Connecting with the JCU Counseling Center

Dear Students,

JCU’s Counseling Center remains more committed than ever to supporting our new and returning students during these challenging times. We recognize that many of you may be struggling with anxiety, grief, sadness, confusion, loneliness and other difficulties in the midst of navigating a global health pandemic, financial hardships, increased social disconnection, and continued racial injustice and unrest. Whatever struggles you may be experiencing, and regardless of how and where you’ll be learning this semester, the Counseling Center is here to help.

As planned prior to the university’s decision earlier this month, the Counseling Center will deliver all services virtually for the 2020 fall semester. The center’s decision was made to prioritize the health and safety of the JCU community, and because research shows that tele-therapy services are equally as effective as in-person therapy services. 

How does a student connect with the Counseling Center?

The Counseling Center is typically able to provide a student’s initial appointment on the same day the student first contacts the center. Call 216-397-4283 to schedule an appointment. Or go to our website at jcu.edu/counselingcenter and click on the “online portal” to request an appointment online.

What are the Counseling Center’s Services?

All students currently residing in the state of Ohio are eligible for ongoing counseling (1-on-1 talk therapy) and ongoing psychiatry (psychiatric medication management) appointments from our center. Our Counseling Center staff is obtaining temporary licensure in several states to serve most out-of-state JCU students, so no matter where you live, please contact the front desk at 216-397-4283 to determine if you are eligible for ongoing services. If an out-of-state student is not eligible for ongoing services due to licensing restrictions, the Counseling Center will provide them with at least one consultation with one of our therapists, and will work with the student to help them connect with a provider local to them.

The Counseling Center also provides a number of services beyond ongoing counseling and psychiatry. The following services are available to ALL students, no matter your current state of residence: 

Let’s Talk: virtual drop-in consultations with a therapist on Mondays from 3-4 p.m., Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m., and Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. These are not ongoing counseling appointments, and they do not require an appointment or paperwork. Visit the Counseling Center website and click on the “Let’s Talk” page to learn more.

Educational Workshops: the center will hold weekly virtual workshops that focus on developing one’s coping and relaxation skills. Students are eligible to attend these workshops even if they are not using our counseling services. Workshops will begin by the start of October.

TAO - Online Guided Self-Help Modules: the center is finalizing a contract with TAO (Therapy Assistance Online), an online platform that provides 6-8 weeks of guided, interactive self-help modules and tools to address a number of common college student concerns including depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, and substance use. TAO can be used as a supplement to counseling, or an alternative to counseling.

Referral Assistance: the center provides referral assistance to students in need of a higher level of care or more specialized services than we can provide, and to students residing in a state where they are ineligible for ongoing counseling or psychiatry services through our office. Our staff will work with students to help them get connected to services in their area of residence that meet their mental health needs and financial means.

Have questions about how the Counseling Center can support you? Don’t hesitate to call 216-397-4283 or e-mail counselingcenter@jcu.edu.  

Sincerely,

Mark D. McCarthy, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Affairs