Student Counseling Services

The mission of YSU Student Counseling Services (SCS) is to provide a safe and supportive environment for students to learn and use skills to successfully manage their emotions and mental health throughout their academic experience. YSU Student Counseling Services (SCS) assists students in becoming socially and emotionally healthy. Mental health counseling is a partnership between client and counselor, meant to help students find solutions and possibilities in life. In the office of YSU Student Counseling Services, state-licensed counselors and therapists provide free and confidential ongoing counseling for enrolled YSU students. To facilitate consumer protection, please visit the Ohio licensure verification.

Introduction:

Welcome to Student Counseling Services (SCS) at Youngstown State University (YSU). The following information will explain our services. If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact YSU SCS at 330-941-3737 or email at Studentcounseling@ysu.edu

Eligibility / Availability:

• YSU Student Counseling Services are available to returning enrolled part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students at Youngstown State University (YSU).

• YSU Student Counseling Services department is normally open 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday during the academic year, with some exceptions.

• The office is closed over holiday breaks.

• If you call after hours or when we are closed, an answering service, staffed by licensed professionals will attend to your call after a brief message and a prompt to press #1.

What to expect in counseling:

State licensed professionals in the YSU Student Counseling Services department offer a variety of free and confidential services to enrolled students. These services include consultations, diagnostic intake assessment, individual counseling, group services, workshops, and referrals. 

• Services are structured using various counseling models that include:
  • The counselor and the client both being active in the counseling process.
  • Attention placed on presenting concerns. 
  • Identified problems being addressed by forming attainable goals and objectives.

  A counseling session is normally 45 to 60 minutes in length; and is scheduled based on the client’s need and progress.  Every attempt will be made to conduct a session for client’s who arrive up to 15 minutes late to their appointment. Although, their session will be shorter in length. In some cases, if not enough time is available, the session may be rescheduled. 

• Session Limits

  Most of the time, students can develop positive coping skills and new ways of resolving problems in four to six sessions or less. Even though eligible students can use up to 12 sessions every semester, some students require more intensive or specialized treatment. In these instances, students are referred to local off-campus community partner treatment providers who can offer resources to meet the student’s needs. 

• Diagnostic Intake Assessment (DIA):

  To determine how to best help a student, the first step in the counseling process, after the initial contact, is to set a diagnostic intake assessment appointment. During the DIA appointment, information is gathered, problems are identified, a diagnosis is given, and counseling goals are formed.

• Definition of Services:
  • Consultation: A consultation is an informal meeting with a therapist. The therapist acts as a mentor, providing guidance, insight, skills, and linkage to ongoing services. Consultations are not counseling sessions. Therapists can offer up to four consultation sessions to a student, per semester, before recommending counseling sessions.
  • Counseling Sessions: Students seeking formal counseling and a mental health diagnosis for issues big or small, will schedule a counseling appointment with a therapist. The therapist will conduct a Diagnostic Intake Assessment during the first meeting. At this time the counselor will gather information from the student to determine a diagnosis. After the assessment, the student will work with the counselor to form a treatment plan, setting goals the student wants to work toward during the semester. 
  • Workshops: Workshops are non-clinical events that focus on teaching students’ emotional management skills. 
  • Complementary Services: Light Therapy, Nap Pods Sessions, Salt Cabin Sessions, and Sensory Room are all available complementary services used outside or adjacent to counseling sessions. Student using this complementary service will be asked to sign a Hold Harmless/Release Agreement for Activity at YSU before using these services. 

   

Nature of Counseling

There are risks and benefits associated with participation in counseling. For example, counseling may involve the risk of remembering unpleasant events and may arouse strong feelings. Benefits of counseling typically include symptom relief, an enhanced sense of well-being, and increased ability to manage emotions and overall well-being, learning healthy relationships skills, and decreasing social emotional stress and academic pressures. 

Confidentiality

Counselors and clinicians maintain confidentiality in accordance with the ethical guidelines and legal requirements of their profession. No records or information about any client will be released by YSU Student Counseling Services without permission from the student. Please be assured that staff will not answer questions about a client from parents, family/friends, professors, coaches, employers, etc. without expressed consent from the client. However, there are certain circumstances that allow mental health professionals to break confidentiality without consent, if necessary. They are: 

• If a client presents a danger to themselves or another person.
• If a client provides a first-hand report of child or dependent adult/elderly abuse or neglect. 
• If a client is under 18 years of age and discloses abuse or neglect to their therapist. 
• In rare cases, counseling records may be subject to court subpoena, court order, or another legal process requiring disclosure.
• If there is a risk that requires the disclosure of information, only information that aids in obtaining ongoing care and ensuring safety will be provided.

For more information about the YSU Student Counseling Center, please visit our What You Need to Know page.