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Counseling FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling

We know that emotional distress, relationship difficulties, and personal concerns can make it difficult to perform well and achieve academic goals. Counseling is available to help you understand and deal with those issues, which can free you to make clearer and healthier decisions.

You can explore personal problems in your life including, but not limited to:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Post-traumatic experiences
  • Relationship problems
  • Anger

Who Is Eligible?

Counseling services are available, free of charge, to currently registered NEIU students. We provide short-term treatment and referral services. The number of individual or couples therapy sessions are determined in collaboration with the therapist. Group counseling services are available to Northeastern students without session limits. Discuss details of this policy with your counselor.

Services provided include individual counseling, group therapy, couple counseling, referrals and consultation. When additional services are needed, referrals can be made to outside providers.

How to Set Up an Appointment

When you first call for an appointment, we will schedule an "intake" session. Intake sessions can be done in-person or virtually. For in-person intakes, we ask that you designate approximately 90 minutes for this session, as this process includes paperwork that must be completed prior to the session in addition to meeting with the counselor. For virtual intakes, you will be provided a link to complete the paperwork online the day prior to your appointment. 

During this intake session, we will ask you about your needs and determine which services might be best for you. For instance, we might recommend individual, group or couples counseling, or perhaps other services in the community. Sometimes, you may continue to work with the counselor you met during the intake appointment, but in other cases you might be connected to a different counselor whose schedule or experience better matches your needs.

What if I have an Urgent Mental Health Need? 

Student Counseling Services offers 24-hour crisis services. Students can drop-in to B-119 during office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm) for an urgent meeting or call 773-442-4650 and press option 2 to connect with a crisis counselor via phone after 4:30pm and on weekends. 

Same-day drop-in urgent services are not counseling sessions, but rather an opportunity for students to meet with a counselor to briefly assess concerns and safety and make a plan for follow-up.

While we understand that distress is a subjective determination, SCS defines a mental health crisis as thoughts of seriously harming oneself or someone else; a recent attempt to seriously harm oneself; experiencing a recent physical or sexual assault; or experiencing an overwhelming loss or trauma. 

Additional resources available to students in distress include: 

Additional Ways to Find Immediate Help:

  • Visit our virtual platform TimelyCare which provides 24/7 care. Use TalkNow to speak with a licensed mental health professional within minutes. To access to go to: timelycare.com/neiu or download the TimelyCare app from the app store.
  • Call Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Crisis Line (773) 296-5380.
  • Call 911.
  • Call or visit your local hospital emergency room. The closest hospital to NEIU's Main Campus is Swedish Covenant Hospital, at the corner of Foster and California avenues. Their emergency room is located at 2739 W. Foster Ave. or call (773) 878-8200.
  • Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call 988 or Text 988 or Chat 988lifeline.org/chat.
    Text Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor.
  • Call Trilogy 24-hour Mobile Crisis Services 800-322-8400 to speak with someone for immediate crisis support.

How Can I Tell If Counseling Is Right For Me?

Therapy works, and students can benefit in a variety of ways. For instance, you may wish to find solutions to specific problems in your life, explore issues in your relationships, better understand your feelings, or develop greater self-esteem. In these cases, working with a trained psychologist or counselor may help.

Nothing is off-limits to discuss; we have worked with people who have experienced a tremendous variety of difficulties. We are trained to listen, understand, and help you with the kinds of problems that you may not be able to resolve on your own.

What's Group Counseling?

Individual counseling involves meeting with a counselor one-on-one to discuss your problems; in group counseling, you meet with a counselor along with several other students, and together explore areas of common concern. Group sessions are usually scheduled once a week, and the combined experiences and support of other group members can make this a very powerful form of helping. Discuss with a counselor which approach is most appropriate for you. See Group FAQ.

Confidentiality

Does anyone else have to know about me coming into Counseling?

Counseling requires a private and confidential relationship in which you can feel safe to talk about your concerns. Therefore, information you share with your counselor is treated as confidential, according to professional ethics, University regulations and state and federal law.

In general, we won't release information about you to others without your prior written consent, and information that you share in counseling does not become part of your academic record. We do not discuss information about you with your instructors or your supervisors, nor do we release information about you to your family members without your permission.

However, there may be times when you want us to contact other counseling or medical providers; in that event, we require that you complete a written consent form authorizing us to do so. In this way, you are in control of information about your counseling. The only exceptions to this policy are those unusual circumstances when confidential information is needed to protect someone's health or safety. For instance, we may release information if we feel you present a clear and imminent risk of danger to yourself or someone else, or in cases of suspected child abuse, where disclosure is mandated by law.

Do You Offer Couples Counseling?

Yes. To receive couples counseling, only one member of the couple needs to be a student. Availability of services is dependent on the suitability of our services to your needs.

How Do I Refer Someone Else For Counseling?

Referring a friend, student or colleague to counseling can be an important way of helping. See Making Referrals for tips on how to refer someone to Counseling Services.

Do You Provide Services For Faculty and Staff?

Northeastern Illinois University's Counseling Services provides psychological consultation regarding students to members of the faculty and staff. We encourage employees to contact NEIU's Employee Assistance Program at (866) 659-3848 for personal referrals and concerns.