UCS offers a range of psychological and mental health counseling services for current students at Pittsburg State University. Services are provided in a supportive and confidential atmosphere. Sessions are offered to help students with a variety of problem areas.
A student should be referred whenever you believe their difficulties have gone beyond their capacity to cope with the situation and beyond your own ability to be helpful. Some students will initially find some relief when provided the opportunity to discuss their concerns. However, other students may feel more comfortable talking with a third party. Here are some points to remember:
For non-emergent situations, you could either provide students with our contact information and location or call UCS with the student present. UCS is located in the Bryant Student Health Center and can be reached at 620-235-4452. The student can then be given an appointment and any further instructions.
If you have more serious concerns about a student, offer to walk the student to the UCS office.
For students who prefer off-campus resources, we can provide you with additional referral information. Off-campus resources can also be found on our website.
If you consider the situation to be an emergency, call 911 before contacting UCS. Do not delay attending to issues that concern safety.
If you would like to discuss any concerns, please contact us at 620-235-4452 or stop by UCS at the Bryant Student Health Center (1801 S. Broadway). Our office hours during spring and fall semesters are Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M - 4:00 P.M. Our summer office hours are Monday – Thursday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. and Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. For emergency assistance, call 911.
UCS does not release private health information about a student without that student’s written permission to anyone. This includes any confirmation that would indicate a student has made contact with UCS. It may be appropriate to follow up with the student, especially if your initial concerns were serious. If the student is uncomfortable disclosing personal health information, it’s important to respect the student’s privacy. If you have serious questions about the student’s willingness to schedule an appointment, you might suggest walking with the student to the UCS office located in the Bryant Student Health Center.
UCS does not make uninvited phone calls to students. In non-emergent situations, try reaching out to the student, expressing your concerns, and refer him or her to UCS if necessary. Listed below are suggestions to consider when reaching out to a student:
Make the student feel comfortable by talking in private.
Express your concerns in a direct, straightforward manner.
Listen carefully to his or her concerns.
Avoid criticizing or sounding judgmental.
Determine whether a referral to UCS would be beneficial.
Remember that the student has a right to accept, think over, or refuse your recommendations.
If a student resists help and you are still concerned, it may be helpful to discuss your concerns with a member of the UCS staff. Again, we cannot make uninvited phone calls to students, but can provide you with suggestions and support.
If you have more serious concerns about a student, offer to walk the student to the UCS office. In emergency situations, call 911 or PSU Campus Police before contacting UCS. Do not delay attending to issues that concern safety.
Faculty and staff can strongly recommend counseling, but the decision ultimately rests with the student. Counseling is a personal choice and cannot be mandated. At the same time, you can assist students who may be ambivalent about seeking professional help in a number of ways.
Normalize the process of pursuing counseling.
Reassure the student that going to counseling doesn’t mean that he or she is "crazy."
Let the student know there is no problem too big or too small for treatment.
Inform the student that there is no charge for the first appointment, and he or she can speak to a counselor once without making a commitment to ongoing therapy.
Explain the UCS confidentiality policy: that any information shared during his or her counseling session is kept strictly confidential and that notations of counseling services are not part of his or her academic record at PSU.
Explore the student’s fears and concerns about seeking help. Some individuals may feel that counseling is an admission of weakness or failure; explain that it takes considerable courage and integrity to face oneself, acknowledge his or her limitations, and admit a need for assistance.
Suggest that the student visit our website to become familiar with the services we offer prior to seeking treatment.
No. The student seeking counseling services must be the one to schedule an appointment. Faculty and staff are encouraged to walk with students to the UCS office located in the Bryant Student Health Center or call with the student present (620-235-4452).
In urgent situations, students will meet with a UCS staff member that day. In non-emergent situations, students are offered the next available one-and-a-half-hour initial appointment opening that fits with the student's schedule.
Faculty and staff are eligible for an initial appointment with UCS and can receive assistance for referral services. We do not provide long-term counseling services to faculty or staff.