COUNSELING SERVICES

FAQs

1. What is counseling?
   See this video.
2. Does it cost money for students to receive counseling at RSU?
   No. Receiving counseling services at RSU is free of charge to any currently enrolled RSU student.
3. What types of counseling does Counseling Services offer?
   Our goal is to help students with interpersonal or mental health issues that may be interfering with their ability to achieve their academic potential. We offer short-term, solution-based counseling to students for a variety of presenting problems. All students are eligible for an initial session/brief assessment of problem areas with a counselor; however, if the counselor determines that a student is experiencing psychological or medical problems that require more intensive therapy or a specialized treatment approach that is not available through Counseling Services, a referral will be made to an appropriate treatment facility off campus. Counselors will not provide intensive therapy for students with the following issues:
   • personality disorders
   • substance dependence
   • persistent suicidal intent
   • homicidal intent
   • recurring self-injury
   • domestic violence issues
   • eating disorders
   • court or forensic evaluations
   • cases involving child custody

   In addition, Counseling Services does not provide psychological evaluations.

4. What information is confidential and what information is not confidential in counseling sessions?
   Most information shared in counseling sessions will not be shared with others. However, by legal and professional standards and guidelines, there are times when the counselor is mandated to report information that involves a person’s safety. Those situations include but are not limited to the following:
   • Harm to self.  If the counselor assesses that a person is at risk to harm themselves, the counselor will break confidentiality for the purpose of that person’s safety.
   • Harm to others.  If the counselor assesses that a person is at risk to harm someone else or make threats against another person, the person who has been threatened has a legal right to be informed even if the counselor must break confidentiality. Again, this is for the purpose of everyone’s safety.
   • Child or dependent adult abuse or neglect.  If the counselor receives information pertaining to or suspects child, elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect, that information must be reported to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
   • If the disclosure is mandated by a court of law.  Counselors may disclose confidential information if ordered by a judge for such a disclosure.
5. Are there other times (in addition to safety) when the counselor shares information with others?
   Yes, but this also is limited. Counselors reserve the right to share clinical information with other professionals to ensure that they are providing the best possible care (i.e. professional consultations ensure that counselors are able to consult with people within their field to ensure a higher quality of client care). At RSU, the counselor often has clinical consultations with the Director of Student Development (who is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and is bound by confidentiality). If the counselor consults with any professional outside of their direct supervisor, no identifying information is given.
6. Does counseling staff talk to parents or professors?
   In cases of an emergency in which someone’s safety is thought to be at risk, counselors can report information to parents and/or university officials or faculty (see the scenarios listed above or the laws regarding FERPA disclosures). However, outside of an emergency situation, counselors cannot communicate with others (including college personnel or parents) without the client’s written permission.
7. What if I want the counselor to let someone know that I am being seen?
   Students utilizing counseling services are welcome to sign a voluntary release of information. If you would like a parent, professor, employer etc. to know that you are attending counseling, you may sign a release of information and specify the type of information you would like released. This information is only shared if you would like it to be and can be limited to your wishes.
8. What if I am an RSU student who has a child that needs counseling?
   RSU counseling services cannot be utilized by a student’s child. However, if you have questions about providers in the area, the counselor can help educate you on options available in the community in the Claremore or Tulsa metro areas.
9. Does Counseling Services offer couples counseling?
   Yes. Couples counseling is available for two people involved in an intimate relationship who want to address relationship difficulties. Only one of the two members of the couple needs to be a currently enrolled RSU student to be eligible for this service. Couples counseling generally involves:
   • identification of problem areas
   • resolving issues of conflict
   • teaching more productive communication skills

   Partners do not need to be married to be eligible for these services. It is important to note that at all times, the student remains the identified client. Individual or other services that would be recommended for the non-student party will be referred for outside services.

10. Does Counseling Services provide medication?
    No. Only licensed physicians and psychiatrists can prescribe medications. If a student wishes to discuss the possibility of medications, they are encouraged to speak to their primary physician. If a student does not have insurance or a primary provider, they can go to the Student Health Center to speak to a Doctor about their symptoms. However, use of the Student Health Center to provide psychotropic medications is discouraged. Due to the specialized nature of these drugs and the need for close monitoring when taking psychotropic medications, it is recommended that the student be monitored by a primary physician. In rare instances where psychotropic medications are prescribed, it will be short-term and students will be encouraged to follow up with mental health counseling as well.  
11. How long does counseling last and how many sessions do I get?
    Counseling at RSU is intended to be short-term and solution-focused. In most cases, a student and the counselor will set up short term goals to be achieved within 12 sessions. Termination of counseling is based on therapeutic progress to achieve initial goals. The counselor will do their best to see a student until the presenting problem has been addressed to their satisfaction. If it is determined that your treatment needs require resources or competencies beyond that which we can provide, we will assist with an appropriate referral.
12. What can I expect in counseling?
    Counseling will begin with a brief questionnaire about your history and an explanation of the limits of confidentiality and applicable state and federal confidentiality laws. The counselor will allow you to explain what issues brought you to counseling. Together you will conceptualize what issues you would like to work on and begin to formulate possible solutions. Often clients report feeling worse before feeling better. This is to be expected, and at times of discomfort, it is very important that clients share that information with their counselor.
13. What if I need to cancel or reschedule an appointment?
    Counseling Services understands that there will be times when students need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If possible, please try to notify the counselor ASAP if you know you will not be able to make it to your appointment so that your appointment time can be used by someone else who may need or request it. If you are over 15 minutes late for your session, the counselor reserves the right to either shorten your session time or ask you to reschedule. This is so the counselor can maintain scheduling times with other students. Counseling Services does not call to remind students about their appointment times.
14. What if I am not satisfied with the quality of counseling that I receive?
    If at any time a student becomes dissatisfied with the services that he/she is receiving, he/she is encouraged to contact the Director of Student Development at 918-343-7707.
15. What happens if I have an emergency after hours?
    If a student experiences an emergency during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm) and has an urgent need for counseling, he/she should inform the receptionist in the Student Affairs office and he/she will be seen as soon as possible. If the student cannot be promptly seen, he/she will be referred to the local ER for services. For an emergency after business hours, students can call the Grand Lake Crisis Line at 1-800-722-3611. The crisis center will triage the call and refer as needed to other providers. Campus police are also available 24 hours a day to assist students and can be reached at 918-343-7624. If a student is interested in a hotline number specific to a problem they may be having, please see the Hotline Numbers.
16. How are my records kept?
    The counselor is required by law to maintain a copy of case relevant material. After each session, the counselor will document the session’s content, progress, areas of concern, etc. This material is printed and kept in a file for each client. This documentation is always locked in a file cabinet and office doors are locked when the counselor is away (i.e. double locked). The counselor will also document any:
    • phone or email communication
    • releases of information
    • consultations with other providers or counselors
    • appointment no-shows and cancellations
17. Can people contact the counselor via email?
    Yes, the counselor is available to set appointments and have contact via email. However, clients are encouraged to limit this communication to setting appointment dates or other “housekeeping” type content. Email is not a confidential medium (as the university IT staff has access to all incoming and outgoing emails on the server) so issues that the client would not want shared should not be shared via email. In addition, emails will only be answered during business hours. If a client has an emergency, please see the above information.
18. What if a student is also seeing a counselor off campus?
    Optimally, students should only see one counselor at a time. In special circumstances, a student may wish to see an outside therapist in addition to the on campus counselor. If a client does engage in therapy with more than one provider, a release of information between providers will be requested so that providers may coordinate care in accordance with ethical and professional guidelines.
19. What if I prefer to see a counselor off campus?
    The counselor keeps a list of counseling services available in the Claremore and Tulsa metro areas if a student prefers to see someone off campus. However, students need to be aware that they are financially responsible for psychological services provided off campus. Students seeking services off campus are strongly advised to get fee schedules from the provider to see how fees are addressed, whether the provider accepts insurance, offers sliding scales, etc.