QUESTION: What kind of counseling services does the Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) provide for New Paltz first year students?
ANSWER: The PCC is a psychological counseling service, which provides group and short-term individual psychological counseling for registered New Paltz students when clinically appropriate and available. Since the developmental task most challenging for traditional college students is the establishment of autonomy and interpersonal relationships, group therapy is the PCC's primary therapy modality. Examples of groups include: Men/Women Interpersonal Support, Women of Color Group, Womens Psychotherapy Group.
Our short-term individual psychotherapy model has a maximum number of individual psychotherapy sessions per academic year. Costs for our service are not an additional fee at this time.
QUESTION: What are the credentials and accrediting standards of the PCC?
ANSWER: The educational background of the PCC professional staff (N=4) includes Ph.D.s in Counseling and/or Clinical Psychology and a D.S.W. in Social Work, all with specialties in university and college student developmental and psychological issues. Our consulting psychiatrist has a M.D. in adolescent and young adult psychiatric services.
The Center is the college's primary training site for the MA in Counseling program within the SUNY New Paltz Psychology Department, with approximately eight MA-level counselors at the PCC as Interns and Practicum students, providing counseling under PCC staff clinical supervision. The campus peer student volunteer hotline, OASIS and HAVEN, provides a crisis intervention anonymous phone hotline and walk-in service.
The Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. and adheres to the ethical and confidentiality guidelines of the psychology profession. Although we do provide some information regarding careers and advising, the campus houses separate Centers for Career Resources, Academic Advising and Disability Resources.
QUESTION: What other services are provided by the PCC for my son/daughter?
ANSWER: Academic Success Program: Time Management, Test Anxiety, Power Reading, Writing Blocks, Psychological Hardiness and Procrastination workshops are provided in the PCC during the academic year.
Crisis counseling/management: The PCC links with University Police, the Residence Halls, Student Affairs and faculty in order to respond to psychological emergencies. Our service has a liaison with the county's mental health emergency hospital, Benedictine Hospital.
Consultation: PCC professional staff is experts in mental health issues of college students and are available for consultation, usually by phone, to family members, siblings, friends, roommates and to students. These consultations range from concerns about homesickness to eating disorders to specific questions about suicidal behaviors.
Outreach services: PCC staff conducts on-site developmental and preventive workshops in the resident halls covering a broad range of topics including but not limited to anxiety management, sexual assault prevention, suicide prevention, body image and substance abuse.
Referral services: PCC maintains listings of community-based therapists with a broad range of expertise for longer-term treatment than is provided by the PCC.
QUESTION: How might I speak with a PCC staff member during Orientation?
ANSWER: During Summer Orientation, PCC staff is involved and available for students during the 'Realities' discussion and for family members during the Services Fair and the 'Letting Go' presentation. If you miss seeing them, you can call the Center directly at 845 257-2920.
QUESTION: What might I expect during my son/daughter's transition to college?
ANSWER: Of course every student responds to the challenges of college differently. If your son or daughter has gone away from home before, their reaction to college may be very similar. If this is the first time they are leaving home for any period of time, their transition may include periods of feeling lonely, isolated, apprehensive and insecure. It is important that you listen to their feelings and reinforce their strengths. Encourage their involvement with other students and with student organizations, yet, remember the personalities of your child. The key is to provide them with just enough challenge that they can handle the challenge and feel successful! You can both work to develop a new more adult relationship of mutual respect, sharing stories and enjoying this time of your and their lives. You still represent important guidelines for decision making and although they may be 18, your advice and involvement are best continued.
QUESTION: What is homesickness?
ANSWER: Homesickness is a term used to describe what may be experienced as physical symptoms of nausea, sleeplessness and apprehension. When this occurs during a time that an individual is actually away from home and away from either the physical or the psychological aspects of 'security,' then the symptoms may be homesickness. Speaking directly about losses and sadness seems to decrease homesickness, especially when shared with another person who is also experiencing homesickness. Yet it is additionally important to establish a sense of security in the student's new environment, such as establishing new friends, connecting with a faculty member or speaking about how you are feeling with your Resident Assistant. Homesickness, regarded as a normal part of the transition to college, may occur within the first six weeks or as late as the second semester of the First Year. Referral to the PCC is suggested if the symptoms begin to interfere with the student's functioning.
QUESTION: What is the best way to set up psychological counseling services for my son/daughter?
ANSWER: If your student already has an established therapist, we recommend that this topic be discussed as a part of their therapy with the knowledge that services at New Paltz PCC are short term in nature. If long-term counseling is preferred, contact the PCC prior to starting college and we will facilitate a referral to a local private practitioner. Although college is a very exciting time, it is also very new and therefore may be stressful. This is NOT a good time to stop therapy or to stop medication! Continue with your therapy and meds at least through the first six weeks of classes!! While some students do well with what is called "Phone Therapy", we have found that face-to-face therapy sessions seem to prevent the development of crises, thus, we recommend continuing face-to-face sessions at home or establishing a therapeutic relationship with a local therapist in the New Paltz area.
If your student wants to begin short -term psychotherapy at our Center, contact our center prior to beginning college in the fall and consult with one of our staff members. Staff can help determine if group or short-term psychotherapy at the PCC will be preferable or if a referral to a private practitioner will be most helpful in your student's transition to college.
QUESTION: What if it is very late in the night and a student is experiencing a psychological or emotional crisis?
ANSWER: Twenty-four emergency crisis consultation and assessment is provided to the campus community by PCC staff through a well-coordinated protocol system with resident life staff and university police. Resident life staff can access PCC staff after hours for consultation. PCC staff will get on the phone with student if warranted especially when the situation involves suicidal threats or behavior, sexual assault or acute anxiety. At that time, a determination will be made regarding hospitalization for further evaluation or appointment will be given to be seen immediately the next day for further assessment OR a parent may call the local hospital emergency room for information about hospital emergency mental health services.
QUESTION: How long does it take to get an appointment?
ANSWER: Intake appointments are generally available within a week. Students call our main number, 257-2920, and ask for an appointment. Emergency hours are available and accessible by determination of the PCC staff member. During certain times of the academic year, in October and April, the PCC has a waiting list, although generally students are able to come in for at least one session prior to being put on a Wait List.
QUESTION: Is there a fee for service?
ANSWER: No. There is no fee for services. Currently registered New Paltz student is eligible for services when clinically appropriate or available.
QUESTION: My son/daughter is on a psychotropic medication. What should I do?
ANSWER: Your son/daughter should maintain their established relationship with their psychiatrist or physician to continue monitoring their medication as determined and agreed upon prior to their leaving home for college. Most students are able to maintain their periodic medication follow-up appointment with their hometown physician; this is particularly important since psychiatric services are limited at New Paltz.
We suggest that your son/daughter discuss with their primary care physician further treatment needs. If ongoing psychotherapy is desired, then both student and therapist should contact the PCC, preferably before the beginning of the semester, to discuss treatment need and plan. Plans to go home weekly or bi-weekly for psychotherapy may be difficult due to academic demands. The transition from home to college includes establishing a secure base on campus, and that secure base may include going to therapy sessions on campus at the PCC. It is essential that students and/or therapist contact the PCC to plan for continued care during their freshman year to ensure a successful transition into the college community.
QUESTION: How might I access the PCC's Psychiatrist?
ANSWER: Access to the PCC's Psychiatrist is VERY limited. Only those students, who are actively in psychotherapy at the PCC, i.e., currently attending group or individual psychotherapy sessions, may be scheduled with our psychiatrist for medication consultation. Students thus must be in therapy with us and receive a referral by us to the psychiatrist in order to be scheduled for a medication consultation. Those clients who do receive prescriptions are responsible for the cost of any prescriptions. Please note that we do not provide medication samples to our clients. Once a client has been prescribed a psychotropic medication, meticulous follow up psychiatric sessions are scheduled with the client. Family members may help by communicating information and accessibility to your private prescription plan and/or mental health benefits to your son/daughter.
QUESTION: What if I want to speak to my son/daughter's therapist at the PCC.
ANSWER: Federal Law and Ethical Standards on confidentiality prohibit us from acknowledging, without student's signed consent, that we are seeing a student in psychotherapy. We are also prohibited from revealing whether or not a student has scheduled an appointment with the Center. A family member may, however, call the PCC and consult with the on-call staff counselor regarding your concerns. At that time, you may be counseled on how to best intervene and assist your son/daughter. If your concern suggests that the student may be suicidal or in imminent danger, PCC staff may liaison with resident life staff, other involved parties and/or the student to provide immediate support/crisis intervention.
QUESTION: What if my son/daughter is hospitalized for psychological reasons?
ANSWER: The PCC has a collaborative relationship with Benedictine Hospital, Ulster County's Mental Health emergency hospital service. When PCC is involved with a student's transport to Benedictine Hospital, we communicate with the hospital and with the student. The student will be asked by both the PCC and the hospital to inform their family member(s) about their hospitalization or emergency room visit. We will not however be able to inform you automatically about your son/daughter's hospitalization. Once the student is admitted to the hospital, the hospital's clinical social worker works to facilitate the student's contacting their parent/family member. PCC will make every effort to obtain consent to include family support. PCC may also contact parents/family members for support when a student may be in need of supervision, and/or psychological care at home due to their mental health status. Students and family members may contact the PCC and request that we inform professors of a student's absence from classes in the event of a hospitalization or family crisis.
QUESTION: What if you refer my son/daughter for treatment outside the PCC.
ANSWER: The PCC will assist in facilitating referrals to private therapists. A major obstacle to a student's follow-through with referral is their fear that their parents will find out that they are in therapy. PCC therefore encourages you to give your student advance approval and support for seeking mental health support services when and if needed. You can begin to do so by talking to your son/daughter about the support available here at PCC (although they will be told all about PCC on numerous occasions). You might also speak to them about how to access a private therapist and specifically give them your mental health coverage access information, i.e. insurance policy holder/carrier and ID number. Tell them that you would prefer they get the help, that getting help represents a strength in character and that counseling is a positive, effective way of taking good care of oneself, especially in this new adventure of college life.
The PCC encourages family members to contact us for any further questions at 845 257-2920.
ALSO SEE: "Letting Go to Grow," a program presented by Dr. Lloyd during First Year Orientation*
