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	Services Offered | Eligibility | Making an Appointment | What to Expect Client Confidentiality Policy | Workshops | Consultations Services Offered The center offers individual assessment sessions in which the counselor gains insight into your issues and then makes a decision on the type of counseling that would be most appropriate to address those issues. Depending on the nature of your needs and the availability of resources, this could include any of the following: Group counseling in the center (topics may include general counseling, assertiveness training, stress management, communication skills, adult children of alcoholics, loss groups, eating disorders, and relationship groups) Referral to a group in the community (when that is more appropriate) Individual counseling in the center on a short term basis Referral to individual counseling services in the community (in the case of long term counseling) Crisis counseling in the center to deal with a specific current crisis Marriage, couple, or family counseling Referral to workshops or presentations on specific topics Back to Top Eligibility for Services The Psychological Counseling Center provides confidential services to students regularly enrolled at California State University, Chico. The cost of these services is covered by the university's general education fund. The services offered will depend on the needs and resources of the student balanced against the available resources of the center. Couples may be seen at the center as long as one partner is a CSU, Chico student. Graduate students in Psychology please note: At your first appointment you should discuss the issue of dual role conflicts that could arise if you obtain counseling from the center and then later apply for a counseling internship here. We strongly advise that you consider other individual or group counseling options within the community if you might seek an internship here in the future. Back to Top Making an Appointment You need to come into the Psychological Counseling Center and complete some paperwork prior to setting up your first appointment. This paperwork takes between 10-20 minutes to complete. Paperwork includes: a bubble sheet containing demographic information and problems you have experienced within the last few weeks an address card and schedule for times you are available for appointments an Informed Consent Form which discusses your rights to services, what you may expect from counseling, confidentiality policies, and a brief description of the counselors an audio/videotape recording consent form. You may fill out this paperwork at our center or take it home and bring it back completed at a more convenient time for you. After you have completed the paperwork our staff at the front desk will schedule an appointment for you. Depending on the nature of the problem and on the time during the semester you are seeking services, you may be seen promptly or you may have to wait up to two weeks for an appointment with a counselor. If you are in immediate crisis we will try to see you as soon as possible. Back to Top What to Expect Depending on the nature of your problem and on the time during the semester you are seeking counseling, you may be seen promptly or you may have to wait up to 2 weeks for an appointment with a counselor. If you are in immediate crisis, we will try to see you as soon as possible. We are a limited staff and we have considerable demands for counseling services from students on campus. During your first meeting with a counselor, you can expect to be asked questions about your problem or concern, as well as about any history that may be relevant to an understanding of your problem. After discussing your problem with you, the counselor may decide to see you individually, refer you to a counseling group, to another staff counselor or campus service, or to a service in the community. Often the counselor will be able to assist you immediately and further sessions will not be necessary. If the counselor decides to see you individually, you may be put on a waiting list until the counselor has an opening in his/her schedule. If you do receive individual counseling, your counselor will provide you a limited number of sessions. Your counselor will make every effort to assist you as much as possible in the time he/she has available. However, because there are extreme demands on counseling resources, you may not receive the kind or amount of help that you would prefer or feel that you need. In counseling you can expect to be listened to, helped to communicate clearly, helped to put your current concerns in perspective, and helped to develop goals and plans to deal with them. Your counselor will expect you to be as honest and open as possible, to be committed to working on your concerns, to accept responsibility for your feelings and actions, and to keep your appointments. You have the right to ask questions regarding your treatment and to discontinue treatment at any time, with appropriate notice to the office. Any appointment you miss without 24-hour notice is considered a "no show." "No shows" may result in counseling services being discontinued for the semester. There may be risks involved in counseling as well as risks involved in not receiving counseling for a problem. Resolution of a problem may result in uncomfortable feelings and/or in significant life changes. Some students benefit from counseling; some benefit from alternative forms of treatment; some clients benefit from a variety of methods. Alternatives include self-help books, 12-step programs, medication, hospitalization, or non-Western healing methods (e.g. acupuncture, spiritual ceremonies). While the counselor can give you recommendations for treatment based on experience and training, the choice for treatment rests with you. Back to Top Client Confidentiality Policy Your contact with the center is confidential except in certain situations which are discussed below. We are not allowed to discuss your counseling, even the fact that you have sought counseling, with anyone outside this office--unless you give us written permission to do so. Information regarding your case will be contained in a confidential file which is kept in a locked cabinet. Only your counselor accesses all the information in this file, unless other counselors have a need to know (e.g., they need to see you on an emergency basis when your counselor is not available). Clerical staff only access the standardized forms that you sign upon seeking services. There are exceptions to these rules of confidentiality, e.g., in certain life and death emergencies, or by court order. If your counselor seriously believes that you intend to harm yourself or others, or suspects child abuse/neglect or dependent adult abuse/neglect on your part, the counselor is legally and ethically bound to report this to the appropriate people. Further, if you are a survivor of child abuse, and the abuser has current access to children, your counselor is legally and ethically bound to make a report if there is a reasonable suspicion of current child abuse. With your permission, your session(s) may be audio or videotaped. See Audio/Videotape Recording Consent Form for conditions and options regarding taping. Back to Top Workshops and Presentations Last year the center performed over fifty workshops and presentations. Topics included: Stress Management Crisis Intervention Training for other helpers on campus Sexual Harassment Women's Issues Eating Disorders Sexual Orientation Issues Coping Strategies for New Students The Process of Dreaming The Grieving Process Dealing with Students in Distress Back to Top Consultations The center provides psychological consultations to students, staff, faculty, and parents on how to best handle situations with students or employees who are having difficulty functioning within the University. Problems can range from interpersonal conflicts or disagreements to extremely serious concerns over suicide or potential violence. Back to Top