COUNSELING CENTER

247 W. Lorain Street - Suite D Phone: (440) 775-8470 Fax: (440) 775-8868 E-mail: counseling.center@oberlin.edu Web Site: www.oberlin.edu/counsel/

About
The Counseling Center's primary purpose is to provide psychological support for students as they pursue their academic and personal goals, and to enhance the quality of their experiences at Oberlin College. The Center provides short term counseling and psychotherapy services to students. Counseling is a collaborative educational process in which students can gain new perspectives of themselves and others, and acquire skills that enable them to function more effectively.

At the Counseling Center, students may discuss and explore in confidence any problems, feelings, or fears that are important to them. The ultimate goal is to help students grow in self-understanding so that they can better cope with their immediate situations and with future decisions.

The Center staff has extensive experience and specialized knowledge in college-age developmental issues, as well as a broad range of clinical expertise. Staff have received training in diversity, and continue to educate themselves and be sensitive to these complexities in counseling. The Center also provides training and supervision for a limited number of students from graduate programs in counseling and clinical psychology, who work under the close supervision of senior staff.


Psychiatric/Medication Counseling
Oberlin College has entered into a contractual agreement with University Hospitals of Cleveland to provide psychiatric services for Oberlin students. Beginning September 5, 2006, Farah Munir, D.O. will hold office hours at the Counseling Center every Tuesday. Dr. Munir is a board certified psychiatrist, with a strong interest in working with the college-age population. Please schedule an appointment with one of the staff psychologists to discuss your interest in meeting with the psychiatrist

What to Expect from a Visit to the Psychiatrist
A visit to the psychiatrist is often focused upon determining a diagnosis and consideration of the possible role of medication in treating the problem presented. An initial visit is usually 40-45 minutes. If you have been referred, the psychiatrist will often have received preliminary information about your presenting problem from your referral source, including visits with a psychologist at the college Counseling Center. This may help the psychiatrist focus more efficiently on the role of making a diagnosis. Typically follow-up visits with the psychiatrist are brief (10-15 minutes), and focused on an evaluation of the effectiveness of medications prescribed to treat your condition.

Ordinarily sessions with a psychotherapist (psychologist or social worker) are an import adjunct to seeing a psychiatrist. These visits allow additional time and opportunity to process feelings and thoughts about life events, and desired changes you are making, as well as any concerns about treatment.

Services
For a complete list of services and resources, visit www.oberlin.edu/counsel/