Student Counseling Services

Some of the issues that are commonly addressed in short-term counseling at the Student Counseling Center are:

• Personal concerns: Stress and anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, guilt, low self-esteem, grief
• Relationship concerns: Romantic relationship difficulties, sexual concerns, roommate problems, family issues.
• Developmental concerns: Identity development, adjustment to college, life transitions
• Academic concerns: Performance anxiety, perfectionism, underachievement, low motivation
• Other concerns: Effects of trauma, sexual assault, abuse, concerns from childhood or adolescence, spiritual concerns, body image, food preoccupation, healthy lifestyle choices, substance use

Students whose needs cannot be accommodated within short-term counseling are referred to community resources.  Similarly, students whose needs require a particular type of expertise that is not found in the Student Counseling Center are also referred into the community. The Student Counseling Center provides referral services either after the initial session or as these factors become more apparent during the course of services. The counselors can provide referral options that we believe will best meet a student’s needs.

The Student Counseling Center does provide crisis response and treatment recommendations. Our Center offers crisis walk-in sessions to assess, support, and provide resources to students in crisis.

Additionally, we have a certified victim advocate on staff that can help provide support to students that are victims of crime. Our advocate can offer information, emotional support, and help in finding community resources. Our advocate will also accompany victims to court or other administrative hearings, as needed.

Some of the issues that are commonly addressed through referral to services outside of the Student Counseling Center include:

1. A desire to be seen more than once a week or for long-term therapy, or a potential need for such, as indicated by:

• History of multiple hospitalizations
• Chronic suicidality and/or self-injury behaviors; history of repeated suicide attempts
• Indication that short-term therapy may be detrimental or non-beneficial
• Evidence or risk of progressive deterioration in mental or emotional functioning, requiring intensive intervention
• Manifestations of psychotic symptoms without willingness to remain on medication for stabilization of symptoms
• History of unwillingness to take other medications as prescribed
• Inability or unwillingness to provide the necessary information to thoroughly assess symptoms
• On-going treatment for an issue the client is unwilling to change or unwillingness to follow the treatment plan developed by the client and counselor
• Other unwillingness to participate in treatment, as defined by excessive no-shows, repeated stops and starts to counseling, and/or repeated requests to change providers
• Behavior that is threatening or hostile to the staff, other students, or the environment of the Student Counseling Center and the Texas A&M University – Texarkana campus. This includes any behavior deemed to be harassing, verbally abusive, disruptive, or assaultive towards staff or other clients of the Student Counseling Center

2. Students who need specialized services not available through the Student Counseling Center as indicated by:

• Presence of significant drug and/or alcohol problems such substance dependence, primary substance abuse, and/or past failed treatments
• Presence of significant or long-standing eating disorder with no period of remission, no previous treatment, or that may pose a medical danger
• Request for psychological evaluation for the purpose of employment clearance or other nonacademic purpose, such as determining eligibility for vocational rehabilitation or disability benefits
• Services to fulfill students' court-mandated assessment or treatment requirements
• Expert testimony for criminal cases
• Psychological testing to diagnose potential disabilities, including learning disabilities
• Assessments for mental “fitness” for participation in study abroad, athletics, other academic or extracurricular programs, or career fields
• Assessments or letters for service, therapy, or emotional support animals
• Psychological clearance for transgender hormone treatments or gender reassignment surgery, gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries, or other medical or surgical procedures, due to our staff not having specific training or certifications in these highly specialized clinical areas of concern
• Any other area outside the scope of the Student Counseling Center, experience and/or licensure, including assessments more suitable to other mental health specialists

Although faculty and staff are not permitted to be clients of the Student Counseling Center, they may be assisted by referral information to community resources and to the Employee Assistance Program utilized by Texas A&M University – Texarkana.

This description of scope of services is intended as a guideline. The nature and complexity of presenting issues and the broader context is considered in making the appropriate treatment recommendation(s). Cases are evaluated individually and the professional judgment of the mental health provider(s) will determine the treatment decision in a particular situation.