Counseling Services
We offer short-term, solution-focused, on-campus mental health treatment including the following services:
- intake and evaluation
- workshops and group counseling (see GROUP COUNSELING section below)
- limited short-term individual counseling as appropriate and determined during intake visit
- psycho-pharmacological evaluation and medication management (after referral from a counselor)
- crisis intervention services
- referral to off-campus clinicians for specialized and/or long term/intensive treatment
- outreach and consultation
- psycho-educational programming
All students are eligible for an initial consultation with a Counseling Services therapist, and based upon that conversation the clinician and student will work together to find a course of action that best suits the student's needs. Options include but are not limited to skill-building workshops, themed based groups (such as stress management, building healthy relationships, time management), and limited short-term individual counseling on campus.
For needs outside our scope of practice, or if you may benefit from longer-term therapy, you may be referred to an off-campus partner.
We are staffed by five licensed mental health clinicians and also supervise a part-time graduate-level intern.
Intake Appointments
During the Fall and Spring semesters, brief appointments for students new to the counseling center are available Monday through Friday 9am-4pm, with evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6pm. These appointments can be scheduled online at the Nazareth Student Health Portal.
Students in Crisis
Brief appointments for students in crisis are also available at the counseling center during business hours. If you experience a mental health crisis outside of business hours, please contact Mobile Crisis at 585-275-5151, or Campus Safety at 585-389-2850.
Counseling Services
Counseling Options
Health & Counseling Services operates on a stepped-care model. Students are seen for a same/next-day consultation during business hours, and then referred to the appropriate level of care based on their needs.
Many students will be referred to one of our skill-building workshops to help address common issues like adjustment, stress, interpersonal conflict, and anxiety. After completing these evidence-based workshops, most students find they do not need to seek regular counseling.
We also offer confidential, time-limited bi-weekly individual counseling sessions. Students work collaboratively with their therapist to determine the frequency of visits and session length. There is no-cost for services provided by our counseling staff.
If a student needs to be seen for more than one semester, or are in need of weekly intensive therapy, they will typically be referred to one of our excellent providers within the Rochester community. Fees associated with off-campus services will be dependent on the student's health insurance carrier.
Crisis Prevention and Resources
Counseling Services staff are available for both consultation and crisis management. The college also has a Crisis Response Team under the auspices of the President and senior staff of the University, which is activated as necessary.
For immediate assistance, please contact Campus Safety on-campus or 911 off campus.
Psychiatric Services
Health & Counseling Services can help students with their psychiatric medications in a number of ways. Our Family Nurse Practitioners are experienced in prescribing medications for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. They will also work with students' home providers to help ensure continuity of care while the student is at Nazareth. Lastly, for more complex psychiatric cases, students may be referred to an off-campus psychiatric specialist if needed.
Faculty & Staff Consultation
Faculty and staff can call or email to speak with a clinician if they have specific concerns about a student. Below are some tips for handling common student issues.
Addressing a student distress problem
- Speak with the student in private, specifically stating your reasons for concern. Mention concrete behaviors and observations rather than speculations about what the student might be thinking or feeling.
- Listen carefully, avoiding criticism, labels, and judgment. Offer support by expressing interest in the student's experiences and feelings. For more guidance about how to approach the conversation, contact us.
- If you feel the student would benefit from coming to Counseling Services, convey this to the student. When you do so, normalize help-seeking by letting them know that seeking help is courageous and that many students come to Counseling Services. Tell them what you know about our services and staff. Feel free to walk them over to speak with a counselor at Health & Counseling.
Unsure what to do? Contact us with questions.
Group Counseling: Fall 2023
Workshops
Have you ever wanted to try out one of the Counseling Center's groups? Workshops are a great way to ease into the idea of group therapy without feeling like you will be expected to share. They are time-limited and journal-based, meaning you will not have to participate out loud any more than you feel comfortable!
Anxiety Toolbox
This workshop focuses on helping you understand anxiety symptoms and build skills to manage these symptoms. The three sessions are divided into content that builds upon itself. The sessions include modules dedicated to (1) understanding anxiety, (2) introducing a method for slowing down and disentangling the experience of anxiety, and (3) developing alternative responses to anxiety. By the end of the workshop, you will have your own individualized plan for managing anxiety.
Tuesdays 12:10-1pm OR Thursdays 2:30-3:30pm in YWRI 127
Please email Kathryn DeVinney kdevinn2@naz.edu if you are interested!
The Nazareth University Health and Counseling Center would like to acknowledge and thank our colleagues at Counseling Services, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo for generously sharing their Anxiety Toolbox program with us. We would also like to thank The University Counseling Services at California State University, Northridge for working with us to implement this program.
Self-Esteem Workshop: TBD
If you would like to be on the priority list for attending this workshop, please email kdevinn2@naz.edu
Grief/Loss Support
A group for students experiencing grief/loss/bereavement. Co-facilitated by Jamie Fazio, Director of Center for Spirituality.
You must speak with a clinician before attending this group. Please email Kathryn DeVinney kdevinn2@naz.edu if you are interested.
Coffee Cup Connections
If you like coffee-coladas, and getting caught in the rain, or you are just feeling lonely and want to connect with others, then come on down for our weekly Coffee Cup Connections group. Learn to build social connections more effectively, understand others, and come together with others who are struggling to do the same. Open to both neurodivergent (ASD, ADHD, etc.) and neurotypical students!!
Fridays 12:10-1:00 at Health & Counseling
Path to Healing
This group is for female-identified students who have experienced sexual assault and/or sexual abuse who are looking to manage the impact of that trauma in community with others.
If you meet the above criteria and it has been at least a year since you engaged in self-harm, substance abuse, experienced active suicidal ideation, or were hospitalized for mental health reasons, please reach out to Kathryn DeVinney kdevinn2@naz.edu.
A full screening before participation is required to ensure safety of all group members.
Mindfulness
A group to help learn coping skills to manage feelings of anxiety, sadness, or isolation. It is based on the principles of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which is an evidence-based practice to help students increase their mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Fridays 1:30-2:30pm in Health & Counseling
