Phone: 516.572.7698
Mission
The Psychological Counseling Unit at Nassau Community College aims to enhance the
emotional well-being of our students and thereby promote their personal and academic
success. To this aim we offer clinically competent, evidence based free psychotherapeutic
services as well as crisis intervention, diagnostic intake and referral services.
Through our programs for students and faculty we increase awareness of our services
and educate the campus community about psychological issues which impact our students
and work to increase accessibility and inclusivity.
The Psychological Counseling Center offers students psychological assessment, counseling,
crisis intervention and referrals. All services are offered at no cost.
While college life can be an exciting time, it can also be stressful. If you feel
that the demands of college are overwhelming and you begin to feel too stressed, or
perhaps personal problems are interfering with your academics, then counseling may
be helpful to you. For many students, addressing academic, social or emotional issues
effectively enhances their ability to do better in school.
What kinds of problems are appropriate to discuss with a Psychological Counselor?
The answer is: anything that is a concern for you. Some of the issues that concern students include:
- relationship problems
- academic stress
- anxiety
- depression
- substance abuse
- sexual concerns
- identity issues
When you meet your counselor for the first time (also considered the assessment) you
will have an opportunity to discuss what brought you to counseling and what you are
feeling. You and your counselor will talk about what is the best plan for you. You
may benefit from 2-3 sessions to address a specific concern or it may be beneficial
to have additional sessions to discuss more complex issues. Referrals are sometimes
provided for students who wish to pursue longer term treatment and for students who
require a higher level of care or specialized treatment. Therefore, depending on the
type and complexity of the problem (s), school-based counseling may be recommended
or a referral may be provided to a therapist, mental health center or hospital off-campus.
Counseling services are private and confidential. No one outside the center is informed
that you have come to us for help, unless you give us written consent. Counseling
is not part of your academic record.
What are the exceptions to confidentiality? Information shared by you will not be
disclosed to anyone outside the counseling office, except in unusual circumstances
such as a court subpoena or imminent danger to yourself or someone else. As your team
of professionals, our counseling staff may consult one another in order to improve
the quality of our services to you. If you have questions regarding the nature of
confidentiality, please ask your counselor.
To make an appointment, you can call us at 516.572.7698. We will do our best to find
a time that meets your needs.
If you are in a crisis situation, you will be seen right away. If you are in a crisis
when the office is closed call Public Safety at 516.572.7111 or you may go to your
nearest emergency room.
One of the benefits of seeking professional counseling is that the counselors are
able to be objective; they are not involved in your daily life as are your friends
or family. Counselors explore your problems with you, actively listen and help you
to find ways to remove the obstacles to growth and change.
Check out this
3 minute video by the National Alliance on Mental Health “ Starting the Conversation.” It discusses
how to address mental health issues while in college.
If you are concerned about a student, please call us. We will be happy to assist you
in determining whether a referral is needed.
If you are interested in having one of our counselors conduct a workshop for your
class on mental health or substance abuse issues, please contact us. Periodically,
our staff makes class visits to conduct workshops and to discuss our services.
