In a Triage Appointment, you will complete paperwork and meet with a clinician for 20-30 minutes. During this triage appointment, you and the clinician will have a discussion to assess the nature and urgency of your concerns. The clinician will provide you with individualized recommendations.
If you or someone you know is experiencing urgency or life-threatening concerns, a crisis/emergency meeting will be provided the same day with a clinician in our office.
For emergencies at other times, call Public Safety at 660-543-4123, call 911, or go directly to the emergency room at Western Missouri Medical Center at 403 Burkarth Road.
Brief Individual Counseling: In individual counseling, you meet one-on-one with a clinician. You and your clinician will discuss your goals and work on addressing your concerns.
Brief Couples Counseling: The clinician works with you and your partner(s), to help you have a more satisfying relationship. All parties must be current UCM students to be eligible for couples counseling. The Initial Consultation for couples counseling usually takes 90-120 minutes. Subsequent sessions are 45 minutes.
Group Therapy: Group therapy offers an opportunity to interact with others who have similar concerns. By sharing your concerns, learning to listen and support others with theirs, and seeing how you and others act in a group, you can learn about yourself, consider different points of view, and learn healthier ways for coping with various issues.
These workshops offer information on LGBTQ+ identities, terminology, ally development, and ways to support LGBTQ+ students on our campus. For more information, resources, or to register for an upcoming Safe Zone workshop click here.
In cases when there is a desire or need for longer-term care, specialized care, or a higher level of care, the Counseling Center clinicians will help you consider resource options in the community that are accessible and affordable. These might include on-going therapy, psychiatric care, psychological evaluations, or specialized care for specific concerns.
If you already know you want to connect with services in the community, you may call the Counseling Center for assistance and to discuss options. You will likely have to use your health insurance to pay for services. Typically, your health insurance will cover a portion of the cost per session.
Options:
A weekly workshop series designed to strengthen your skills for managing life's challenges. If you attend at least 5 workshops in a 12 month period you can place that information on your UCM Experience Transcript. Click here for more information.
Students, parents, staff, and faculty may speak with a clinician if they want to know what to do to help a distressed student.
If you think a student is in IMMEDIATE danger of attempting suicide, contact Public Safety (911 or 660-543-4123).
If you believe a student may possibly be suicidal, share this information with one of the following:
1-800-273-TALK (8255) SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: This national suicide prevention lifeline is available 24/7 to anyone in suicidal
crisis or emotional distress. Your call may be routed to the crisis center nearest
you.
A University employee who has reason to believe a student is in IMMEDIATE danger of attempting suicide should immediately contact Public Safety (911 or 660-543-4123).
A University employee who has reason to believe a student may possibly be suicidal immediately should notify the Associate Vice President for Student Experience and Engagement (660-543-4114) OR the Counseling Center (660-543-4060) OR Public Safety (available 24 hours daily at 660-543-4123). 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.
1-800-273-TALK (4255) SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: This national suicide prevention lifeline is available 24/7 to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call may be routed to the crisis center nearest you.
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:
DO express your condolences in a way that fits the type of relationship you have with the person in grief
DO be honest, genuine, and sincere
DO be present and available
DO offer practical help
DO know that people grieve differently
DO listen
DO include the person in social plans, and let them decide whether or not to accept an invitation
DO respect the grieving person’s privacy
DO encourage the grieving person to take care of themselves
DON’T be intrusive, overly familiar, or pry
DON’T worry that you do not know the perfect thing to say
DON’T avoid the grieving person
DON’T say clichés such as “at least the person is in a better place”
DON’T compare the person’s loss to your own past losses
DON’T be afraid of tears or emotions
DON’T make assumptions about what the person wants or what is best for them
DON’T give advice without being asked
DON’T attempt to somehow make their grief go away
Counseling Center staff can speak to UCM organizations, groups, clubs, classes, etc. about a variety of topics related to psychological health and well-being.
If you would like 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