Frequently Asked Questions

If you or another student is in immediate danger, call 911. For concerns about a student’s immediate safety, call University Police at 410-543-6222 or the local police department and explain the situation. Urgent appointments are available at the Counseling Center for students during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30 pm. However, if it is after 3:30 pm, off-campus crisis resources are recommended. After hours, students can call the Life Crisis Center in Salisbury at 410-749-4357, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or go to the nearest emergency room, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Medical Center located at 100 East Carroll Street, Salisbury. You can find additional 24-hour crisis resources on our Crisis Resources webpage.

The Counseling Center is different from Guidance Counseling in high school, in that our staff are strictly mental health professionals. If you feel your mental health is impacting your academics, or your academics are impacting your mental health, then you can schedule an appointment at the center to work on addressing this impact. However, if you are looking for help with your academic performance, assistance with changing your schedule, or would like to discuss accommodations for a disability, there are other offices that can help you meet your needs.

The Center for Student Achievement (CSA) has many services to help you improve your academic performance.

The Academic Advising Center can offer guidance about your major and picking classes.

Office of the Registrar will help you with scheduling and withdrawing from classes.

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is a support for anyone who has a disability (including, but not limited to, a mental health diagnosis) and is seeking accommodations.

Other helpful offices include, but are not limited to, SU Cares, Career Services, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and TRIO Student Support Services.

No, there is no cost and you do not need insurance to access services at the Counseling Center. 

In almost all cases, the Counseling Center will not include Emotional Support Animals (ESA) in a client’s treatment plan, and therefore will not provide documentation related to an ESA. To learn more about Requesting an ESA visit DRC’s webpage Requesting Accommodations, Modifications, Aids and Services.  

To ensure the most accurate information is provided when documenting a disability, it is recommended that there is a full diagnostic assessment and an established therapeutic relationship. Therefore, it is not recommended for students to come to the Counseling Center for the first time with the intention of receiving documentation. It is typically best for a student to go to a provider where there is already an established patient-provider relationship. To learn more about provider and documentation criteria visit DRC’s webpage Requesting Accommodations, Modifications, Aids and Services.

While the choice to seek counseling is an individual decision, the Counseling Center staff can provide consultations to family, friends, and others who may be concerned about the mental health and behaviors of a student. To learn more about how and when to refer another student, go to our Referring Others webpage. If after reading this information, you feel it would be best to consult, you can call 410-543-6070 and communicate your need to speak to a clinician about your concern for another student.

If you are an SU student, faculty or staff you can improve your ability to recognize signs of distress in others and refer them to the proper resources by taking Kognito At-Risk training, a 30-minute interactive, online training.

Yes. This is required so we are able to maintain your confidentiality, ensure that you starting counseling at your own will, and have direct communication with our staff about the most appropriate appointment and what to expect. You can visit our Services webpage for more information about our clinical services and how to schedule.

No. The Counseling Center does not meet with students for the purpose of satisfying sanctions placed on them by any an off-campus entity. You can visit our Off-Campus Providers website to find a provider who can satisfy your sanction. You are encouraged to explain your situation when you call to schedule with the provider, so you can confirm that they can satisfy the sanction before attending your appointment. If you need assistance connecting with an off-campus provider, the Counseling Center can help. Attend a Brief Needs Assessment to get started with a clinician at the Center.

Salisbury University contracts with TimelyCare to provide psychiatric services. Counseling Center clinicians are able to make referrals to TimelyCare’s psychiatric services when the student is in treatment at the Center and if it is clinically appropriate. Students cannot schedule directly with psychiatric services in the TimelyCare app without a referral. The Center offers a short-term treatment model, and there are some limitations to what medications those who are employed by TimelyCare will prescribe. If you are currently in treatment with a psychiatrist that is local or offers telehealth, you are encouraged to continue with your provider. Some medications for mental health concerns can be prescribed by your Primary Care Physician or by Student Health Services. To locate a psychiatrist in the community and learn more about connecting with off-campus providers, you can visit our Off-Campus Providers To learn more about our services and how to schedule an appointment you can visit our Services webpage.

You are encouraged to state this when you make your appointment, so you are scheduled with another therapist. You are also encouraged to disclose this to the therapist you meet with for your initial appointment, so you can discuss the details of how your information can be kept confidential from the staff or interns you know. 

No. Unlike all other areas of SU’s campus, the Counseling Center and Student Health Services staff are not mandated to report incidents of sexual assault to anyone outside of their office. Counseling Center staff are mandated to report childhood sexual abuse, as well as all forms of child abuse, to the Child Protective Services agency in the county that the abuse occurred. If you are unsure what this means for your situation, you can ask your therapist without disclosing details, to learn more before deciding what you feel comfortable discussing in session. If you would like to report a sexual assault to SU you can contact the Office of Institutional Equity by calling them at 410-543-6426 or by visiting their Report a Concern webpage and filling out an online complaint form. You can also call University Police at 410-543-6222, or contact your local police department to make a legal report. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Yes. In accordance with federal and state laws, as well as codes of professional ethics, the Counseling Center protects the confidentiality of information shared in counseling. This includes your status as a client. Counseling Center staff members do discuss clinical information within the Counseling Center. These consultations are for professional and training purposes only and are aimed at providing the best possible care for all clients. There are a few legally mandated exceptions to confidentiality, which aim to ensure safety. You can learn more on our Confidentiality webpage.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. It is a misperception that you cannot communicate with others about students of concern. There are a couple of relevant conditions under FERPA that allow you to disclose records, without consent:

• School officials with legitimate educational interest, i.e. a need to know
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies

Student behaviors that you observe that may be disruptive or concerning are not part of an educational record and therefore are not governed by FERPA. You can communicate with appropriate professionals and enlist the help of resources regarding the student of concern. Sensitivity for privacy and relevance of the information shared when doing so is also good practice. Learn more about FERPA on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

SU Cares can be helpful for students who maybe struggling with something other than, or more than, their mental health. For example, if you are worried about a student, but it is not clear if they are experiencing mental health concerns then SU Cares maybe able to do more to help. Due to confidentiality and the importance of allowing students the choice to initiate counseling, there are limitations to what the Counseling Center is able to do when the concerns are not directly related to a mental health emergency. SU Cares can also help with medical withdraws, unexpected injury/illness, and assistance accessing non-academic resources on and off campus. In addition, SU Cares houses the SU CARE Team.

SU CARE Team (Behavioral Intervention Team) is a multidisciplinary team whose function is to assess and provide recommendations related to students experiencing distress or displaying concerning behaviors. A referral to this team offers a collaborative approach across multiple campus departments to ensure an opportunity for a comprehensive assessment and intervention plan.

To Report a Concern about a Student to SU Cares and the SU CARE Team you can complete an Online CARE Report.

An Online CARE Report can be completed in addition to calling the Counseling Center and/or SUPD. Counseling Center staff and Salisbury University Police do not see CARE reports. Due to confidentially the Counseling Center is not able to create a CARE report without written authorization from the client.

You can only use the Counseling Center’s clinical services if you are enrolled as a student. Faculty and staff members who are not enrolled, can access counseling services through The University System of Maryland’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP.) To learn more, visit HR's Benefits page and register with ComPsych.

 

In most cases, yes. Staying with the same provider allows for consistency and the ability to continue with in-depth treatment that is best addressed when there is an established therapeutic relationship. Most therapists are able to continue to meet with students through telehealth when they are away for college. With the Counseling Compact and other changes since COVID, it is getting easier for therapists to practice across state lines, although sometimes this is not possible. There are also times where in-person counseling is recommended by your student’s treatment team, or strongly preferred by your student. Your student can always come in for an initial appointment to discuss their situation and receive treatment recommendations. The Counseling Center offers short-term, generalist treatment, so there are some limitations to what presenting problems are appropriate for care at the Center. If long-term or specialized treatment is recommended, the Counseling Center can help with referrals into the local community. You or your student can also call to receive a list of local providers, or use the locator tools on our Off-Campus Resources

In accordance with federal and state laws, as well as codes of professional ethics, the Counseling Center protects the confidentiality of information shared in counseling. This includes your student’s status as a client. You can read more about your student’s rights on our Confidentiality webpage. If you have concerns about your student, you can share this information with the center by calling 410-543-6070 and asking to speak to a clinician. The clinician will not be able to confirm or deny that your student is in counseling unless there is a signed written consent on file, but they can receive information and respond accordingly. Recommendations can also be provided based off of the information you have shared. To learn more about referring students, visit our Referring a Student webpage.

It is required that students schedule their own appointments so our staff are able to maintain their confidentiality, ensure that they are starting counseling at their own will, and allow them to have direct communication with our staff about the most appropriate appointment and what to expect. Your student can visit our Services webpage for more information about our clinical services and how to schedule. You can visit our Referring a Student webpage for more information about how to best help your student get connected to the most appropriate services for them.

Problem solving skills and the ability to think through the consequences of our decisions are requirements for adulthood. It is natural for parents to want to rush in and save their children from all their dilemmas. However, when you solve their problems for them, it sends them an underlying message that they are not competent enough to figure it out for themselves and it deprives them of the opportunity to critically think and problem solve on their own. Over the next 4 to 6 years, the development of problem solving skills is crucial to being successful in all areas of their lives. During their college career, your son or daughter will most likely call you to report they just failed their first calculus or chemistry exam of the semester. After learning this information, it is often a parent’s first response, to pick up the phone and call the instructor to find out how they can still pass the class. However, it is important to let them solve their problems. Whether it’s related to relationships, roommates, managing money, or academics, guide them through the process versus solving it for them. Ask questions such as “What do you think you should do? What would happen if you do that? How else could that be handled?” This way, they are doing the brain storming and you are teaching them how to problem solve on their own for the future.

Now that they are overcoming challenges on their own, they are going to be excited about this new found independence and will not be able to contain themselves from sharing with you, all of the outcomes of their wise decisions. When they call to tell you about the major they finally chose, the classes they registered for in the Spring, or their decision to break up with their significant other, refrain from stating your opinion. You will never agree with all their decisions and having to take the back burner to guiding them in the “right” direction will be quite difficult. However, they are calling you for a reason. They value you and they want your support and approval, not necessarily about the decisions they’ve made, but for their ability to make competent decisions on their own.

There is no doubt that you will be contacted on a regular basis as part of a venting session. This is when your son or daughter calls and without coming up for air, talks for 10 minutes straight about how messy their roommate is, how their significant other is selfish and doesn’t care about their feelings, or about an instructor who just gave them a test which contained tons of material that was clearly never taught. As soon as they pause and you think there is an opportunity to respond, they inform you that they have to go now because they are meeting their roommate for lunch. And you’re left thinking “the same roommate who leaves their dirty clothes on your bed?” Parents usually have numerous thoughts and bits of advice they “need” to share with their son or daughter in an attempt to protect them. After all, you have been there and done that and you could easily save them a lot of time an effort if they would just follow your advice. It is hard to accept, but if they want your advice, they will ask for it. Most often, they just want you to listen. They need to know they can call you about anything, at any time, and have an unconditional place to dump all their thoughts and feelings. If you aren’t sure why they are telling you all this information, ASK! “Do you want my advice?” If they say yes, then they made the choice to hear your opinion and suggestions and it will prevent them from later stating that you are always trying to tell them what to do. They may really want to hear your take on things and if so, this gives them the opportunity to let you know. In addition, if they want your advice but don’t use it, it is okay. That goes back to them making their own decisions. But hearing your values and suggestions will stick with them even if they don’t always agree with you. Finally, if they just wanted to vent, then you have given them a safe place to do that. Unless it involves their safety, just listen and don’t use it against them later to prove a point. Be their sounding board. They will respect your support and will be calling you within 24 hours to tell you about the next overwhelming and frustrating experience.

They are in the developmental stage of figuring out who they are and how they identify themselves. This process will enhance their self-confidence and make them a unique individual. They will hold onto most of the values they’ve been brought up with, but this will be the time they discover their true opinions, interests, and goals. It is a time when they are most likely choosing their career and developing life long habits. During their childhood, it is likely that you have exposed them to a wide variety of experiences that have nurtured their intelligence, spirituality, musical and athletic talents, etc. They have probably played soccer, T-ball, basketball, and lacrosse…performed in school plays, chorus concerts, and dance recitals… taken horseback riding, swimming, gymnastics, guitar, and piano lessons…in addition to spiritual and academic experiences. Now it is time to let them choose. Nurture their unique talents and interests. This will be crucial to their self-worth and their view of how they fit into the world. Let them be them. They may want to be a teacher even though you know they would excel in business. They may want to participate in theater versus activities that enhance their great musical talents. Whatever they choose to do, it is most important for them discover who they are and feel proud of themselves. Encourage them to pursue their interests, believe in them regardless of how unimportant photography may be to you. Again, their core values will stay in tack regardless of what their interests are and parents and caregivers are truly the most influential people in their lives.

Even though you may have spent the last two months before your son or daughter left for college (or quite possibly the last two years), arguing and debating about anything and everything, they love you and appreciate you more than ever. Their first experience with appreciating you may come when they finally realize that invisible robots do not magically do the laundry or that their roommate is more difficult to live with than their sister. However, within a short period of time they will take a step back and begin to grasp all the little (and big) contributions you have made to their lives. They may not have the capacity to fully understand until the birth of their first child, but you can be satisfied in knowing that some day, what goes around comes around. Until then, having some distance and separation from parents, siblings and even pets too, can have a great impact on their ability to reflect back at their upbringing. Once the daily battles of homework, curfew, and organizing necessities for sports practices have passed, they will develop a new found appreciation for your never ending, tireless impact on their lives. A sense of entitlement will gradually transform into appreciation, GRADUALLY! This is the beginning to a new and exciting change in your relationship with them. You will no longer have to cook their meals, stay up until they get home, do their laundry, and argue about chores. There is no doubt that as exhausting as all of this has been, you will miss it and they will too. But enjoy this time as they will now be doing these things for themselves. This will lead to many negotiations over winter and summer break when they return home and explain to you (as though you did not know), that they have now been living on their own for the past several months and have managed to make it home each night even without a curfew or someone waiting up for them. It is at this point, that you can relish in your parenting and upbringing of them and take full credit for raising such a responsible and independent individual. It is equally important however, to make sure you acknowledge to them that you realize what a responsible and independent adult they have become.