Counseling Services

Getting Connected

Types of Services

We offer a variety of services, including group, individual, and couples therapy.  Students also have access to psychiatry consultations and after-hours support.  If you have questions about which of these services might be the best for you, come in to see us for an initial consultation.  One of our counselors can provide a treatment recommendation based on your specific needs.

• Group Therapy

  The Counseling Center offers a variety of support, process, and skills-based groups for students. In a safe and supportive setting, students have the opportunity to meet with others who have similar concerns. Group therapy is proven to be clinically beneficial and is often the service of choice by many of our students.  Groups meet weekly for hour-and-a-half once the minimum number of members is reached.  They run through the end of the semester and new groups form at the start of each semester.  Below you will find the groups that are currently offered and when they are held. If you are interested in any of the groups below, please give us at a call at 970-351-2496 or come in for an initial consultation.

  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Survivors Group (Skills Group)

  This workshop is a 7-module/week skills group that is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which integrates mindfulness and acceptance processes along with commitment and behavior change processes. The premise is that experiential avoidance (efforts to avoid thoughts and emotions related to trauma) is the target. The workshop aims to encourage clients to let go of wishing the trauma did not happen and instead move toward improving the experientially avoidant relationship with their thoughts and feelings that have appeared as a result of the trauma.

  Clients who could benefit from this workshop are those who have experienced sexual assault or abuse that they may over-identify with. In other words, their experience has brought upon beliefs and thoughts about themselves that they react to as literal truth and have difficulties thinking about their trauma. This workshop can also be helpful to those who seek to change their relationship to the trauma.

  Anxiety Workshop (Skills Group)

  The Anxiety Workshop is a 6-module/week skills group designed to provide information about anxiety, help students explore the impact, and provide the tools to cope with and manage anxiety.  The workshop covers biopsychosocial aspects of anxiety and helps students explore their unique factors in each domain that contribute to their anxiety.  Workshop members also provide support to one another in implementing strategies and coping with anxiety.  The Anxiety Workshop is an open group that runs continually year-round.

  The Anxiety Workshop is for students who experience general, social, or testing anxiety, and/or panic attacks.  It can also help students experiencing high stress, persistent worry, negative beliefs about self, or can be a part of treatment when addressing acute anxiety stemming from a traumatic event. Students who can benefit are those who want to learn more about anxiety, build awareness of their unique triggers and manifestation of anxiety, gain tools to manage and decrease anxiety, and receive support while coping and implementing those tools.

  Anxiety Workshop Syllabus

  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group

  The DBT skills group teaches members mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance skills to effectively regulate emotions, navigate their social environment, and manage crises. Groups begin with learning core mindfulness skills which allow members to learn and practice living with full awareness of the present moment without judgement. The dialectics of DBT teaches us to look at a situation from multiple perspectives and encourages us to find the middle path in thinking and behaviors while honoring our unique experiences.

  DBT group is for students who are struggling with difficult emotions, uncertain how to approach a difficult conversation, or wondering how to better manage life stressors in general.  DBT group is helpful with a range of concerns including anger management, healthy expression of emotions, asserting one's needs, and general coping.  Lane Pederson (2012) says it best “DBT skills are life skills.”

   

  Interpersonal Process (IP) Groups

  Process groups are a space in which students are provided the opportunity to receive multiple perspectives, support, encouragement, and feedback from other individuals in a safe and confidential environment.  Common themes addressed in an IP Group include, but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, homesickness, college adjustment, family dynamics, social and romantic relationships.

  Get the most out of IP Group (PDF)

   

  Transgender & Non-Binary (TNB) Resiliency Group

  This group provides a safe space for undergraduate and graduate students who identify along the gender expansive spectrum to explore their experiences with an emphasis on developing community and resilience skills.  Group sessions include opportunities for sharing highlights and challenges with other members, as well as general and open discussions or topic-driven activities and discussions.  Topics for the group, generally chosen collaboratively with group members and group leaders, have included:  identity exploration and intersectionality; knowing your worth and standing up for yourself; building support and community; empowerment through resiliency; addressing dysphoria; challenging negative messages; and building healthy relationships.

   

• Emergency/Drop-in Services

  The Counseling Center provides same-day emergency care to students experiencing situational problems or an immediate crisis. Emergency/Drop-in services are focused on decreasing distress and problem solving to help a student cope with their current situation and be able to continue functioning while helping to ensure the safety of the student. Students who are looking for a solution-focused approach or those who are not interested in ongoing therapy may benefit from this service. Emergency/Drop-in services do not require an appointment and can be accessed during business hours. Students do not need to complete an initial consultation or to be an established client/patient to access this service.

• After-Hours Phone Services

  We recognize that students often struggle during times that our center may be closed. We offer after-hours emergency services that are available when we are not, including the lunch hour, nights, weekends, and holidays. Much like our Emergency/Drop-in appointments, after-hours phone services provide students with a solution-focused approach, aid in decreasing distress, and work to ensure the safety of callers. To access these services you can call our Counseling Center number (970) 351-2496 and select option 2 to reach a counselor. Students do not need to be an established client/patient to access this service.

• Couples Therapy

  The Counseling Center provides couples therapy.  This service is designed to address relationship concerns between people who are involved in an intimate relationship. Both partners will need to be current students at UNC to receive couples therapy.  The couple must first complete an initial consultation with one of our counselors.  If couples therapy is the appropriate service, you will be referred to one of our staff members to begin couples therapy.  Other services may be recommended instead of or concurrently with couples therapy.  A therapist will discuss the recommended course of treatment at your initial consultation.

  Couples work can help with:

  • Communication Techniques
  • Effective Partnership
  • Goal Setting
  • Argument de-escalation
• Individual Counseling

  Individual counseling sessions assist students in addressing a wide variety of issues related to adjustment to college and more complex mental health and wellness concerns. You and one of our staff will work collaboratively to map out your concerns while developing the best therapeutic approach to your specific needs.  Students interested in individual counseling must first complete an initial consultation. Please note that we are not able to provide individual therapy to those who are solely requesting services to meet the extra credit requirements for classes.  Contact the Psychological Services Clinic for more information on this type of request.

  Due to the high demand for services, we are typically unable to accommodate individuals requesting weekly individual appointments, except in acute crisis situations.  The vast majority of clients are seen by their counselor every 2-3 weeks.  Group therapy services are offered on a weekly basis.  While many of our staff offer specialty services (e.g. EMDR) and varied approaches to treatment, we will do our best to accommodate requests although we cannot guarantee availability. If we are unable to accommodate your request, we can discuss various options including providing appropriate off-campus referrals or supplementing individual therapy with group services.

• Liaison Counselors

  We recognize that not all students feel comfortable accessing services at the Counseling Center for a variety of reasons. To accommodate these students, we have established several relationships with campus partners and are able to offer services in alternative spaces, particularly for underserved groups. Below is a list of the places where liaison services may be accessed. Please click on each link for more information and the times available with each liaison. Appointments are made on a first-come-first served basis. To schedule a time with our liaison staff at one of these locations, please call (970) 351-2496.

  Athletics

  Cultural Centers

  Center for Human Enrichment (CHE), McNair Scholars Program, & Disability Resource Center

  Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC)

  Housing and Residential Education (HRE)

• Psychiatric Services

  The Counseling Center offers psychiatric services for students who may benefit from medication evaluation and ongoing care at a low cost. Students must first complete an initial consultation session with a Counseling Center staff member prior to scheduling an appointment for psychiatric services.  Due to the high demand for psychiatric services, students who have an established relationship with a prescribing provider are encouraged to continue their care with current providers when at all possible.  Students who experience general, uncomplicated concerns (e.g. depression, anxiety) may be referred to a general practitioner or primary care provider.  We are only able to accept the UNC student insurance for psychiatric services. If the fee for this service would present a barrier to accessing care, please let your counselor know during your initial consultation.

  Services & Fees

  Without UNC Insurance

  With UNC Insurance

  Initial Appointment

  $100.00

  $37.00

  Follow-up Appointment

  $50.00

  $18.00

  No-show Fee

  $185

  $185

Services We Do NOT Offer:

Due to increasing demands for general psychotherapy services, we are unable to offer the following services:

• Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations, accommodations, or services solely related to ESA documentation
• Counseling for extra credit requirements of a class (contact the Psychological Services Clinic for more information on this type of request)
• Mandated counseling
• Intensive substance abuse treatment
• Intensive eating disorders treatment

 While we are not able to provide these services at our center, we are able to provide a referral to connect you with the services that will best meet your needs.  Please give us a call at (970) 351-2496 or come in to see us if you have any questions related to the scope of our services.