Student FAQs
Coming to counseling can be a big decision and can feel like an overwhelming task. Here are the answers to some of the more commonly asked questions by students considering coming to the Counseling Center.
1. Who is eligible to receive services the University of New Hampshire Counseling Center (UNHCC)?
2. Do I have to use my health insurance or pay a fee per session to receive UNHCC services?
3. Will anyone else know that I receive services from UNHCC?
4. Is the UNHCC physically accessible to all students?
5. If I am having a crisis, can I speak to a counselor?
6. How do I schedule a first appointment?
7. What happens at the intake appointment?
12. How can I benefit most from counseling?
13. Is individual counseling the only type of treatment that can help me to feel better?
15. I am worried about a friend who is a UNH student. Can I make an appointment for her/him?
1. Who is eligible to receive services the University of New Hampshire Counseling Center (UNHCC)?
Most currently enrolled UNH students pay the Counseling Center fee and are therefore 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 UNHCC services but can obtain a referral for off campus providers by calling us at 603-862-2090. However, graduate students who are enrolled for only their thesis or dissertation are eligible for an intake session. Granite State College (GSC) students taking 11 or fewer credits in a semester do not pay the Counseling Center fee are therefore ineligible to receive services. GSC students who are taking 12 credits in a semester can opt to pay the free while those students taking 13 or greater credits pay the Counseling Center fee and are eligible.
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 the Counseling Center fee to be eligible for an intake.
2. Do I have to use my health insurance or pay a fee per session to receive UNHCC services?
No. You do not have to use your health insurance, and session fees are not required.
3. Will anyone else know that I receive services from UNHCC?
All UNHCC services are confidential and any UNHCC documents are not part of your academic record. However, there are some instances in which students sign a consent form for counselors to contact faculty members, UNHCC staff, past and future counselors; and/or family members. UNHCC will NOT contact anyone about your treatment without your consent unless you are a danger to yourself or others.
4. Is the UNHCC physically accessible to all students?
Yes, the UNHCC is located on the 3rd Floor of Smith Hall at 3 Garrison Avenue on the corner of Main Street. There is an elevator and accessible restroom on the first floor.
5. If I am having a crisis, can I speak to a counselor?
If you are in crisis during UNHCC open hours (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM during academic year; Tuesday-Thursday 8AM-5PM during summer session) and you need to see a counselor right away, please let our receptionist know this and she will schedule you for one of our same-day emergency appointments or she will have our on-call counselor phone you.
If you call in crisis when the Counseling Center is closed, please follow the prompts on the message for you to connect with a counselor by phone.
6. How do I schedule a first appointment?
You can call (603-862-2090) or visit UNHCC (Smith Hall, 3 Garrison Avenue, Room 306) during our open hours (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM during academic year; Tuesday-Thursday 8AM-5PM during summer session) and speak to the receptionist who will ask you for your name, phone number and an email address, and together you will schedule an initial appointment, also known as an “intake”, with one of our counselors. You will be asked to complete an online survey to help us understand what may be concerning you prior to coming in for your 50-minute appointment. In addition, we ask that you arrive about 10 minutes early for your intake so you may review our consent form and complete additional paperwork.
7. What happens at the intake appointment?
During this appointment, a counselor will collect some preliminary information about you and your concerns. You and the counselor will decide on ways to address your stressors and build upon your strengths. This may involve individual, couples or group counseling; learning disorder assessment; referral to our consulting psychiatrist; or, perhaps, referral to a clinician outside the agency.
If you are referred for individual counseling with a counselor at the Counseling Center, you will be contacted with an appointment time and date. This counselor, who will be your ongoing counselor, may or may not be the same person you saw at the initial consultation. Within the first several sessions, you and your counselor will set goals for your work together. At the Counseling Center, we provide short-term planned therapy.
8. If I have a first appointment (an “intake” session), will I automatically have more individual counseling sessions at UNHCC?
The number of sessions you receive is connected to several issues. The UNHCC provides planned short-term therapy that is somewhat structured and focused mostly on present concerns. Counselor will discuss referral options with individuals who can benefit from longer-term individual treatment and provide them with the contact information of off-campus providers who match their preferences, take their health insurance and are physically accessible. When students wish to begin longer term counseling as soon as possible, individuals are provided with these referrals during the intake.
9. During intake or future sessions, will I be able to meet with a particular kind of counselor according to my preferences?
We try our best to honor students’ preferences. However this becomes difficult during busy times of the semester when counselors’ schedules become less flexible. Under those circumstances, students are provided with a referral to another UNHCC clinician or an off-campus counselor.
10. If I need counseling while I am at UNH, does that mean that I have to be in therapy for the rest of my life?
It is rare that an individual is in therapy for her/his entire life. In fact, some people improve some aspect of their problems within several sessions. Research has shown (Minami, 2009) that short-term counseling has been effective for college students.
11. I am an independent person and prefer to “fix” problems by myself. Should I still go to counseling?
The counselor’s role is to not “fix” problems or solve them for you. Instead, they are trained professionals who help you to identify, explore, and further understand possible causes of and ways to cope with your stressors.
12. How can I benefit most from counseling?
Successful counseling is related to several factors. Consistently attending your scheduled sessions on time is important as is being truthful with your counselor. If you are feeling dissatisfied with the progress you are making in treatment, speak to your counselor so that s/he can discuss the barriers to addressing your goals, and help you to gain more from your counseling experience.
13. Is individual counseling the only type of treatment that can help me to feel better?
No, UNHCC also offers psychiatric and group counseling services. Your counselor may refer you to the UNHCC psychiatrist to more fully understand your distress. Students have to be regularly meeting with a counselor in order to see the UNHCC psychiatrist.
As well, UNHCC provides group counseling services. Group counseling can be a really helpful way to discuss issues that are hard to talk about with friends, family or professors. You can also receive support from peers and learn how to relate to them in different ways; gain knowledge about yourself and your relationships with others; as well as develop new skills for coping with difficult situations, thoughts and feelings. At UNHCC, groups usually meet weekly for several weeks. Typically, there are 5 to 10 students in each group. The group facilitators are trained and experienced counselors who provide a safe space in which members can share their experiences and provide feedback to others. Disrespectful language or behavior is not permitted. To learn about which groups will be offered this fall, please call us at 603-862-2090 or check out our website (unhcc.unh.edu). To join a group, please call and you will have a screening with a counselor to determine if a group can be helpful to you at this time.
UNHCC also provides couples counseling on a limited basis. One member of the couple must be an UNH student who is eligible to receive counseling services.
14. I am concerned about my grades and think that I have some kind of learning problem. Can UNHCC help me with those difficulties?
Yes, the rst step is to request an intake or first appointment for testing, at which point you will be provided with a packet of information to complete. Once you return it, the intake appointment will be schedule. The information gathered during the intake may indicate that testing for a LD would helpful. Following the intake, you could be: scheduled for testing at UNHCC; placed on our wait list for assessment; or referred to someone outside UNHCC who could better meet the needs of the individual. Our resources are limited in the extent and type of testing we provide. We do not conduct screenings or testing for a diagnosis for ADD/ADHD, and we do not perform neuropsychological testing. The evaluations generally consist of tests that are used to measure your verbal, nonverbal, memory and academic skills.
15. I am worried about a friend who is a UNH student. Can I make an appointment for her/him?
Generally, students have to make their own appointments, but you can call UNHCC to receive consultation about helping your friend; inform her/him about the services that we offer; and/or accompany your friend to make an appointment. If your friend is in crisis, encourage her/him to receive help immediately by call or visiting UNHCC. If s/he requires medical assistance, visiting Health Services or the nearest hospital is recommended.
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