Counseling Center

You'll meet one-on-one with a counselor, and work together to discuss your goals and create a plan to address your concerns. You can walk in for your initial in-person session, but if you want a virtual appointment you need to schedule that in advance.

Whether you're having an issue with a roommate, friend, or intimate partner, a counselor can help you have a more satisfying relationship. The first session for Relationship Counseling usually takes 90-120 minutes; other sessions are 45 minutes. Everyone must be a current UCM student to be eligible for relationship counseling, and these sessions must be scheduled in advance, not through the walk-in option.

If you think a student is in IMMEDIATE danger of attempting suicide, call 911, or UCM Public Safety at 660-543-4123, or take the person to the nearest Emergency Department (in Warrensburg that's Western Missouri Medical Center, 403 Burkarth Rd.

If you believe a student may possibly be suicidal, share that information with one of the following people or offices:

• Corey Bowman, Associate Vice President for Student Experience and Engagement, at 660-543-4114 or Administration Building, Suite 214
• Counseling Center at 660-543-4060 or Humphreys Building, Suite 131
• Public Safety at 660-543-4123 or 306 Broad Street (24 hours, 7 days a week)
• A readily available university employee, such as Housing staff, a faculty member, student organization advisor, or any other University employee with whom you are familiar
• You can also call 988, the national Suicide & Crisis Line.

Group therapy offers supportive and affirming spaces for you to discuss challenges and build connections, through support and feedback from other participants as well as by the facilitators.

• Generally there's a maximum number of participants.
• Group facilitators will often screen group members before they join the group.
• No pressure to disclose any information you're not comfortable sharing.
• Includes other students looking for support around a shared identity or lived experience.
• You must attend continuously to get the full benefit.
• Requires an initial consultation.

LGBTQIA+ Therapy Group (virtual)

• Ongoing group that's open to the variety of self-defined identities along the gender & sexuality spectrums.
• Here you'll find connection, get support, work through concerns in a safe and supportive environment, get your peers' perspectives, and see that you're not alone.
• Topics we'll cover could include things like legal/cultural issues, coming out, spirituality, family relationships, depression, self-esteem, romantic relationships, identity development, and more.
• You need to be physically located in the state of Missouri for all sessions due to counselors' licensing conditions.
• Group will be held via Zoom Health.
• Call us at 660-543-4060 to complete a phone screening to see if you might be eligible.
• Date/times to be decided; watch this space for updates.

RIO: Recognition, Insight, Openness (virtual)

• This is a 3 week structured group that invites, but does not require, your interaction.
• Ideally you'll attend all three meetings, since the content builds on previous weeks. 
• Learn mindfulness skills to identify why you’re feeling the emotions you are, and accept them.
• These skills will help you change your relationship with stress, anxiety, and emotional discomfort for the better.
• Identify what’s most important to you and act accordingly.
• You need to be physically located in the state of Missouri for all sessions due to counselors' licensing conditions.
• Group will be held via Zoom Health.
• Call us at 660-543-4060 to complete a phone screening to see if you might be eligible.
• Date/times to be decided; watch this space for updates.

• Mostly focused on the development of new skills.
• Workshops tend to be intermittent and take place in series, not requiring continuous attendance.
• There is no necessary screening; Initial Consultation not required.
• Educational in nature; not considered therapy. Attending a workshop does not make you a client of the UCM Counseling Center.

Anxiety Management Workshop

• This is a 4-part series to help you learn more about anxiety.
• Date/times to be decided; watch this space for updates.
• Attend one or more of the 4 sessions, as you like.
• Sessions will be held via Zoom Health.
• Click here to access the workshop at the scheduled time.
• Click here for the participant manual. Please download and/or print it ahead of time. 

Available 24/7 on Blackboard, these videos are designed to strengthen your skills for managing common stressors of college life:

• Better Sleep
• Dealing with Grief
• Failure Isn't Final
• Healthier Thinking Habits
• Healthy Relationships
• Healthy Sexual Relationships
• Managing Anxiety
• Managing Emotions
• Motivation
• Relationship Red Flags
• Relaxation
• Resiliency
• Self-Care
• Stress Management

How to access Mental Fitness workshops on Blackboard:

1. Login to Blackboard.
2. Click on “Organizations” at the left.
3. Click on the “Organization Catalog” book icon in the upper right-hand corner of your webpage.
4. Type "Mental Fitness" into the empty field.
5. Click on the down arrow next to the COURSE ID then click on "Enroll.”

From then on, Mental Fitness Online should automatically show up in your “Organizations” tab.

UCM Experiences Transcript

Complete 5 workshops in an academic year (August 1 - July 31) and get credit on your UCM Experiences Transcript! Find yours in MyCentral/Student/Activities. Your Experiences Transcript is a great reference for scholarship applications and letters of recommendation.

BodyU is a free interactive self-help program fostering health and wellness and covers general fitness, healthy eating habits, coping skills, anxiety- and stress-reduction techniques, and how to more positively evaluate your self-image. 

Your Body U program is tailored to your unique needs through an anonymous 5-10 minute screening. You'll then receive personal feedback and gain access to FREE online/mobile app programs. 

The program is based on 30+ years of research conducted at Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis and is being offered to UCM students for free.

If you'd like to work with a counselor for a longer time than the Counseling Center can provide, or if you're looking for specialized care, we'll help you explore those options in the community that are accessible and affordable.

Counseling Center staff can speak to UCM organizations, groups, clubs, classes, etc. about a variety of topics related to psychological health and well-being.

To request a Counseling Center presentation, please email counselingcenter@ucmo.edu. You will be contacted within a few days about your request. If you have any questions, call 660-543-4060.

A UCM employee who has reason to believe a student is in IMMEDIATE danger of attempting suicide should immediately call 911, or UCM Public Safety at 660-543-4123.

A UCM employee who has reason to believe a student may possibly be suicidal should immediately notify one of these:

• Corey Bowman, Associate Vice President for Student Experience and Engagement, at 660-543-4114 or Administration Building 214
• Counseling Center at 660-543-4060 or Humphreys Building 131
• Public Safety at 660-543-4123 or 306 Broad Street (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Be prepared to provide as much detailed information as possible. The Counseling Center staff and/or Associate Vice President for Student Experience and Engagement will evaluate the situation on a case by case basis, make a decision on what actions need to occur, and provide consultation regarding what additional steps need to be taken by the employee who reported the situation.

988 is the national Suicide & Crisis Line

During regular office hours, you can talk with one of our counselors to get support in helping a student in distress.

RESPOND training helps faculty and staff increase comfort with discussing mental health concerns and respond effectively to students in distress. 

This 4 hour training is generally offered at least once per semester, but can also be requested for groups or departments, and can be offered virtually or in person. Contact the Counseling Center for more information. 

RESPOND stands for:

• Recognize signs
• Empathize
• Share concerns
• Pose open questions
• Offer hope
• Navigate resources and policy
• Do self-care

• Eliminate jokes, stories, pictures, self-disparaging remarks, and so forth, that glorify slenderness and vilify fat and fat people.
• Promote safety and respect for females and males of all ages and all shapes. In particular, take girls and women seriously, regardless of their size, shape, weight, age, and such.
• Refuse to play the “body disparagement” game. Do not engage in calorie-restrictive dieting and in making negative remarks about your own body.
• Bring in and eat—and share—healthy and fun snacks.
• Exercise for fun, fitness, and friendship—not to compensate for calories eaten or other forms of “being bad.” Take advantage of opportunities for physical activities at school: stretch, take walks, participate in (and maybe organize) teacher events at track and field days.
• Exercise your right to dance, swim, play, and dress with your own style, regardless of body shape and body weight.
• Compliment other adults—in their presence and when they are not there—about things they do well. It is fine to compliment appearance occasionally but include compliments for people who look different from the societal ideal.
• Encourage others to say and think positive things about themselves. Help them recognize their own skills and strengths.
• Show respect for the concerns people express (e.g., about prejudice, teasing, limitations due to gender roles). Try to help them find active solutions rather than just telling them to ignore or tolerate the problem.
• Study culture, cultures, history, gender, resistance, and change. Share (and create) stories of resistance to unhealthy cultural influences, and in so doing try to provide alternative images of pride, competence, care, and respect.

Michael P. Levine, Linda Smolak (2006). The Prevention of Eating Problems and Eating Disorders, Theory, Research, and Practice. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.

By following these straightforward pointers, you will be better equipped to help students cope with the death of a fellow student or faculty/staff member.

• Usually, it is a good idea to have a discussion as soon as reasonably possible after learning of the death, possibly at the next class meeting.
• Sometimes briefer is better. Students may initially feel shock. Say you understand that students may feel shocked and speechless upon hearing news of the death. The loss can be acknowledged without having students feel pressure to speak. An opportunity to talk about the death may be offered again at the next class meeting.
• When you introduce the subject, it is usually helpful to share what facts are known about the death. People often want to know this sort of information first before talking about their reactions. This can also eliminate misinformation and disturbing rumors.
• Prior to giving students an opportunity to speak, share your feelings, thoughts and reactions. In this way you serve as a role model and create an environment in which students may feel more comfortable talking. Sharing your reactions will also help normalize the feelings and thoughts of your students. If you are comfortable showing and acknowledging your emotional reactions, you will model appropriate expression of grief or shock.
• Invite students in a straight forward manner to share their reactions. The students may not accept the invitation, which is okay. However, it is important that they are given the opportunity to talk.

There is no one right way to grieve or react. Possible grief reactions include:

• Students may have feelings they do not expect
• Reactions to the death may occur at times that surprise them
• Students may feel unexpectedly anxious or angry
• Students may not feel like their usual selves for awhile
• Intensity of the feelings and reactions are sometimes connected to how close they felt to the deceased person, but not always

Remember:

• Normalize the shock and upset that goes with learning of a death.
• Convey that distress, numbness, or not feeling much of anything are all natural reactions to death.
• Thank the students for listening and for any discussion that took place.
• Again, emphasize that a whole range of feelings are natural.
• Acknowledge that people usually want to discuss upsetting things with friends and loved ones. But also recommend the Counseling Center as an option if students find themselves mystified by intense or persistent reactions, unrelenting distress, or impaired functioning.

Tips for talking with someone who is grieving:

Counseling Center staff can speak to UCM organizations, groups, clubs, classes, etc. about a variety of topics related to psychological health and well-being.

To request a Counseling Center presentation, please email counselingcenter@ucmo.edu. You will be contacted within a few days about your request. If you have any questions, call 660-543-4060.