Our Services
The ETSU Counseling Center provides counseling and related services to students with the primary mission of helping them succeed at the University. Detailed information can be found throughout this website.
ETSU COUNSELING CENTER SCOPE OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
The ETSU Counseling Center provides counseling and related services to students with the primary mission of helping them succeed at the University. The Center is staffed with Psychologists and Counselors who provide time limited, brief psychotherapy to help students learn skills to more effectively cope with the developmental issues, stressors, or other mental health concerns that may impede their educational and/or social development. Limited psychiatric services are also made available to students to compliment therapy. All students who receive psychiatric services are also required to be involved in therapy in the Center. The limited mission of the ETSU Counseling Center is necessitated due to limited staffing and resources. As such, students who are assessed to have more severe psychological issues that are determined to be best served through long term therapy and/or ongoing psychiatric care will be referred to outside providers in the community. These students will be given three referral contacts and will be seen for a limited number of sessions to facilitate the referral.One of the key considerations for the referral policy is to promote appropriate services for students with more severe psychological issues whose progress may be negatively impacted by abandonment issues. Students who are determined to have more severe psychological issues may be seen in the Center if time limited goals are identified that promote their retention in the University. Examples of students who will be referred to community resources include, but are not limited to, those who have issues such as severe chronic depression or anxiety, severe personality disorders, bipolar disorder, thought disorder, severe substance abuse or dependence, or any student who will require ongoing therapy, medication and psychiatric services.
How to Initiate Counseling:
The Counseling Center invites all students to come during our walk-in hours for an intake appointment:
10:00am - 11:30am or 2:00pm - 3:30pm, Monday through Thursday
If you are unable to come during those times please call (423) 439-4841 to arrange an intake appointment.
What To Expect:
During the initial meeting the intake counselor, in collaboration with the student, will recommend services within the Counseling Center, at other ETSU departments, or in the larger Johnson City community. In addition the student will be assisted in obtaining the appropriate services to meet their needs.
The Center is staffed with licensed psychologists, therapists, and social workers, as well as psychiatric residents and graduate-level counseling students. We provide limited, brief psychotherapy (maximum of 12 sessions) to help students learn effective coping skills for dealing with the developmental issues, stressors, or other mental health concerns that may impede educational or social development.
Some of the issues that are commonly addressed in short-term counseling at the Counseling Center are:
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Personal Issues: stress and anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, guilt, low self-esteem, grief.
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Relationship Issues: romantic relationship difficulties, sexual concerns, roommate problems, family issues.
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Developmental Issues: identity development, adjustment to college, life transition.
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Academic Concerns: performance anxiety, perfectionism, underachievement, low motivation.
- Other Issues: Effects of trauma, sexual assault, abuse, concerns from childhood or adolescence, spiritual concerns, body image, food preoccupation, healthy lifestyle choices, and mild or moderate substance abuse problems
The limited mission of the ETSU Counseling Center is necessary due to limited staffing and resources. As such, students who are assessed to have more severe psychological issues that would be best served through long term therapy and/or ongoing psychiatric care will be referred (at least 3 referrals) to outside providers in the community.
Some of the issues that are commonly addressed through referral to services outside of the Counseling Center include:
- A desire to be seen more than once a week or for long-term therapy, or a 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, Inability or unwillingness to provide the necessary information to thoroughly assess symptoms
- Students who need specialized services not available through the Counseling Center as indicated by:
Presence of significant drug and/or alcohol problems such as substance dependence, primary substance abuse, and/or past failed substance-abuse 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 employment clearance or other nonacademic purpose, Services to fulfill students' court-mandated assessment or treatment requirements
Outreach Services for Faculty and Staff
Outreach Services for Students
Personal Counseling
Psychiatric Services
Training Opportunities