Who is eligible for counseling services?
Counseling services are offered for all currently enrolled Agnes Scott students who have the college insurance plan.
How much do services cost?
On-campus counseling services are free. Services provide by the on-campus psychiatrist will be billed to the student's college insurance, there may be some additional fees involved for medication and lab tests. The student must pay for services off-campus. Generally insurance may cover some of these costs. If you anticipate that you will require off-campus services, be sure to check insurance policies carefully.
What services are offered?
Services include individual, couples, and group counseling; consultation and referral services, and outreach programming.
Who is on your staff and what is their training?
We have a consulting psychiatrist who comes to campus once weekly.
How do students arrange an appointment?
Students complete a Counseling Request Form that is located on our intranet site and submit it or download it and turn it in to our coordinator or other counseling staff member.
What are your hours?
Personal Counseling hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Who has access to counseling records?
In general, the confidentiality of all communications between a client and their mental health professional (and treatment records of that communication) are protected by law. Information can only be released with your written permission. However, there are a few exceptions which are covered in detail in the Office of Personal Counseling's Informed Consent Form.
Are parents notified of problems their students may be having?
The Office of Personal Counseling adheres to the American Psychological Association's code of conduct and ethical principles as well as Georgia State law on this matter. In Georgia, the confidential relations and communications between a licensed psychologist and client are placed upon the same basis as those provided by law between attorney and client. There are some exceptions to this spelled out in our Informed Consent Form. Other administrators are not bound by these same standards. We make every effort to involve a student's parents when it seems important to treatment. Parents must provide their written consent to allow students under age 18 to be seen in counseling.
What if I or another student has an emergency?
During regular business hours, students can walk-in or call the Wellness Center at 404 471-7100. After hours, individuals experiencing mental health emergencies should call the Dean of Students Emergency number at 404 216-0942 or ASC Public Safety Emergency number at 404 471-6400.
What if I have a concern about my counseling?
If you desire a change and another counselor is unavailable, you may be placed on a waiting list or referred to a private mental health practitioner.
Why do students come to counseling?
Students come to counseling for a wide variety of concerns including: managing relationships, handling family problems, coping with stress, homesickness, decreasing depressive feelings, dealing with fears, handling a crisis, eating and/or body image concerns, improving communication, learning to be assertive, study skills, time management, increasing self-esteem, understanding one's sexuality, managing time, decision-making, and dealing with alcohol and/or drug concerns.
What is counseling and are there any risks?
Different mental health practitioners have different approaches to counseling, but in general, counseling is a collaborative, confidential process designed to help individuals address their concerns, come to a greater understanding of themselves, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies. It involves a confidential relationship between an individual and a trained therapist who has the desire and willingness to help them accomplish their individual goals.
Because counseling often involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information, it may at times be distressing. During the course of counseling, there may be periods of increased anxiety or confusion. The outcome of counseling is often positive; however, the level of satisfaction for any individual is not predictable.
How long do sessions last?
Individual counseling involves meeting one-on-one with a counselor for approximately 45 minutes.
What is the typical length of treatment at the Counseling Center?
At the initial appointment, an intake is conducted to determine the most appropriate treatment option (e.g., short-term counseling at the counseling center; referral to off-campus mental health providers for long-term, intensive, or specialized treatment or testing, etc.). Actual length of treatment is short-term (usually 5-6 sessions) and is based on an individual’s needs and availability of resources in the counseling center.
What services are you unable to provide?
There are some mental health-related services that we are unable to provide (e.g., learning disability assessment, long-term psychotherapy). If you require one of these services, we will help with the referral process. Please be aware that these services generally involve a fee. In most cases, health insurance will cover some of the costs. Please note that our services are unavailable during the summer break and other College holidays. We can help you find referrals if you would like to continue counseling during these times.
Do you offer psychiatric services?
We have a contractual relationship with a psychiatrist who offers a limited number of appointments on the Agnes Scott campus weekly. This service is time-limited and is available only for clients of the Office of Personal Counseling. Appointments with the psychiatrist are by referral only from counseling staff. Visits are covered by the college insurance plan and there may be some additional fees involved with this service (e.g., medication, lab tests, etc.).
Can parents utilize your services?
The college years can also be challenging for parents. While parents are not eligible for counseling services, we frequently consult with parents regarding their concerns about their daughter or other issues related to dealing with college students and mental health.
Confidentiality requirements prevent us from disclosing whether or not your daughter is in treatment with us, and if she is a client, from directly discussing her treatment without her written consent. Referrals are available for off-campus mental health services (e.g., longer-term psychotherapy, testing for learning disabilities, psychiatric care, intensive treatment programs).
What if I have additional questions?
Do not hesitate to contact us: