Services

Students in Crisis

Please note that Student Counseling does not provide 24-hour crisis services. Phone messages left after business hours will not be received until the following business day. In the case of a genuine emergency, students should call “911” or go directly to the nearest emergency room. Students also can contact University Public Safety at 464-4000.

Students in crisis may contact the Center (464-3120).  Please let the secretary know that your need is urgent when you call. The Director will return your call as soon as possible to determine if follow-up assistance or intervention may be indicated.
Other options during times of crisis include:

• CONTACT 24-hour Crisis Hotline 315-251-0600
  
  CONTACT is an agency that provides free, anonymous 24-hour telephone counseling, crisis intervention and referral for ongoing services.
  
  
• St Joseph's Hospital - CPEP (Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program) 315-448-6555
  2001 Prospect Ave., Syracuse, NY 13203
  
  This emergency program is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone with an emotional or psychiatric crisis. CPEP provides crisis intervention, assessment, and treatment, as well as referral for ongoing services (if needed).
  
  
• SUNY Upstate Medical University Emergency Room
  315-464-5540 (switchboard)
  750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210-2375
  
  SUNY Upstate provides emergency assessment, psychiatric hospitalization, and outpatient mental health care. Individuals in crisis may present to the ER or call the switchboard to speak to ER personnel. 
  
  
• Vera House/Rape Crisis Center
  315-468-3260
  P.O. Box 365, Syracuse, NY 13209
  
  Vera House provides a 24-hour hotline, counseling, support, and advocacy/referral services for women, men and children who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Individual Counseling

Students can receive free short-term counseling services through Student Counseling. Counseling can help students address a variety of concerns, including stress management, adjustment difficulties, anxiety and relationship problems. Most students find brief intervention – often six sessions or less – to be sufficient to meet their needs; however, the length of treatment is determined on a case-by-case basis by the student and his/her therapist. Students presenting with significant mental health issues or difficulties that require long-term psychotherapy may be referred to a community provider if a therapist is not available to work with the student at the time of presentation. In such cases students are responsible for the cost of services.

Couples Counseling and Family Therapy

Student Counseling offers treatment to married and unmarried couples, regardless of sexual orientation. At least one member of the couple must be a student at Upstate. Similarly, students and their families may receive family therapy through Student Counseling, provided the student attends all sessions.
Students in need of couples or family therapy may be referred to a clinic specializing in that service (e.g., the Goldberg Couple and Family Center at Syracuse University) if there is not a therapist available to take the case at the time of referral.

Psychiatric Referral/Treatment

Advanced residents in psychiatry work through Student Counseling to provide consultations and ongoing management of psychotropic medications to students in need of such services. Although this service is free, the cost of the medication is the student’s responsibility. Please note that resident availability is limited. When a resident is not available to work with students, the Director of Student Counseling will provide referrals to community psychiatrists. In such cases the cost of services will be the student’s responsibility.

Referral for Special Evaluations

Students seeking academic accommodations for learning disabilities, ADHD or psychiatric problems should be advised that Student Counseling does not provide evaluations or letters to document the presence of disabling disorders. Students in need of such evaluations are invited to contact Dr. Vanderhoff for referrals to clinicians in the community who can provide this service. Students should contact the Office of Disability Services directly to learn more about the process of obtaining accommodations.

A Note on Excuse Notes…

Student Counseling does not provide notes to instructors to excuse students from classes, exams or clinical responsibilities. At your request and written authorization your counselor may inform your instructor of the dates and times of your appointments or of general information related to your counseling.