Counseling Services
Mount Saint Mary College Counseling Services is located within the Student Health and Wellness Center in Guzman Hall and is open weekdays. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. Under the direction of the Executive Director for Student Health and Wellness, the staffing includes an Associate Director/ clinician and two staff clinicians.
Counseling Services seeks to promote the mental health and wellbeing of Mount Saint Mary College students by providing a welcoming, nonjudgmental, and safe environment that values and respects diversity and inclusivity.
WHAT WE OFFER
The Student Health and Wellness Center offers free, confidential, short-term Counseling services for current, matriculated students seeking mental health treatment. Our professional counselors and clinical graduate interns help students work through a variety of mental health challenges that can arise during college through various services such as individual counseling, groups, psychoeducation, referral and resource assistance, and wellness-related campus events. All services are able to be accessed in person or virtually, regardless of whether a student commutes or lives on campus. Many students find it helpful to have a safe place to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings, and common reasons students seek out Counseling Services include: anxiety, depression, stress, and issues related to relationships, family, academics, and more. Counseling Services staff can also provide consultations to MSMC staff and faculty related to general student concerns and psychoeducational content, as well as classroom presentations and collaborations with other departments for campus events.
SCOPE OF CARE & REFERRAL SERVICES
There’s no shame in asking for help, and no reason is too small to come in to our office. However, there may be a time when a student requires more than what college counseling can offer, and in those cases our counselors will assist students in finding resources for receiving treatment off-campus. For example, students with a recent history of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, severe and active eating disorders, active psychoses, or who are experiencing serious and imminent risk of harm to self or others will likely be referred to community providers, given the need for ongoing treatment and resources that are not available through Counseling Services.
SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT
All appointments are free and confidential, with no insurance needed. Appointments can be in-person or virtual using the Zoom platform. Students must schedule their own appointments – third parties are not allowed to schedule for someone else. Appointments can be scheduled between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday by calling the office at (845) 569-3152, emailing counseling@msmc.edu, or walking in to our office located within the Student Health and Wellness Center in Guzman Hall and speaking with the administrative assistant or any other staff member. If you schedule a virtual Zoom appointment, please find a private location so you will not be disturbed and can ensure your session is kept private. Zoom appointments are offered to both commuter and resident students.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The information shared with your counselor in Counseling Services is kept confidential in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal guidelines. Treatment records are kept separate from education records and are not released without your written consent. Only in situations where safety is a concern and there is imminent risk of harm can information be shared, and in these situations only for the purpose of ensuring safety. All of our counselors will discuss confidentiality with you upon your initial visit and on an ongoing basis, and can assist with any questions you may have.
EMERGENCY & CRISIS SUPPORT
If you are experiencing a life-threatening Mental Health emergency, or have serious reason to believe that someone you know is a danger to themselves or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Students needing support for a non-life-threatening mental health crisis during normal office hours are encouraged to call or walk in to the office. Should a non-life-threatening crisis occur after normal office hours, resident students are encouraged to contact their RA, RD, or MSMC Campus Safety & Security (845-569-3200) to access support from campus staff and to request phone contact with an on-call counselor who can assess your situation and offer assistance. For after-hours emergencies, commuter students are encouraged to contact the following off-campus crisis helpline resources (based on MSMC commuter county information as of June 2023):
● Orange County, NY o Orange County Crisis Call Center: 1-800-832-1200 ● Ulster County, NY o Ulster County Mobile Mental Health: (844) 277-4820 ● Sullivan County, NY o Mobile Mental Health (18+): 800-710-7082 or 845-791-7123 o SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 ● Rockland County, NY o Rockland County Behavioral Health Response Team: (845) 517-0400
● Dutchess County, NY Dutchess County Helpline: (845) 485-9700
● Putnam County, NY o NAMI Putnam County Crisis Hotline: (845) 225-1222 ● Westchester County, NY o Crisis Prevention and Response Team through St. Vincent’s Hospital: (914) 925-5959 ● Bergen County, NJ o Bergen County Crisis Hotline: (201) 262-HELP (4357)
● Fairfield County, CT o The Connecticut Mental Health Center Mobile Crisis Intervention and Evaluation Unit: (203) 974-7300 ● National Crisis Helplines: o National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 o Crisis Text line: 741741 o The Trevor Project Lifeline (LGBTQIA+ specific support): 1-866-488-7386 or text “Start” to 678-678 o LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564 o National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-4673 o National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE o National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) helpline: 1-800-931-2237
SERVICES NOT PROVIDED
Due to the nature of college counseling, our office is not able to provide certain specialized services. We can refer students to community providers, if requested. This list is not exhaustive: if you have any questions, please reach out to the Counseling office. Services not offered include:
ADHD evaluations
Autism Spectrum evaluations
Psychiatric services
Medication management
Learning Disability assessments
Emotional Support Animal letters
Disability paperwork
CONTACT INFORMATION
Location: Guzman Hall
Main Office phone number: (845) 569-3152
Main Office email: Counseling@msmc.edu Fax: (845) 569-3514
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm (hours may adjust throughout the year as needed; always refer to the
MSMC website for updates or speak with a staff member)