The mission of the Counseling Center, a department of Student Affairs, is to help students resolve personal difficulties that may interfere with optimal personal and academic functioning; and acquire the skills, attitudes, abilities, and knowledge that will enable them to attain educational and personal goals. The Counseling Center fosters a culture where help-seeking behavior is normal, encouraged, and supported across campus and the greater community.
Student Center 222
605-626-2371
NSU COUNSELING SERVICES
College students have their own unique concerns, problems and issues. Our professionally trained counselors understand what students are going through as they adjust to college life. They are there for the students – offering guidance and support when it’s necessary. Services provided:
- Confidential clinical services that help students achieve their academic and personal goals
- Education, training, and support for the campus community regarding the needs of students through outreach, programming, and consultation
- Prevention programming on a range of behaviors pertinent to the college population, including high-risk alcohol/drug use, domestic and dating violence, and suicide prevention
Issues commonly addressed through brief individual or group counseling:
- Academic-related issues
- Mood or self-esteem issues
- Relationship issues
- Adjustment concerns such as dealing with new life circumstances
- Grief and loss
All contacts with the Counseling Center are confidential. We will not release any information about students without your written permission. This includes parents and other family members, faculty or other university persons or anyone outside the university. Also, students' contacts with the center do not become part of their university record.
Legal limits to the confidentiality we can provide include:
- Information about child abuse or neglect must be reported to the proper authorities
- If a student is dangerous to him/herself or others, steps must be taken to protect the student or those who are in danger
- Information about abuse to the elderly must be reported
- If a student is involved in court proceedings, your records can be subpoenaed
- Students who are under 18 years of age
We discourage people from contacting us via email regarding personal problems. The nature of email is such that we can not guarantee the confidentiality of correspondence, nor do we find email communications as useful as in-depth, face-to-face contact. Moreover, we can not guarantee that we will read email right away or respond in a timely fashion.
NSU's Insight Program is an early intervention service for individuals ages 18-20 in the court, and all ages for NSU Student Rights & Responsibilities. This three-level program is designed to explore and address problems or risk factors that appear to be related to substance use, and help the person recognize the harmful consequences of inappropriate substance use. Fees may apply to this program. Contact our office for more information or payment options.
The Counseling Center can help students find options for mental health services and treatment and prevention facilities in the Aberdeen area. Typical referrals might include couple or family therapy, psychiatric consultations, or referrals for family or friends of the NSU community.
Everyone, especially college students, knows what stress is and the Stress Management Lab offered by the Counseling Center helps students do something about it. Through individual sessions, students learn simple tension-relieving exercises and find the relaxation technique that works for them. Participating in the Stress Management Lab helps students develop new and healthy ways of coping with stress.
