We hope you are adjusting well to your student coming to Pirate Nation! It’s a big change for everyone, but we are so excited to see students on campus. As a follow-up to our discussion from Orientation, we wanted to reiterate some information about counseling services on campus.
The Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) employs a multi-disciplinary team of therapists who offer brief counseling services to enrolled students. CCSD offers both in-person and teletherapy services. CCSD provides individual and group therapy services, coping skills workshops, crisis support, substance use assessment and treatment, and assistance with referrals to community providers or specialized services not offered by our clinicians. Services are covered by tuition and fees (students who have paid the student health fee are eligible for CCSD services). Sometimes students need more that our office is able to provide, and CCSD offers case management support to ensure that students are connected to the services that will best meet their mental health needs. To initiate therapy services at CCSD, students can call 252-328-6661 for an initial phone session to determine appropriate follow-up services. Psychiatric services are available through Student Health Services (252-328-6841).
CCSD provides 24-hour crisis support. During regular business hours, students can call CCSD to speak to an urgent support counselor on the phone. Students can also come into the CCSD office at 137 Umstead to talk with a crisis counselor in person during regular business hours. After hours, on weekends, and during holidays/breaks, students can call 252-328-6661 and select Option 2 to speak with a crisis counselor.
ECU contracts with a teletherapy provider (Uwill) specializing in services to college students to help address the demand for mental health support and services on campus. UWill is a teletherapy option available to all enrolled students. Students who might benefit from using UWill include students who are registered as Distance Education students and have not paid the health fee, students who prefer more flexible hours (evenings and weekends) for appointments, and those who are seeking a counselor with similar lived experience not available at CCSD. Visit the CCSD website for more information under “additional telehealth options.”
Three important things for parents and families to know about CCSD:
1.Emotional well-being is important to personal and academic success. The Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) is here to provide mental health support for ECU students. The CCSD assists students experiencing emotional health concerns and with the stress that occurs with attending college (stress during first exams, loneliness in the first month living on campus, homesickness and missing family/friends). We provide counseling services (details below) and psychoeducational services/programs to the campus community.
2. We offer a variety of services to meet students’ needs (including 24/7/365 urgent support services): traditional therapy (virtual or in person at our office located at 137 Umstead Hall), educational workshops, group counseling, and drop-in consultation and crisis services (call 252-328-6661 for access). We are a multi-disciplinary staff who are all well-versed in working with college students as that is our sole mission. The most common reasons that students seek services include: stress and anxiety, depression, relationship issues, adjustment to college, trauma, alcohol, and other drug concerns. We operate within a short-term counseling model.
3.Services are covered by tuition and fees so there is no additional charge. To be eligible for counseling services, students must have paid the health service fee during registration. Once that fee is paid, services are offered at no cost (apart from a $25 no-show fee; for questions about specific eligibility, please contact the counseling center at 252-328-6661). There is no “one size fits all” for mental health support, and CCSD helps students have access to the support, information, and services specific to their needs. Our services are confidential with limited exceptions (danger to self/others, mandated reporting of abuse, and when ordered by the court to disclose information).
If you or your student has any questions about services, please contact 252-328-6661. https://counselingcenter.ecu.edu/
Best wishes for a wonderful fall semester!
