Student Counseling Center

Information for Faculty and Staff

How do I refer a student for counseling?

I am concerned about a student but don’t know if a referral is necessary — what do I do?

The Director at Student Counseling is always available to talk with faculty and staff about their concerns about students. Just call 464-3120, ext. 4, to access the Director’s office. The Director can assist you in your approach to the situation and can help you decide whether a referral to Counseling Services is appropriate for the student.

I suspect a student is distressed, but I am not sure...

There are many potential signs of student distress that may indicate a student is having difficulty. Social withdrawal, declining academic performance, significant difficulty concentrating, changes in hygiene, disjointed thoughts, jumbled speech, chronic irritability, frequent tearfulness, complete lack of participation, irrationality, and threatening statements (e.g., “I don’t care anymore,” “I just feel like I can’t go on and don’t want to”) all are signs that may indicate that the student is in significant distress.

How can I best assist a troubled student?

Though at times students approach faculty and staff directly to express their distress, you may notice signs of distress that the student has not discussed with you.  If you wish to discuss your concerns with a student, we recommend that you set up a time to meet with individually with the student. Unless there is a significant and acute crisis, never express your concerns in front of the student’s peers, as this can lead to feelings of humiliation and increased defensiveness in the student.

In that meeting, be specific when stating your concerns, listen carefully, exude a caring style, and avoid any statements that may sound judgmental or dismissive. You may find that your contact alone is all the student needs to start addressing the concerns you have; however, if you feel your contact with the student had limited effect and/or you sense the student needs more help, do not hesitate to contact Student Counseling.

When is a referral to Student Counseling appropriate?

• The student’s academic functioning appears impaired by the problem
• The problem appears serious or is more serious than you feel comfortable handling (e.g., a student expresses suicidal thoughts)
• You are not sure if you have the expertise needed to address the problem
• You have talked with the student but feel additional assistance is indicated
• The student is not willing to talk with you about a problem
• You are not sure if your teacher-student relationship may affect your ability to handle the problem
• The student requests information or help that you are unable to provide

What do I do if I feel uncomfortable referring a student for mental health care?

If referring a student to Student Counseling is awkward for you, it may help to talk with the Director about the matter. By talking with the Director, you may get an idea of the origins of your discomfort and may develop some strategies to minimize this discomfort when you approach the student.  Approaching the student from a collaborative/problem-solving perspective (e.g., “I’ve noticed that you’re having some difficulty and I am wondering what you might think about seeing the Student Counselor”), rather than bluntly telling the student to get help, will likely reduce your own discomfort, as well as the student’s.

What if a student is reluctant to seek help?

Often students do not want to follow through with a referral because of fears about getting help. We recommend that you ask a student about such fears if you decide to make a referral. Just acknowledging and normalizing the student’s fears may alleviate them. Students may feel that their need for assistance is an indication of personal failure. In this case, remind your student that facing one’s problems is a sign of strength, rather than weakness.

Students sometimes have concerns about the confidentiality of services. It is imperative to inform students that services offered through Student Counseling are absolutely confidential and that no one on or off-campus will be informed of their participation in the service.

Cost is often another concern. If this is the case, remind the student that services through Student Counseling are free. Sometimes students think they have to be in “crisis” or have very serious problems in order to seek help. Remind students that services are available to all students for all types of problems.

Please encourage the student to review the information provided on this website or to call the Director anonymously to ask questions and express concerns.

What if a student completely refuses help?

There are always students who could benefit from Student Counseling but resist making an appointment. It is important for you to remember that you can care about the well-being of your students, but cannot force them get help. If you are deeply concerned about a student who refuses care, it may help for you to contact the Director of Student Counseling to talk about your thoughts and feelings.     

A few words about Confidentiality...

Faculty and staff may consult with the Director of Student Counseling about their concerns about students; however, information about students who receive care at Student Counseling cannot be released to faculty or staff unless the student provides written permission to release information.

Thank you for helping us to better serve our students.