All students, whether returning clients or first-time users of the Counseling Service, must complete a First Visit each academic year. For the first few weeks of the semester, most First Visits can be scheduled with your preferred clinician within 24-48 hours.
The First Visit is a 20-25 minute meeting with a clinician focused on addressing immediate needs through problem-solving, strengthening coping strategies, education, and accessing inner resources. Students who would benefit from support and strategies beyond what is offered in this visit will work with the clinician to identify goals and be referred to a variety of additional resources depending on their particular needs.
Students who have scheduled a First Visit will receive an appointment reminder by text and/or email, usually the day before the scheduled appointment time. The message will contain a link to the First Visit Packet, which can be accessed online and contains forms which must be completed prior to the appointment. The packet can be accessed on the day of the appointment any time between 8:30am - 4:30pm, but the appointment will not start until the clinician has received and reviewed the completed forms.
Please note: while the forms can be filled out on a phone, they are easier to navigate on a tablet or computer and are unable to save your progress, so please plan your time accordingly (this process usually takes 10-15 minutes)
