Counseling FAQ

 

Frequently Asked Questions


“I think may benefit from counseling, but I’m nervous and don’t know what to say. What do I talk about?”

Sometimes it’s difficult to talk with someone you aren’t familiar with. Remember, counseling is all about you, your goals, and what you want to discuss or change. Simply sharing your hesitation with your counselor is a great place to start. One helpful tip is to think about what it is you want to gain from counseling, so you already have an idea of what you want to talk about.

“My roommate saw the counselor in the Cafe, and she didn’t speak to her. Isn’t that rude?”

Counseling is confidential, and counselors want to respect the privacy of their client. If a student wishes to approach the counselor to speak or say hello, the counselor will absolutely respond, but will not discuss personal information in public.

“I have a busy schedule. How often will I have to come to counseling?”

This will be based on your goals in counseling, determined between you and your counselor, and intermittently evaluated.

“My friend is going through a lot; what do I do if I think she/he may benefit from counseling?”

If you are concerned for your friend’s safety, or if your friend may be in crisis, do not wait to talk with them about counseling. Call UPD immediately. If it is a mental health emergency, they will get in touch with the counselor. If your friend is not in a crisis situation, please check out the referral page for more information.

“My roommate goes to counseling, and we both have the same counselor. How will I know the counselor won’t talk with them about me?”

Confidentiality is taken seriously in counseling. Your counselor is bound by confidentiality to not discuss cases with anyone other than their supervisor. Even when directly asked about a client in counselor, your counselor cannot confirm nor deny that they know clients.

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