1. What is counseling?
    Counseling is a process that enables a person to grow in a way that s/he chooses. Students may want to change their behavior, thoughts, or lifestyle or increase self-awareness. The counselor’s job is to help the student work towards achieving those goals for personal growth and development.
   
2. Is it Free?
    Yes, all services provided by the Counseling Center are free and confidential for currently enrolled students.
   
3. How long will counseling take? When does it “end”?
    The time-frame for counseling is dependent on a number of factors, such as the presenting issues, client readiness, and individualized plan for meeting counseling goals. For this reason, it is difficult to assign an exact time-frame for counseling. On average, students attend one-hour sessions, once per week. Participation is voluntary, and the student may terminate counseling whenever s/he is ready or when both the counselor and student agree that the student’s goals have been met.
   
4. What should I expect when I go to the Counseling Center?
    In most cases, the student is seen within 10 minutes of arrival at the Center. Upon requesting services, the student completes an intake form. Depending on scheduling and level of need, an appointment may be made for an initial assessment, which a counselor will conduct. The assessment will include a description of program services, a discussion of the presenting issue(s), and a brief personal history of the student. The assessment may include both verbal and written formats. If the counselor recommends further counseling, the student is provided with options: continuing counseling with the same counselor, another counselor at the Center, or referral to an outside agency. In some cases, the Center will also provide a referral for psychiatric evaluation. This referral is made when the counseling staff assesses that the student might benefit from medical intervention.
   
5. What happens during the counseling session?
    During the initial sessions, the counselor and student work at identifying the issues that are affecting the student. Together they work at establishing goals for counseling. The counselor will develop different strategies that may include assigned reading and/or tasks. The talk sessions allow for the student to process what s/he is experiencing and monitor his/her progress. Initially, sessions are typically one hour long, once per week. As progress is made, the one-hour sessions can be changed to bimonthly, monthly, or on an as-needed basis. Participation remains voluntary, and the student may terminate counseling whenever s/he is ready.
   
6. Who is eligible for counseling services?
    The Counseling Center provides personal counseling services to all currently enrolled UTPA students at no cost to them. Faculty and staff who are interested in counseling services may contact the Employee Assistance Program through Human Resources, or receive referrals to community agencies that provide personal counseling from the Center.
   
7. What issues do students and counselors work on?
    The counselors will work on a wide variety of issues that may be presented by the student. Issues commonly processed in counseling are (but not limited to): Stress, Family Problems, Depression, Sexual Assault, Anxiety, Abuse, Relationships, Eating Disorder, Grief/Loss, Self-Esteem, Anger Management, Assertiveness, Gender Identity, Parenting, Divorce, Academic Difficulties, Career Decisions, Harassment, Conflict Resolution, Suicidal Ideation, Domestic Violence, Health Issues, Post-Traumatic Stress, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
   
8. How can Career Counseling help me?
    Career Counseling is designed to assist students in career exploration activities through individual sessions, the Career Library, and career seminars. To facilitate the process, testing and standardized evaluation may be used to help students gain a better understanding of their academic abilities, interests, aptitudes, and personality. Testing instruments may be of special interest to students who are unsure of their choice of major or career, or who want to confirm a tentative choice. For more information about our Career Counseling services, click here.
   
9. What about privacy?
    Counseling sessions are confidential. Information about our students is not released without the permission of the student, including whether or not the student even walked into the office. Because of legal constraints, however, the Center may release information without student approval if a life-threatening emergency exists, cases involving child/elder abuse, or by subpoena or order of a judge.
   
10. Who provides the counseling services?
    Our counselors are masters-level professional counselors. They are trained to provide individual, group, and couples counseling.
   
11. Can I request a specific counselor?
    A student may request a gender preference in selecting a counselor, or may ask for a specific counselor by name; however, this may result in a delay in services.
   
12. How do I make an appointment?
    Students interested in services may call the Counseling Center at 381-2574, e-mail counseling@panam.edu or stop by our office in the University Center, Suite 109 during regular business hours. If a counselor is available, students may be seen for an initial assessment at that time. Otherwise, an appointment will be made at the earliest available date and time. Walk-ins are always welcome.
   
13. When is the Counseling Center open?
    The Counseling Center is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., except on designated holidays.
   
14. What if I want counseling services off-campus?
    Counseling is available off-campus at no-cost or a sliding-scale fee (ability-to-pay). A counselor at the Center can make referrals for community resources based upon your needs or concerns.
   
15. I’m still not sure counseling is for me. Where can I get more information?
    Many students are initially apprehensive about receiving counseling services. Our counselors will be more than happy to answer any questions students may have about the counseling process or the Counseling Center. Stop by our office, call, e-mail (counseling@panam.edu), or check out the other information about counseling on this site.
   
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