Role of the Department
Role of the Department
PURPOSE
The Counseling Center's primary purpose is to provide psychological support
as you pursue your academic and personal goals, and to enhance the quality of
your experience at Oberlin College. One of the services provided to students
is counseling and psychotherapy. Counseling is an educational process in which
you can gain new perspectives of yourself and others, and acquire skills which
enable you to function more effectively.
At The Counseling Center you may discuss and explore freely, in confidence,
any problems, feelings, or fears that are important to you. The ultimate goal
is to help you grow in self-understanding so that you can better cope with your
immediate situation and with future decisions.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Besides the fact that The Counseling Center staff has a strong commitment to
maintaining the confidentiality of the information you share, Ohio law requires
it. The law states that counseling information must remain confidential unless
you indicate in writing that you wish the information to be communicated to
specific persons outside the Center. The only exceptions are that psychologists
are required to report child abuse and to make appropriate notifications when
there is an imminent risk to health or safety. Counseling Center records do
not become a part of your college record, as clarified by the
Buckley amendment.
COSTS
The cost for services at the Counseling Center is covered by tuition. Long term
or very intensive psychotherapy is not covered. When it is indicated or desired,
arrangements are made on an individual basis with the student for referral to
therapists in private practice. The costs for such therapy are borne by the
student or by his/her insurance carrier. Please see the Student
Insurance section for important information on psychiatric/psychological
insurance coverage offered through the student supplemental insurance plan.
A crisis is an acute psychosocial stress response, often accompanied by a loss or a need for problem solving, which significantly upsets one's normal way of coping. Individuals in crisis often experience feelings of panic, helplessness, anxiety, and depression.
Students in crisis may feel the need for immediate support. When appointments are not immediately available in The Counseling Center, there are other sources of help in the college community. Students housed in residential halls can turn to their Area Coordinators, Residential Coordinators, and Residential Life Deans for support. The office of Student Academic Support Services and the Chaplains Office also offer crisis counseling.
Crises call for calming, compassionate support - not psychotherapy. When the
crisis has calmed, the student may or may not desire to seek professional help.
It may be helpful for the student to schedule an appointment in The Counseling
Center to discuss the antecedents and alternatives in crisis management to aid
in future difficult situations. If a student has frequent crises or remains
in crisis for a prolonged period, she/he also should be encouraged to make an
appointment.
Emergencies differ from crises due to their life threatening nature, which usually require some immediate action. Typically, hospitalization would be indicated for the student's safety, as well as time for a comprehensive analysis of the student's condition. During the normal office hours, a staff member is assigned to emergencies Monday through Friday, and may be called for consultation. Where indicated, the staff person will facilitate the hospitalization of the student.
After hours and on weekends, students should seek help from their Area Coordinator
in the department of Residential Life, call Campus Security (x8444), go to
the
Emergency Room at Allen Memorial Hospital, or Health Partners West in Lorain.
The Lorain County Mental Health 24 hour hotline is also available by calling
1-866-888-6673 or 1-440-282-2335.
PROBLEMS COUNSELING EXPLORES
Through a joint effort, you and your counselor can explore a wide range of questions
and problems that often concern students. Some of these may be stated as: