Counseling Services
The Counseling Services staff all have extensive clinical experience working with college students. Counselors are available to help students resolve personal concerns that interfere with their academic progress, social development, and overall life satisfaction at Penn College.
Contact
- Counseling Services
- Campus Center, Rm. 204
570.327.4765 570.321.5545 . FAX - counseling@pct.edu
Crisis Intervention
The Counseling Services office provides crisis intervention services for mental health emergencies during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. When in crisis, students may call 570-327-4765 or stop by the office to meet with a counselor as soon as possible.
Evening and weekend response is available by contacting the Penn College Police Department at 570-321-5555 or by speaking with a Residence Life staff member.
Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis.
- A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly.
- The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
Personal Counseling
Short term individual counseling is offered to help students gain a deeper understanding of the sources of their difficulties. These insights are then translated into plans of action that the student can carry out in their daily life.
Counselors also provide intervention and support designed to assist students who are experiencing academic difficulties in collaboration with the academic schools and other support services on campus to provide assistance to students.
To schedule an appointment contact Counseling Services
In some cases, a counselor may determine that the needs of a student would be best met through a community agency. Referrals are made when the student is in crisis, has a chronic mental health problem, or can otherwise benefit from the resources of an outside agency. Counselors will assist students in obtaining such services, when appropriate.
How Are You Feeling?
Mental health is a key part of your overall health. Brief screenings are the quickest way to determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a mental health professional - they are a checkup from your neck up.
Counseling Services
Supporting Students in Distress
A guide to help faculty, staff, student leaders, and others who interact with students to recognize, respond effectively to, and refer Penn College students in distress.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Plan
Access resources and learn what to do.
Set to Go
Your guide to the transition from high school to college and adulthood.
Sexual Misconduct
Access resources and learn what to do.
Outreach/Consultation
When faculty, staff, or another student expresses concern for a student's well-being, counselors will often attempt to reach the student on campus to assess the severity of symptoms and to offer services. In addition, counselors work closely with staff from College Health Services and Disability and Access Resources, to ensure continuity of care for students. Counselors also are available to present to classes, student organizations and residence hall groups on a variety of topics designed to enhance growth and development. In addition, Counselors are available to visit a classroom or speak to small groups of students when there has been an untimely death of student or staff or other traumatic event.
TAO
TAO (Therapy Assistance Online) is a suite of online tools and psychoeducational sessions to help clients learn about and change how they think and feel. These materials can be used flexibly as self-help for appropriate candidates, as an adjunct to therapy, with the guidance of a coach, or in a group delivery modality. When working with a therapist, along with the educational materials in the platform, every week the client will complete a short mood survey before meeting or checking in. The therapist will provide support, encouragement, problem solving, and accountability. These sessions are designed to help clients have a better understanding of their personal experiences and equip them with strategies to aid them in feeling more resilient today and as they go forward in life. The TAO model has been validated with over 100 studies in 20 countries and has been shown to be highly effective.
Confidentiality
All students utilizing Counseling Services have the right to confidentiality. This means that under most circumstances, others will not be provided with information without their written consent. There are exceptions, however. Counselors are required to release certain information:
- If, in the judgment of the counselor, there is imminent danger of serious harm to yourself and/or others, the counselor is required by law to reveal that information to the appropriate person in order to prevent harm.
- If the counselor has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that any child under the age of 18 years, an elder, or intellectually disabled person has been abused (physically, emotionally, mentally, or sexually) or neglected or is placed at imminent risk of serious harm, then the counselor must report this suspicion of belief to the appropriate authority.
- If the counselor is required to by process of law, such as a subpoena or a court order, or, in very limited circumstances, under applicable state law.
Counselors are available to speak with parents who may have concerns or questions about their child's emotional health and welfare. Although confidential information cannot be shared without a release from the student, the counselor can listen to parents' concerns and offer suggestions and/or referrals.