THE STUDENT PERSONAL COUNSELING CENTER (SPCC)

THE STUDENT PERSONAL COUNSELING CENTER (SPCC) Parents/Families Reference Guide of Services Molloy College Student Personal Counseling Center (SPCC) Kellenberg Hall 207 1000 Hempstead Avenue Rockville Centre, NY 11571 Phone: (516) 323-3484 Fax: (516) 323-3475 Website: molloy.edu/personalcounseling

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 2 Overview of the counseling center. 3 Crisis intervention.... 3 Services..... 3 Individual counseling... 3 Group counseling... 3 Couples counseling... 3 Off campus referral services... 3 Consultation... 3 Counseling center staff...... 3 How do I know if my student is in need of services?... 4 Common causes of emotional distress..... 4 Signs of student distress which require immediate referral or attention... 4 Common warning signs of student distress 5 Interpersonal signs. 5 Behavioral signs 5 Academic signs.... 5 How can I help my student access services from the SPCC?.... 6 How can a student schedule an appointment?.... 7 Emergency appointments. 7 Non- emergency appointments. 7 What about students who may need counseling but will not go?.. 8 Accepting your student s right to say no 8 What can I expect once my student has made contact with the SPCC?... 8 Protecting the student s confidentiality. 8 Emotional difficulties.. 9 Additional resources.... 10 Molloy College partnerships 10 The Safe Center Long Island.. 10 OnTrack NY 10 Behavioral Health College Partnership.. 10 Molloy College on campus resources... 10 1 P a g e

INTRODUCTION Most students who come to the Student Personal Counseling Center (SPCC) do so on their own. Sometimes, however they are referred by family members or others who care about them and become aware of their distress and hope that counseling might be helpful. We want to inform you about what assistance is available for your student through the SPCC. This reference guide is designed to give you, Molloy parents and other family members, information about the SPCC services and how to access them in order to assist your student with emotional, social, and personal concerns. The Student Personal Counseling Center (SPCC) Contact Us: Phone: (516) 323-3484 Fax: (516) 323-3475 Website: www.molloy.edu/personalcounseling Hours: Monday Thursday 9:00am 6:00pm Friday 9:00am 5:00pm (During the academic year) Walk- in Hours: Monday through Friday 12:00pm 1:00pm *We offer walk-in hours for students to meet the counselors, make an appointment, ask questions, and request information or a referral. Walk-in hours are NOT appointment times unless it's an emergency. Location: Kellenberg Hall Room 207 2 P a g e

OVERVIEW OF THE COUNSELING CENTER The SPCC provides free short- term solution focused counseling services. Consultation with SPCC staff is offered to any family member by phone or in person. If you are worried about your student and are uncertain about what to do, you are welcome to call us, identify yourself as a family member of a current student, and ask to consult with a counselor. Please note: though legally we are bound by the limits of confidentiality, we will do our best to assist you with your concerns. Crisis Intervention For emergency assistance on Molloy College s Rockville Centre (RVC) Main Campus, please contact Public Safety (516) 323-3500. For all other Molloy College off- site locations please call 9-1-1. During business hours the SPCC staff is available to provide consultation and assist students in the aftermath of campus crises and tragedies. Counseling Services Individual Counseling Many students meet with a counselor on a one-on-one basis to work through personal concerns. Students say they gain a wider perspective and develop more options for dealing with stressful situations and feelings. Most students are seen for less than one semester. Some students find that an initial meeting or two is all they need to explore and clarify their feelings and options. Group Counseling Groups offer the opportunity to learn new skills and to share concerns in a safe environment, by meeting with other students. Some groups are focused on a common concern, such as test anxiety, relationships, transition, or stress reduction. Couples Counseling Married and unmarried students are welcome to come, the only requirement is that both members must be enrolled students at Molloy College. Off-Campus Referral Services Students that are determined to require longer-term, intensive treatment and/or who present with issues that require services beyond the scope of our office will be referred to appropriate treatment services off- campus. Referrals are also provided for students who opt not to utilize our services. Consultation The SPCC is available to consult with parents, family members, faculty, staff and others about concerns that pertain to the welfare of students. Counseling Center Staff The SPCC is composed of licensed Mental Health Counselors and trainees pursuing graduate degrees in Mental Health Counseling at Molloy College. 3 P a g e

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY STUDENT IS IN NEED OF SERVICES? Students have many challenges to deal with during their college experience. Students may choose to seek counseling services to assist them with one or more of the experiences listed below. Early identification of such issues can be an important factor in keeping your students safe while helping them reach their full potential. Common causes of emotional distress difficulty adjusting to college homesickness not fitting in with peers career indecision loss of goal or dream occupational setback academic pressure or failure feeling lonely anxiety depression serious illness or injury to self or others drug/ alcohol abuse relationship breakup family conflict divorce of parents loss of a loved one gender identify confusion coming out issues unplanned pregnancy sexual or physical abuse or assault body image issues bullying Signs of student distress which require immediate referral or attention expression of suicidal thoughts or intent expression of violence towards others severe loss of ability to function or cope in their own life bizarre behavior or significant impairment in thinking ability FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE Contact Public Safety at (516) 323-3500 if on RVC Main Campus. For all other Molloy College off- site locations, call 9-1-1. 4 P a g e

Interpersonal Signs Behavioral Signs Academic Signs COMMON WARNING SIGNS OF STUDENT DISTRESS asking parents for help with personal problems dependency on parent or avoidance of parent disruptive behavior withdrawal from others inability to get along with others concerned comments from peers or other family change in personal hygiene dramatic weight gain or weight loss tearfulness intense emotion irritability unruly behavior difficulty concentrating impaired speech disjointed thoughts physically harming self or making threats to self- harm excessive procrastination uncharacteristically poor preparation, performance, lack of participation repeated requests for extensions or special considerations disruptive classroom behavior career and course indecision references to suicide or homicide in verbal statements or writing Unsure if some signs indicate your student s distress in a particular situation? Trust your instincts and consult with a SPCC staff. 5 P a g e

HOW CAN I HELP MY STUDENT ACCESS SPCC SERVICES? The SPCC can be a helpful on campus resource, below are some suggestions you might use to increase a student s willingness to accept a referral to the SPCC or other resources: Talk with your student privately to help minimize embarrassment and defensiveness. Listen carefully to your student, and respond to both the content and the emotions of the situation. o For example: Sounds as if you are disappointed because the test did not go as you expected or You feel sad because things aren t going the way you wished with your roommate. Discuss your observations and perceptions of the situation directly and honestly with your student. o For example: I notice you have been down lately when we have talked and that is unlike you. Express your concern in a nonjudgmental way, respecting your student s perspective even if you do not agree. Help your student identify options for action and explore the possible consequences. If your student appears to be in imminent danger of hurting self or others, contact the police immediately. If the student discusses thoughts of harm to self or others contact Public Safety at (516) 323-3500 if on RVC Main Campus. For all other Molloy College offsite locations, call 9-1-1. Discuss campus resources and specifically what you know about the SPCC services. 6 P a g e

HOW CAN A STUDENT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT? We want you to be informed about how a student can schedule an appointment at the SPCC. Here are some suggestions for emergency and non- emergency situations. Emergency Appointments Emergencies are those situations that require immediate attention (e.g., situations in which a student is highly agitated, cases in which there is an immediate danger of harm to oneself or others, instances in which a student s ability to function is substantially impaired and normal coping skills are not working). o If the emergency situation occurs on RVC Main Campus, contact Public Safety at (516) 323-3500 o For all other Molloy College off- site locations, call 9-1-1. Non- Emergency Appointments o o o Invite your student to go to walk- in hours Monday- Friday 12:00pm 1:00pm to meet the counselors, make an appointment, and ask questions, and request information or a referral. Walk-in hours are NOT appointment times unless it's an emergency. Your student can also schedule an appointment by calling the SPCC at (516) 323-3484. Consult with SPCC staff when you think the circumstances may require an immediate (emergency) appointment. We will assist you in determining whether emergency intervention is warranted. Provide information of other appropriate on campus resources (provided in page 10). 7 P a g e

WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO MAY NEED COUNSELING BUT WILL NOT GO? If it seems that your student needs or could benefit from counseling, but is reluctant to go, you might mention any of the following that seem appropriate for that student: Your student can try one session to see how it feels. The visit will be kept confidential; separate from academic records. It is free to enrolled Molloy students. Students do not have to be seriously disturbed to go to the SPCC. Your student can call and speak with a staff member or visit our website to learn more. SPCC staff will make referrals to agencies in the community if your student prefers to go elsewhere for counseling. ACCEPTING YOUR STUDENT S RIGHT TO SAY NO Except in certain life- threatening situations, the choice of whether or not to seek professional help at the SPCC is completely voluntary. If a distressed student remains adamant about not seeking counseling, it may be difficult to determine at what point to accept your student s decision, even if it is a decision you don t like. If your student is in this situation and you are quite concerned, consult with the SPCC staff. Perhaps a SPCC staff could suggest alternative ways of approaching your student, to help you more effectively intervene on your student s behalf, or confirm that you have done all that you could do. WHAT CAN I EXPECT ONCE MY STUDENT HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE SPCC? Once you have connected your student with the SPCC you might be curious about how the student s concerns are going. You can talk with your student about the SPCC services, your concerns, and their feelings and needs. We encourage you to follow- up with them by asking how they are doing. Keep the lines of communication open so they know you are there for them. Protecting the Student s Confidentiality Once you have made a referral, it is normal to want to find out what happened and how you can continue to help. In accordance with the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and federal law, any information disclosed in the context of a professional counseling relationship is considered confidential. That means: We cannot give information about the student without written permission from the student. We cannot say whether the student has come for an appointment. We cannot discuss any specifics of the situation. We CAN answer your general questions about making referrals to the SPCC. We CAN offer information about mental health concerns and problems in general. We CAN provide other referral ideas. We CAN take information from YOU regarding specific behaviors of the student, though whenever possible we ask that you inform the student that you are sharing information with us. 8 P a g e

EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES My daughter, a freshman, seems to be experiencing a great deal of stress. What help is available to her? New students confront a variety of issues during the transition from high school to college and, in the case of transfer students, from another college or university to Molloy. Some students need extra time to adapt to a new situation. Encourage your daughter to make an appointment with the SPCC. My son says he is homesick. What should I do? Homesickness, which often occurs early in the school year, but can appear at any time, is a very powerful emotion that can vary tremendously from one student to the next. If a new student experiences any personal and/or academic disappointments, it may cause them to start thinking about home and their inability to share in the activities there. All of a sudden, the student is hit with the realization that life for the rest of the family is going on as before, but without the student. This can trigger a case of homesickness and the student may announce that they want to spend a lot of weekends at home. Unfortunately, however, this can prolong homesickness, because the student isn't really giving college life a chance. It takes some students longer than others to overcome homesickness. As students share a portion of their college experience with their families, they often feel better and develop a sense of pride in their new environment. Becoming involved in campus activities is also an excellent antidote for a case of homesickness. As students make friends outside the classroom, the loneliness that may accompany homesickness is often alleviated and students begin feeling that they are really a part of the campus community. It is important to reassure your student that most students feel homesick at one time or another and that, over time, the feeling will most likely pass. Your student probably doesn't realize it, but while other students may not appear to show it outwardly, they also share similar feelings. If the problem persists, you may want to suggest that your student make an appointment at the SPCC. How could my student stress less? Stress is a part of everyone's life. A moderate amount of stress fosters creativity, motivation, and change. Think about it - without stress, life would be dull and unexciting. However, too much stress can seriously affect your physical and mental health. Here are some helpful hints: 1. Understand the causes of their stress. The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that it exists. 2. Help them help themselves. Talk it over and try to help them put things in perspective. 3. Know where to go for help. Prompt professional advice keeps minor problems from becoming major troubles. 9 P a g e

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Molloy College Partnerships The SPCC has developed partnerships with community mental health services, to provide Molly students affected by mental health issues access to resources to achieve success in academic performance and interpersonal relationships; and lead optimally productive lives. The Safe Center Long Island 15 Grumman Road West Suite 1000 Bethpage, NY 11714 T: (516) 465-4700 F: (516) 465-4740 W: www.tscli.org The Safe Center Long Island provides free, confidential counseling services on campus to Molloy Students who are victims of domestic violence/ dating violence/ sexual abuse. Mercy Medical Center- OnTrackNY Outpatient Behavioral Health Services 506 Stewart Avenue Garden City, NY 11530 T: (516) 705-3400 ext 3230 W: mercymedicalcenter.chsli.org Northwell Health System Behavioral Health College Partnership Zucker Hillside Hospital 75-59 263 Street Glen Oaks, NY 11004 T: (718) 470-8060 OnTrackNY is an innovative treatment program to help young people who are experiencing psychosis get effective treatment so that they can successfully reach their goals in life such as completing school, getting a job, living independently and having rewarding relationships with friends. BHCP is a unique community service program that works closely with affiliated colleges and universities and their student counseling centers to address behavioral health issues impacting students. The program provides discreet and sensitive emergency transport 24/7, psychiatric emergency assessment, and young adult inpatient unit specializing in the college population, and post hospitalization outpatient services for college students. Molloy College On Campus Resources Campus Ministries (516) 323-3224 Career Center (516) 323-3482 Counseling Center (516) 323-3484 Disability Services (516) 323-3316 Health Services (516) 323-3467 Public Safety (516) 323-3500 Residence Life (516) 323-3463 Student Affairs (516) 323-3456 Writing Center (516) 323-3293 Encourage your student to visit life.molloy.edu to get involved in campus events and student clubs. 10 P a g e