Counseling Services

A group might be just what you need. Group therapy is a powerful way to connect with others, build community, and learn tools to support your mental health.

In a group, you can:

• Connect with others who share similar experiences
• Learn practical skills to support your well-being
• Gain new perspectives
• Build confidence and self-awareness
• Share in a safe, supportive space

Each semester, we offer a variety of support, skill-based, and process groups. Here are a few of the options you might see:

• Interpersonal Process (IP) Group
  A space to give and receive support, encouragement, and feedback.
  Topics often include depression, anxiety, homesickness, relationships, family dynamics, and adjusting to college life.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Group
   Learn how to them accept and cope with difficult emotions. You’ll learn tools to identify values and how they can  help guide your choices.
• STAIR Trauma Group
  STAIR stands for Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation.
  You’ll explore how trauma has impacted your emotions and relationships—and learn skills to manage both.
• Anxiety Workshop
  If you experience social, general, or test anxiety—or panic attacks—this group offers tools to understand and manage anxiety in your daily life.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Group
  Learn skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.
  This group is great for managing intense emotions and navigating life’s stressors.
• Support Groups
  Offered on a rotating basis, these groups bring together students who share similar life experiences.
  You’ll find a welcoming space to connect, share, and support one another.

Want to learn more or join a group? Give us a call at 970-351-2496—we’re happy to help you find the right fit.

Individual therapy gives you a space to focus on you—your mental health, your goals, and whatever’s on your mind.

If our services are a good fit for your needs, you can receive 1–10 sessions per academic year. Most students meet with a therapist every other week, but we’ll work with you to find a pace that feels right.

Whether you’re navigating stress, relationships, or big life changes—we’re here to support your journey.

If you’re facing a safety concern or urgent situation, you don’t need to wait—we’re here for you.

Our crisis drop-in services are available for same-day support. You don’t need an appointment, and you don’t need to be an established client to access this care.

These visits focus on:

• Making sure you’re safe
• Helping you manage distress
• Supporting you through the immediate situation

Just stop by or call us—we’ll make sure you’re not facing it alone.

Need to talk to someone when the Counseling Center is closed? We’ve got you.

Just call (970) 351-2496 and press option 2 to connect with a mental health provider—anytime, day or night.

You don’t need to be an established client to use this service.

The after-hours provider can:

• Make sure you’re safe
• Help reduce immediate distress
• Connect you with resources or next steps

You’re never alone—support is just a call away.

Wondering if medication might be helpful for your mental health? We offer psychiatric services to explore that option with you.

Here’s how to get started:

• First, you’ll meet with a Counseling Center staff member for an initial intake.
• Next, we’ll also talk about your insurance to make sure psychiatry is the right fit.

Insurance Info:

• If you have Medicaid, we’ll help refer you to a Medicaid provider.
• We can schedule you with our psychiatrist if our center can meet your needs and you have UNC student health insurance, commercial insurance, or no insurance.

There are fees for psychiatric services—check out the Fees section for details.

Already have a prescribing provider?
If you’re already working with someone for medications, we encourage you to continue that relationship when possible.

We’re here to help you explore your options and support your next steps.

We know that feeling seen, heard, and supported matters. That’s why we partner with offices across campus to bring counseling services to spaces where you already feel connected—especially for students from underserved or marginalized communities.

You don’t need to come to the Counseling Center—we’ll meet you where you are.

You can access liaison services in these locations:

• Athletics
• Center for Human Enrichment (CHE)
• Cultural Centers:
• Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS)
• César Chávez Cultural Center (CCCC)
• Marcus Garvey Cultural Center (MGCC)
• Native American Student Services
• Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC)

Not sure where to start? Just reach out—we’ll help you find the right space for support.

While we offer a wide range of mental health support, there are some services we don’t provide.
These include:

• Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations or documentation
• Counseling for extra credit or course requirements
  • (Check with the Psychological Services Clinic for help with this.)
• Mandated counseling
• Intensive treatment for substance use
• Intensive treatment for eating disorders
• Long-term therapy
• Psychological assessments for learning disabilities, personality disorders, or developmental concerns

If you’re looking for something outside our scope, we’re happy to help you find the right resource. Let us know—we’ll get you connected.

Worried about a UNC student’s mental health or well-being? We’re here to support you, too.

Our team offers brief consultations to help you:

• Talk through your concerns
• Learn about helpful resources
• Make a plan for how to guide the student to support

Important to know: The Counseling Center is a self-referral program. That means we can’t contact students directly based on a concern shared by someone else.

If you’re looking for someone to follow up with a student, the Office of Student Outreach and Case Management is your best resource—they can provide outreach and case management support.

You don’t have to figure it out alone—we’re here to help.

You may be asked by another campus partner, like the CARE Team or Conduct Team, to do an assessment. We can provide the following assessments:

• Mental Health Assessment for risk and safety assessment and treatment recommendations
• Alcohol or Drug Assessment for risk and safety assessment and treatment recommendations
• Integrated Assessment- a combined mental health and alcohol or drug assessment

We love connecting with you outside the Counseling Center, too! You’ll find us at campus events and resource fairs, where we share info about our services and offer tips for caring for your mental health.

We also offer workshops and presentations for student groups, faculty, and staff. Topics often include:

• Getting to know Counseling Center services
• Self-care strategies
• QPR Suicide Prevention
• Helping skills
• Multicultural awareness
• Healthy relationships
• Academic success tips
• Mindfulness
• General mental health and wellness

Want us to present to your group? Just fill out our Outreach Request Form.
We do our best to accommodate requests, and at least 4 weeks’ notice is appreciated. If it’s short notice, give us a call at (970) 351-2496—we’ll see what we can do!

Incident Response Support

If something difficult or traumatic happens on campus, we’re here to help you and your community process and heal.

We can:

• Talk with student groups, departments, or classes
• Offer space for open conversations and support
• Collaborate on events responding to campus or global tragedies

For urgent situations or quick response needs, please call us directly at (970) 351-2496. We’re here for you.

Outreach Request Form

Sometimes, the best care for your needs might be outside the Counseling Center—and that’s okay.

Our goal is to make sure you get the support that’s right for you. If another service is a better fit, we’ll help connect you with trusted community providers and additional resources.

You don’t have to navigate it alone—we’re here to guide you every step of the way.