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Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located and what are your hours?

Denton - West Jones Hall
In the fall and spring semesters, the Counseling Center on the Denton Campus is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   Summer and semester break hours for the Denton Campus are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dallas* - Presbyterian, Room 16
Parkland - Room 120
Houston* -  3rd Floor, South Residence Hall

*Hours for the Dallas and Houston centers are posted at each center, as they change according to student needs.

What kinds of services do you provide?

The Counseling Center is the campus agency designated to provide psychological services to TWU students, including individual, group, couples, crisis, and career counseling.   These services are designed to help students achieve their educational goals, learn the process of problem solving and decision making, develop the capacity for satisfying relationships, and learn to make full use of their potential for continued growth beyond their educational experience. For a complete list of services, click here .

Who is eligible for services?    How many sessions am I eligible for?

Services are available to TWU students registered in the term for which they are seeking services. There is a limit of twelve individual and/or couples counseling sessions per academic year and unlimited group therapy sessions. When appropriate, spouses, significant others, roommates, and family members may be seen in counseling with the student.

Is there a charge for services?

There are no costs to enrolled students for counseling services. A minimal fee is charged for certain tests typically used in conjunction with career exploration.

How do I make an appointment?     What can I expect at the intake?

Call or stop by the center on your campus to make an initial 45 minute intake appointment. The first 15 minutes are spent completing paperwork. You will then meet with a counselor for up to 30 minutes to get some understanding of your concerns and to determine the most appropriate services for the issues you have. You may be referred to a counselor for individual counseling and/or to a group focusing on issues of concern to you. If all individual counselors' schedules are filled, you will be placed on a waiting list. Students with urgent or crisis situations are given priority and are scheduled immediately.

Denton:    (940) 898-3801

Houston: (713) 794-2059

Dallas:     

Parkland (214) 689-6655

Presby     (214) 706-2416

How long is each session and how often are they scheduled?

Generally, sessions are 50 minutes and scheduled once a week.   You will usually have the same appointment time and day every week unless other arrangements are made with your counselor.  

What can I expect at my first visit?

It is very common for students to be nervous when starting therapy, especially if it is the first time.    In the first session, your counselor will ask questions about your concerns and gather background information.   During this time, the counselor is gaining an understanding about your reasons for seeking counseling.   In general, the therapist will discuss expectations, goals, and her/his approach to counseling.  

How confidential is the information I give my counselor?

We realize counseling is a personal matter.   The Counseling Center maintains confidentiality to the limits provided by law. No record of counseling is contained in any academic, educational, or job placement file, and information about counseling is only released with the student's written permission. The only exception would be in cases mandated by law, such as imminent danger to self or others; abuse of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities; sexual exploitation of therapy clients by therapists; or a court subpoena.

What kinds of concerns / problems do students bring to the center?

Students may receive help for any social, emotional, educational, personal or vocational issues.   It is common for students to seek the assistance of a counselor while in college.   Being in college or graduate school entails many normal developmental changes and challenges, including leaving home, choosing majors, negotiating intimate relationships, and moving on when graduation approaches.   Other student concerns include depression, anxiety, eating problems, self-esteem issues, sexuality, identity development, family distress and trauma, and stress.   Some students seek counseling in response to a traumatic event in their lives, such as grief over the death of a loved one, rape, sexual abuse, or thoughts of suicide.   Still other students may use our services for academic concerns such as time management, low motivation, conflict with an instructor, procrastination, and anxiety related to test-taking, speeches or other academic performance issues.   It is common for people to want to find someone to talk to while dealing with some of these complex issues.  

In an emergency, how do I contact someone when the counseling center is closed?

When the center is open any enrolled student, who is having a crisis or emergency situation which can't wait for a regular intake appointment, can come to the center and will be seen by a counselor as soon as possible.   The center has a counselor on call after hours (except when the university is officially closed).   Call the DPS office on your campus and inform them that you need to talk with the counselor on call and you have an emergency.   They will ask you for your name and phone number in order to page the counselor.   A counselor will call you as soon as possible.   In a life-threatening situation, you should call 911 immediately.   When the university is officially closed, voice messages on the Counseling Center telephone on your campus will direct you to local community resources.

Who are the counselors?

The Counseling Center has a diverse group of individuals on staff, including several licensed psychologists and a variety of graduate level students in training, who provide a safe and caring environment in which students may explore their concerns.   All staff members adhere to the ethical principles of the American Psychological Association.   For a current list of staff members, click here .

How can I help a friend who is troubled?

TWU is a very caring community.   We watch out and care for others.   We all have expertise and experience in dealing with some issues.   No one has the expertise or experience to deal with all issues.   Talking with a friend about their concerns is a caring thing to do.   Sometimes, the concern is overwhelming or uncomfortable for you or goes beyond what you know your experience can help with.   At these times, the most caring thing you may be able to do is to help your friend find someone with expertise or experience in these issues.   This could be a family member, a teacher, a counselor, a minister, or others.   To read some basic information about dealing with someone who is distressed, click here .

Why won't the Counseling Center communicate with me by e-mail?

The Counseling Center is committed to do the most it can to ensure that information about you is kept confidential, including information that you are even a client of the Counseling Center.   E-mail is not yet a secure medium and it is relatively easy for others to capture and distribute it if you are not careful.   Also, many people believe that e-mail is a faster mode of communication between themselves and another person.   Counselors cannot and do not sit at their computers monitoring messages as they arrive.   Because of this, messages that might suggest threat may not be seen by someone for hours or days.   So, both to protect your privacy and to insure you receive the best care, we do not use e-mail to communicate with clients or potential clients.

What if I want information but don't want to come to talk to someone?

The Counseling Center web site contains a number of links which allow you to:  

•  anonymously assess yourself on six different issues (depression, eating concerns, bi-polar, general anxiety, alcohol, post-traumatic stress)

•  find information about a variety of topics in our self-help library ;

•  find more self-help information from counseling centers around the country ;

•  watch workshops about popular student issues (stress, anxiety, procrastination, etc.);

•  be referred to the American Psychological Association Public Help Center web site .  

If, after viewing this information you feel more help is needed, you may call the Counseling Center to make an initial appointment.

Can You Help Me Withdraw From Classes?

Students wishing to withdraw from classes for the semester must speak with the Office of the Vice President for Student Life, Student Center 206, x3615. They can help you determine your needs and help you through the process. If they believe our office can also be of some help, they will refer you to us.