Student Affairs: Counseling Services

Location: 216 Yates-Gill College Union
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm M, T, F & 8:30am - 8:00pm W & Th

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 under extraordinary circumstances.

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 5246. Staff and faculty may refer students to Counseling Services or may call for consultation related to a student about whom they are concerned.
  

In the event of a medical or safety emergency, please call 911.

Students living on-campus should contact one of the Resident Directors or campus security at extension 1411 (cell 816-365-0709). If the emergency is a mental health emergency, the psychologist will be contacted to work with residence life and security in providing assistance to the student.
Students living away from campus should contact their local hospital or community mental health crisis line. The following is a list of community mental health crisis services.

Tri-County Emergency Hotline (24 hours):                     1-888-279-8188
MOCSA, Sexual Assault (24 hours):                            (816) 531-0233
Western Missouri Mental Health Center (24 hours):       (816) 531-4315
St. Lukes Northland Hospital, Smithville Campus:         (816) 532-3700

Individual Psychotherapy

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 psychotherapy 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-mutilation or adjustment difficulty. Typically, students meet with the therapist on a weekly basis, and sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes.

Students have the opportunity to explore relevant issues, gain understanding of themselves, and provide peer support in the context of a group setting. These psychotherapy groups are formed if there is sufficient demand and the group is deemed appropriate. Such groups might address stress management, eating disorders, drug/alcohol use or family functioning. General psychotherapy groups may also be offered for students presenting with a variety of psychological concerns. Please contact Counseling Services for more specific information regarding group therapy needs or opportunities.

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 and stress management.

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 Student Affairs (see pg. 5 in the student handbook for specific guidelines regarding students with disabilities). Requests for accommodations must include documentation that supports the existence of the diagnosis, including assessment data and/or psychological test results. The assessment must have been completed by a licensed clinician within the last two years.

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.

C. Beth Gentry-Epley, Psy.D., Director, Counseling Center
Licensed Psychologist in Missouri and Kansas
216 Yates-Gill College Union, x5246