We understand that students may have a lot of questions about what's offered through the Counseling Center. Please review our frequently asked questions to learn more about common topics and areas that are of interest to students. If questions remain after reviewing this section, feel free to contact us directly to get the answers you are looking for.
Where is the Counseling Center?
The Counseling Center has two locations: Scott House and Hitchcock House. They're across the street from one another on Hitchcock Road (the road that leads to Pratt Field), and both are right across from Orr Rink and Alumni Gym respectively. Hitchcock House is not to be confused with Hitchcock residence hall.
What happens in a first appointment at the Counseling Center?
Most students get seen in what we refer to as an “initial consultation.” These are typically half-hour meetings where a lot of information is collected (it’s important to separate these appointments from crisis appointments which may look very different and are more focused on a current crisis). Examples of information gathered in initial assessments include aspects of the student’s background, mental health history, and (probably most importantly) their current presenting issue. It’s important to point out that this appointment is NOT the start of treatment. It's vital that we collect this information in order to work with students in determining the best path for treatment. One option is ongoing therapy within the Counseling Center, but it can also mean a referral to an off-campus provider, a referral to a group or workshop offered, or even a determination that ongoing services are not necessary at this time. It’s important to keep an open-mind when attending an initial consultation, but also to express your hopes about moving forward. We want all students to be as active as possible in their treatment plans!
How is an initial consultation different from an intake?
Once a determination is made that staying with the Counseling Center for treatment is most clinically appropriate, an intake appointment is scheduled. An intake is where additional information can be gathered, as the student and clinician start to better understand what the focus of treatment will be. We understand that it can take time to fully understand all of the different aspects of a student’s life, and so time is dedicated after the initial consultation to make sure more of that information is explored.
What happens if I miss my appointment? Will it take a while to be seen again?
At the Counseling Center, we understand that student’s lives are busy and obligations are fluid. We do our best to accommodate those schedules. Given the nature of the work we do, it may take a week or two to be seen after a student reschedules. That being said, we make every effort to see students as soon as possible. If you have to cancel a meeting, please give us as much availability as you can when trying to reschedule, and make sure to answer any emails or phone calls from the Center that may be an attempt to reschedule. Appointment slots fill up fast, so the sooner you communicate with us, the sooner we can get you in.
I've heard that you refer students to groups. Can you explain what group therapy is, and (also) will my privacy be maintained if I participate?
Group treatment is a wonderful option for support. Groups have been empirically-shown to improve functioning in a number of areas, (including social anxiety), and are in fact, the most efficacious form of treatment for some presenting issues. It is not a lesser form of treatment than individual therapy. The Counseling Center offers a wide variety of groups that have received positive feedback from students. Privacy remains important in group work. We acknowledge that this is a small campus. Every group leader takes steps to ensure the content of the group does not leave that space. We encourage all students to check out our group program by clicking here.
I've heard that it takes a very long time to get a first appointment at the Counseling Center. Is that true?
The wait times for initial consultation appointments vary from week to week based on our utilization. The average wait time for an initial consultation since the beginning of Spring ‘22 semester is 4.8 days. There were periods during this semester when appointments were actually available within 1 to 2 business days. At times, students may decide to wait longer for an appointment with a specific therapist of their choosing. This average wait time for initial consultations is not to be confused with crisis sessions for students in need of immediate assistance, which are typically offered on the same day a student contacts our office.
I’ve heard that the Counseling Center offers clinical case management. What is that?
Clinical case management is not to be confused with case management within the Office of Student Affairs.
Students are potentially referred to a clinical case management appointment from many places. Class Deans, faculty, friends, and Counseling Center staff are all able to refer students to this resource. There are many reasons to consult with a Clinical Case Manager. Sometimes, in consultation with a therapist at the Counseling Center, you might realize that seeing a therapist ‘in town’ would be best for you. Or, you might want help finding a therapist at home during summer breaks. Clinical case management might also be useful to orient you to how to navigate your insurance coverage, or how to utilize the WellTrack Connect (a search engine for therapists that enjoy working in collegiate mental health). Feel free to visit their website to learn more.
It’s important to point out that one of the primary goals of clinical case management is to help students learn to find and evaluate available providers, based on student insurance, clinician areas of expertise, and clinician identity. This is an important skill to develop prior to going out into the world post-Amherst. Rather than ‘find you a therapist’, the goal is to help you develop the skills to decipher insurance coverage and to connect with a therapist of your choice. At the Counseling Center, we know that finding a therapist is a deeply personal and potentially challenging process. Feel free to ask a clinician about clinical case management to learn more about this valuable service.
I've heard that students are typically seen every other week for therapy. Why is that?
This is true. Due to the high utilization of our services, students are typically seen in a bi-weekly fashion. This is to accommodate both the demands of the Center and student’s rigorous schedules. It’s important to note that this still allows for ample time to appropriately address issues and help students feel supported. It’s also the standard of care in most collegiate counseling services. We understand that this may not meet the desires of all students, especially those that are used to more intensive work with therapists at home or in other settings. We encourage students to speak up about their needs so we can help refer them to more intensive services when appropriate.
Can you address the question of whether there is diversity within the team of clinicians at the Counseling Center?
The Counseling Center is deeply committed to building a diverse staff and has taken steps to create a team of clinicians with a wide array of identities, including racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, sexual, (and others identities), while also honoring representation of aspects of neurodiversity, immigrant status, and class backgrounds. Representation is important, but in addition to representation, the Counseling Center dedicates time to training focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We also have a fellowship program with a primary focus on multiculturalism within clinical work. We know that identity-based work is valued by the student body at Amherst and it’s extremely important to us as well. We honor this work as much as possible.
Does the Counseling Center have the final decision on when a student goes on a medical leave?
No. Students, in consultation with their families or guardians, Class Deans, and OSA Case Management can apply for, or seek medical leaves from the College. The Counseling Center never approves medical leaves or makes any administrative decisions regarding whether a medical leave is allowed (or not) by the College. A clinician from the Counseling Center may support a student’s decision to go on medical leave. This support is to help inform the treatment plan while the student is away and to increase the chances that they can thrive upon return.
What should I do if I want to seek care in the evening or on the weekends?
Students have demanding schedules and may think it is more convenient to see a therapist after business hours. History has shown that even when evening and weekend hours have been offered, they’ve gone un-utilized, because students are (appropriately) not focused on therapy during those times. We understand that so much of the non-classroom aspects of student’s lives take place after hours (including extracurricular commitments, athletics, and social connection), and our hours for on-going psychotherapy are set up to best honor those other important campus-life pursuits. If you believe that evening or weekend hours are imperative to your care, we will work with you to find a practice in the community that offers that service. We want to also underscore that the Counseling Center is ALWAYS available if there is a mental health crisis. You can always call our main line (413-542-2354) and connect with a clinician who can support you at that moment. This is not to be mistaken for ongoing psychotherapy.
Is the Counseling Center open during breaks and over the summer?
Yes! The Counseling Center is open year-round. A good rule of thumb is to assume that if the campus is considered open, the Counseling Center is also open. It’s important to point out that the staff at the Counseling Center does also use breaks and holidays to take time off and focus on other activities, so a specific clinician may not be available at all times. The best thing to do is call the Counseling Center directly to find out more about availability. Please also note that the Counseling Center is unable to see students who are outside of the state of Massachusetts at the time of service, due to license limitations. If you are interested in care over the summer and are located outside the state, you may want to consult with our clinical case manager about local options available to you.
What's the different between crisis/same day appointments, and single-session appointments?
Single-session appointments are a great offering to help students who have a specific need and are not interested in ongoing therapy. Psychotherapists at the Counseling Center have spots in their week dedicated to these sessions. This is not to be confused with same-day/urgent/crisis appointments. These terms are somewhat synonymous with each other and refer to rapid access due to a specific crisis. Urgent sessions are not to be confused with ongoing therapy. We prefer the term urgent over same-day appointment because someone could require an urgent appointment that might not be that same day. To hear more about all our different services, go to our services page directly from this link.
What if it isn't a match with the clinician I meet with? Do I have to meet with them again?
Absolutely not! We understand that rapport is CRUCIAL to the therapy experience. Research continues to back this fact up. We encourage all students to think about the relationship they're building with their clinician. If there's any concern that it’s not a good match, the student can talk directly with their clinician about this, or ask to speak with our Clinical Director or Senior Director to request a change to a different clinician. It’s important that students have this conversation to help determine why it wasn’t a good fit, and how we might improve the chances that they'll be better matched in the future. We also have a change-of-provider request form on our website, that you can access by clicking this link.
If I am experiencing a mental health crisis, is the Counseling Center my only option?
No. We would certainly like you to use the Counseling Center as a resource if you are in crisis, but it is not required. We have many options for immediate support listed on our main page. It is also important to point out that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now easy to reach, by simply dialing 988.