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Counseling & Psychological Services
Health & Counseling Center
Bird Building
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828-227-7469
828-227-7004 fax |
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Counseling and Psychological Services Center
Welcome to Western Carolina University’s Counseling and Psychological
Services Center (CPS). CPS provides consultations and psychological counseling
to students (and a one time consultation for faculty/staff) on a short-term
basis at no cost. If, following your initial appointment, CPS staff determines
that your needs do not match the services available, or if longer-term counseling
is recommended, you will be referred to other resources (e.g. specialized
treatment, academic advising, career counseling).
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Short-Term
Goal Oriented Counseling Services
We provide several forms of brief counseling services including individual,
couples, and group. Individual and couples counseling involves meeting
with a counselor for approximately 45-50 minutes. You and your counselor
determine how frequently both of you will meet. It is common for students
to meet with a counselor weekly, but many meet every other week or even
once a month. Due to high demand and limited resources, you’ll work
together with your counselor to try to achieve limited goals in a short
period of time. If long-term or specialized services are most appropriate
we may refer you to a more appropriate service off-campus. |
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As
I grow older, part of my emotional survival plan must be to actively
seek inspiration instead of passively waiting for it to find me.
~Bebe Moore Campbell
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Group
Counseling
Group counseling involves meeting with approximately 5-8 other students
on a weekly basis. Group meetings generally last for about an hour and
a half and are often led by two counselors. Groups are an excellent vehicle
for students who have concerns with shyness, fear of rejection, assertively
expressing themselves, feeling anxious around others, and have difficulty
communicating. As a result, this is an opportunity for a student to experiment
with different ways of expressing her/himself, receive feedback from
others on how they perceive her/him, receive support and encouragement,
and offer support to the other group members.
Groups address
a variety of student needs: women's experiences, men's experiences,
body image & eating disorders, enhancing relationships, trauma
and abuse recovery, self-esteem, stress management, GLBT support
and substance abuse among others. See the current semester group
schedule for more information.
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Additional
Services |
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Consultation
Services
Faculty, staff or students who desire professional consultation regarding
concerns about others may make an appointment. At various times this
option has been utilized by clubs, teams, groups of roommates or friends,
as well as individuals. Our staff will talk with you about your concerns,
offer you our professional view of the situation, and make recommendations
when appropriate.
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Psychiatric
Services
If you have been referred to consult with our psychiatrist for further
assessment and treatment recommendations they will work closely with
our staff to devise a comprehensive treatment plan which ideally will
assist you in addressing the issues that brought you to counseling. Psychiatric
appointments are scheduled one day each week during fall and spring semesters.
As an enrolled Western student, you are eligible for assessment and follow-up
sessions. All appointments with the psychiatrist will be charged to your
health insurance. |
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Emergency
Services
All WCU students are eligible for emergency services (crisis
services),
whether or not they are currently using our counseling services. If a
student
receives
emergency
services, they are encouraged (and sometimes required) to follow-up with
a CPS counselor as directed. As we do not operate as a crisis center,
we try to ensure proactive care and follow-up that is sensitive to the
student's
needs. |
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And
the day came when the risk it took to remain tight
inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais
Nin |
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