|
About Counseling Services
The goal of Counseling Services at William Jewell College is to provide students with psychological services in a safe, supportive environment. Students often seek therapy in an effort to cope more effectively with mental health issues as well as the multi-faceted demands of college life. Services are offered without charge. Visits to the Office of Counseling Services and the contents of therapy sessions are kept confidential; however, information may be released with students’ written permission or when students are posing an imminent threat of harm to self or others.
216 Yates College Union
8:30am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday
C. Beth Gentry-Epley, Psy.D., Director, Office of Counseling Services
Licensed Psychologist in Missouri and Kansas
Contacting Counseling Services
The Office of Counseling Services is located on the top floor of the Yates College Union. The office is down the hall from The Perch, next to the Office of Career Services. To schedule an appointment, please call (816) 415-5946 or extension 5946. Staff and faculty may refer students to Counseling Services or may call for consultation related to a student for whom they are concerned.
Individual Therapy
The Office of Counseling Services provides individual psychotherapy on a short-term basis. Students typically attend between 2 and 10 sessions, depending on the nature of their concerns. Individual therapy provides the opportunity for students to talk with a therapist in order to explore, understand, and process personal as well as educational concerns. Presenting issues may include among others: depression, anxiety, mood swings, low self-esteem, family conflict, grief and loss, eating disorders, substance abuse, cultural identity problems, sexual orientation, gender issues, self-harm or adjustment difficulty. Typically, students meet with the therapist on a weekly basis, and sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes.
Group Therapy
If there is sufficient demand for a therapy group, staff in the Office of Counseling Services is available to provide this opportunity. Group therapy can allow students to explore relevant issues, gain understanding of themselves, and provide peer support in the context of a group setting. Such groups might address stress management, eating disorders, drug/alcohol use or family functioning. General therapy groups may also be offered for students presenting with a variety of psychological concerns. Please contact the Office of Counseling Services if you are interested in forming a therapy group.
Consultation, Outreach and Prevention
Counseling Services provides consultation to the college community regarding issues of mental health. If you know of a group in need of a specific program, please contact the Office of Counseling Services to make arrangements for a group presentation or workshop. The following are a few of the outreach topics that may be requested: test anxiety, depression, eating concerns and body image, substance abuse or stress management.
Accommodation Requests and Facilitation
For students who have disabilities, Counseling Services provides assistance in arranging classroom accommodations. Clinical staff may also recommend useful strategies to effectively deal with the disability as it relates to college life. Students who have been diagnosed with a Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or other disorder that may require special classroom accommodations should notify the Office of Counseling Services. For more information, see the Disability Services website. Requests for accommodations must include documentation that supports the existence of the diagnosis, including assessment data and/or psychological test results. In most cases, the assessment needs to have been completed by a licensed clinician within the last three years.
Outside Referral
If a student requires more specialized or comprehensive treatment than can be provided by the clinical staff in Counseling Services, or if an off-campus therapist is preferred, a referral can be facilitated to a community practitioner or resource.
CRISIS INTERVENTION
In the event of a life-threatening medical or safety emergency, please call 911.
If the emergency is not immediately life-threatening, students on campus should contact Campus Safety at extension 1411 (cell 816-365-0709) or notify their Resident Director. Faculty and staff members calling on a student’s behalf should do the same. If the emergency is a mental health emergency, the psychologist will be contacted to work with Residence Life and Campus Safety in providing assistance to the student.
If the emergency is not immediately life-threatening, students off campus should contact their local hospital or a mental health crisis line. The following is a list of resources:
CAMPUS RESOURCES:
During regular office hours:
Office of Student Life: (816) 415-5963 or extension 5963
Office of Counseling Services: (816) 415-5946 or extension 5946
COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Liberty Hospital: 2525 Glenn Hendren Drive – (816) 781-7200
Liberty Police Department: 101 East Kansas Street – (816) 439-4701 (or 911)
MOCSA, Sexual Assault (24 hours): (816) 531-0233
St. Luke’s Northland Hospital: 601 South 169 Highway - (816) 532-7160
Tri-County Emergency Hotline (24 hours): 1-888-279-8188
NATIONAL RESOURCES
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Line: 800-833-3915
Get Help Now: 800-999-9999
LGBTQ Helpline: 1-866-488-7386
Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, then press 1
This is a Suicide Prevention Program.
This site includes online assessments, information on mental health, and a link to Columbia University’s health question and answer Internet site, which addresses many concerns regarding physical and emotional health.”
|
