we can help by meeting with part-time students to clarify the nature of a problem and identify off-campus resources for treatment.

3.   Will you bill my health insurance?
We do not bill your health insurance for counseling sessions.  We do not currently bill for appointment with our psychiatrist but hope to begin this sometime in Spring 08.   You will NOT have to pay a copay, however.

4.  Is there a session limit?
We do not limit the number of times a student may be seen.   Most students find the issue that brought them to the Counseling Center gets resolved with just 2-4 sessions.   We do refer students to off-campus treatment providers if they need specialized services we don't provide or if they need more intensive treatment than we can provide.

5.  Are your services confidential?
Our services are very confidential.   Our records are completely separate from other university records and are kept behind several sets of locks which only Counseling Center staff have keys to.   We report only numbers of students seen to the University's administration, not names.   We release no information about you unless you ask us to and sign a form authorizing what information and to whom is to be released.   By law there are some exceptions to confidentiality.   Child abuse and abuse of disabled or elderly persons but be reported to the appropriate authorities.   And when a student is at imminent risk of suicide or hurting someone else, the counselor is required to take action to keep all persons involved in the situation safe, and this may involve breaking confidentiality.  

6.  How do I make an appointment?
Just call 508 999-8650 and speak with one of the secretaries.  They will schedule you to meet with a counselor for an hour intake appointment within 2-3 days of your call.   If you need to be seen sooner, just say so, and they will arrange for you to be seen during our urgent care hours that day or immediately if necessary. 

7.  Suppose I don't feel comfortable with the first counselor I see?
Just ask to see someone else.   We don't get offended.   It's important you find a counselor you connect with.  

8.   Can I ask for a specific counselor or a counselor of a particular gender or ethnicity?
Sure.   We'll accommodate your request, if we can.

9.   Do you do couple's counseling?
Yes, as long as one of the couple is a full-time student.

10.   How can I make an appointment with the psychiatrist?
You will need to meet with a counselor first, to take a history and open a chart.   The counselor will make the appointment for you.

11.   I take medication for ADD.   Can I get prescriptions from the Counseling Center?
We do not prescribe maintenance medication for ADD.    Please work things out with your doctor at home to continue providing you with prescriptions.  If this isn't possible, we can provide you with a list of local psychiatrists.  

 

 

 

 Last Updated On: 7/24/07