Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
Knowing what resources are available to your family member is an important part of assisting her or him in meeting goals and/or finding relief from troubling symptoms. Here are some questions that many parents with whom we work have had.
1. Who provides services to students?
2. Who is eligible to receive services?
3. Is there a charge for services?
4. Will other staff and faculty at UNH know that my family member is receiving treatment from UNHCC?
5. Which kind of individual counseling can my family member receive at UNHCC?
6. Do you offer other services aside from individual counseling?
7. How do I refer a family member who is a UNH student to your services?
8. What happens if a student is experiencing a mental health crisis?
10. What should I do if my family member is hesitant about having an intake for counseling services?
12. Is it possible for the counselor to update me on what my daughter/son talks about in counseling?
1.Who provides services to students?
The University of New Hampshire Counseling Center (UNHCC) is staffed by doctoral-level psychologists, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral interns who are candidates for the Ph.D. or Psy.D. and are under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. UNHCC has a contract with a board certified psychiatrist who meets with students about medication concerns.
2. Who is eligible to receive services?
Most currently enrolled UNH students are eligible to receive a first appointment (“intake”) but there are some exceptions. Undergraduate and graduate students who are taking fewer than 5 credits in the semester they seek treatment cannot receive services but can obtain a referral for off campus providers by calling UNHCC. However, graduate students who are enrolled for only their thesis or dissertation can have an intake session. During the summer, students who are taking at least one UNH course are eligible for an intake; academic year students who have paid the Counseling Fee for the Fall and Spring semesters and are planning to return to UNH in the Fall but who are not taking classes have the option to pay a Counseling Center fee to be eligible for an intake.
3. Is there a charge for services?
Any student who is enrolled in more than 4 credits and any graduate student who is enrolled in a thesis/dissertation course has paid the Counseling Center fee and does not need to pay any additional fee or use their health insurance to obtain UNHCC services.
4. Will other staff and faculty at UNH know that my family member is receiving treatment from UNHCC?
Other faculty and staff will not be informed unless the student is having a mental health emergency or the student provides consent to speak to a faculty or staff member that could benefit the counseling process such as the Center for Academic Resources (CFAR), Health Services, or Disability Services for Students (DSS).
5. Which kind of individual counseling can my family member receive at UNHCC?
UNHCC offers planned short-term therapy that is structured and focused on helping students to develop their strengths to overcome their challenges. If it is determined that students cannot benefit from short-term counseling or require additional counseling after they complete counseling at the UNHCC, counselors try to provide them with a referral. These referrals are to off-campus providers that are affordable, physically accessible, and consistent with their demographic preferences.
6. Do you offer other services aside from individual counseling?
Yes. UNHCC provides group counseling, learning disorder assessments, and psychiatric services to students. The staff also conducts presentations to the campus community that focuses on preventing mental health disorders.
7. How do I refer a family member who is a UNH student to your services?
Encourage the student to call (603-862-2090) or visit us (3 Garrison Avenue, Smith Hall, Room 306) during open hours (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM; Tuesday-Thursday 8AM-5PM) to schedule an appointment.
8. What happens if a student is experiencing a mental health crisis
If a student is in crisis during UNHCC open hours (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM during academic year; Tuesday-Thursday 8AM-5PM during summer session) and needs to see a counselor right away, s/he needs to inform the receptionist who schedules them for one of our same-day emergency appointments or has our on-call counselor phone the student. If a student calls in crisis when the Counseling Center is closed, s/he needs to follow the prompts on the message to connect with a counselor by phone.
9. A family member is not yet a UNH student but is going to enroll this fall or spring. Can we speak to you about services?
Yes. Please call us at 603-862-2090 (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM; Tuesday-Thursday 8AM-5PM) to speak with a counselor.
10. What should I do if my family member is hesitant about having an intake for counseling services?
Though entering counseling is a personal choice, sometimes it can be helpful to encourage a student to speak with a counselor about her or his concerns. The following guidance may increase the person’s willingness to seek treatment:
-Decrease your family member’s possible embarrassment about using services by explaining that many students seek counseling for a wide array of challenges and that realizing that s/he needs support is in fact, a strength.
-Tell her/him that information shared during counseling is confidential and will not be shared with anyone without permission unless it is an emergency.
-Inform your family member that she or he can meet with a counselor for only one intake session without pursuing more extensive counseling.
-Refer him/her to the UNHCC website so that s/he can learn more about the services that we offer; read a blog about topics in adjusting to college; and possibly fill out an anonymous online questionnaire about s/he is feeling.
11. I think a family member needs to receive UNHCC services but will not make an appointment. Can UNHCC call her/him to attend?
Generally, the student has to make the appointment her/himself even by calling or visiting UNHCC. However, you can accompany your family member to make the appointment as well as call UNHCC to express concerns about your family member and receive consultation about how to proceed.
12. Is it possible for the counselor to update me on what my daughter/son talks about in counseling?
This is not possible without the student's permission. Federal and state laws require that counseling conversations and records remain strictly confidential.
We realize that being aware that your family member is attending treatment but not being able to discover what they are discussing can be frustrating. However, confidentiality is a necessary component of counseling so that a person can feel secure enough to talk about their feelings and thoughts openly and directly.
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