We provide FREE confidential, short-term, mental health counseling to all currently enrolled ETSU students.
What is personal counseling?
Personal counseling is regular and on-going for a short amount of time. At The Counseling Center this can be individual or couples counseling.
Problems that are more immediate, short-term or not time-sensitive may be addressed better by some of our other services:
People often confuse our counseling services with academic advisement or career guidance. Personal counseling is focused on emotional, psychological, or interpersonal issues. Counselors listen carefully to your concerns and help you reach specific goals. Reaching those goals sometimes means learning new skills, changing behavioral habits, or learning to view a situation differently.
People typically come to counseling because they are struggling with life circumstance, experiencing emotional or psychological pain, dealing with the negative consequences of substance use or behavioral addictions, or wishing to improve their lives in some other way.
While people seek counseling for many reasons, some of the common issues addressed in counseling include:
- Coping with stress
- Managing anxiety
- Improving mood and overcoming depression
- Enhancing self-esteem
- Surviving grief and loss
- Adjusting to college
- Concerns about the future
- Improving relationships with partners
- Dealing with emotional trauma (e.g. abuse, assault)
- Understanding sexual orientation and identity
- Coping with family and childhood issues
- Overcoming substance abuse
- Reducing behavioral addictions (gambling, pornography, internet gaming, etc...)
Most people can benefit from counseling at some time in their lives. Seeking professional assistance is a sign of good coping skills and intelligence, not a sign of weakness.
Who are your counselors?
Our Center is staffed by licensed counselors, clinical social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists.
As an active clinical training site for several ETSU academic programs, we are also staffed by Master's and Doctoral-level counseling, social work and psychology students. Our interns are embraced as significant members of The Counseling Center team and practice all components of our services. All clinical interns receive direct on-site supervision from our licensed senior clinical staff.
How do I begin personal counseling?
To begin personal counseling you will need to stop by during our walk-in hours for a needs assessment. Unless you are in crisis, this will involve filling out an on-line application and symptom screen, followed by a 30-minute one-on-one interview with one of our counselors.
We are usually able to schedule a first appointment with a counselor specifically matched to your needs within a week. You will be contacted by phone and/or email to schedule this.
Walk-in Needs Assessment Hours
Monday-Thursday
10-11:30 am & 2-4:00 pm
If you are unable to make these time, please call to schedule an intake appointment.
Walk-in hours are first-come, first serve. Due to high volume we may occasionally ask a student to return during the next scheduled walk-in period.
Occasionally students with more severe or chronic psychological or substance use issues that would be best served through long-term therapy are referred to an outside provider in the community. We are available to assist students with this process.
In additiion, sometimes we refer students to one of our on-campus groups for therapy.
Make an Appointment
If you are already a client, call our front desk to schedule an appointment.
If you are a new client, use our walk-in hours for an initial interview.
Guinevere Therapy Dog
Director's Message on Emotional
Support Animals
Medication Refill Policy
We need 72 business hours (M-F) in order to refill a prescription.
If there was a typo or other error in the text of a prescription you have already received, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can assist you.
Please note that the University is closed every year the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. We are unable to provide any refills or other medication adjustments during this time. Please plan accordingly.
