Information For Faculty and Staff |
Faculty and Staff have frequent and meaningful contact with our students. You are likely to be in contact with students who would benefit from counseling either for 1) normal, healthy, developmental growth or 2) more serious psychological problems. On this page you will find a summary of services and recommendations for referring students for counseling. Do not hesitate to phone us with any specific questions. We are grateful for your role in helping students make use of our services.
Services offered
- Personal, social, emotional concerns discussed with a caring professional in a private setting
- Confidential, private, cost-free; no information given to parents, faculty, deans, or administrators without student’s permission
- Male and female counselors available
- Referral to off-campus services, such as psychiatrists, if necessary (i.e., evaluations, medications, long-term therapy)
- Educational presentations on topics related to study skills, career planning, strategies for college success, and mental health issues
Students can schedule appointments with counselors in person or by phone. A helpful tip to increase the chance of a student using counseling services is for a caring PVCC faculty or staff to either walk the student over to Counseling or to call the Counseling Center while the student is with you, and put the student on the phone to schedule an appointment.
Typical concerns discussed in Individual Counseling include:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social Conflict
- Relationship Concerns
- Trauma
- Eating Disorders
- Bereavement, Loss
- Family concerns
- Loss of motivation
- Substance abuse
Study Skills Counseling
Individual help with time management, note-taking, test-taking, and other study skills; also group workshops on study skills topics.
Consultations
A consultation may help you sort out your concerns about a student's personal difficulties; discuss whether and/or how to refer the student to the Counseling Center; explore alternative approaches; and manage emergencies.
If you wish to get information about a specific student who is a Counseling Center client, we must first obtain a signed release of confidentiality form from the client. If this is the case:
- Tell the student you wish to consult us
- Ask him/her to sign a release form at the Counseling Center
Meet Our Staff
Click here to view a staff listing.
Referral Guidelines for Faculty
- Click on above link for specific information on when and how to refer students to Counseling.
- Explain that the Counseling Center is for all students.
- You are always free to consult us to strategize about the specific referral
- Assure student of confidentiality (not shared with parents, faculty, or staff)
- In general and in non-emergency situations, it is often helpful to refer to the Counseling Center – not to a specific counselor
- Student may assume other counselors are “second best”
- It may be a longer wait matching schedule with a specific counselor
- Student may request a male or female when they schedule appointment
- Once the student contacts Counseling, all information is confidential (including whether they have come in)
- If you urgently need to know whether a student has come in, alert us (x76540) before the student sees us, and we will request they sign a waiver
- If you think there is high enough risk (not just discomfort) please do not hesitate to simply walk the student over and a counselor will make the availability to meet with the student
- Explain what is likely to happen in counseling
- Counselor will listen to student’s concerns in an empathetic, nonjudgmental manner
- Counselor will work with student to help them define and achieve personal, relationship, educational, and career goals. Counselors are available to provide on-going support and encouragement to all students registered at PVCC.
- It’s up to the student whether to continue counseling – so they need not avoid it for fear they will be “forced” to continue
- Express your interest in student letting you know “how it goes,” adding that the Counseling Center will not be sharing with the professor or staff.
- Describe specific aspects of the Counseling Center
- Male and female counselors
- Location – Kranitz Student Center
- Hours are Monday-Thursdays, 8:00am-7:00pm, Fridays, 8:00am-5:00pm
- After hours call College Safety (x7900) or contact Value Options (602-222-9444)
- Voluntary – they will never be “called in” for counseling
- Cost is free
- Consider walking the student over to Counseling or having the student schedule the appointment from your office
- Communicate your continued concern – but avoid asking specifics after the referral
- You may become more involved than is best for the student or you
- The boundaries get confused: you may be grading the student in a class
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