Counseling center FAQ's

If something is a concern to you, we are here to talk about it. Issues students commonly talk about in counseling include relationship problems, anxiety or depression, alcohol or drug issues, concerns with food and body image, academic issues, as well as other problems. 

In addition to counseling, we provide crisis intervention, consultation, assessment, and in most cases can offer the recommended treatment. 

There is currently no charge for enrolled students, and a counseling session generally runs 45 to 50 minutes. 

The Counseling Center provides short-term treatment, but there is no rigid limit on the number of sessions. When you meet with your counselor, you will talk about what you are hoping for, and you and your counselor will decide together what is right for you. 

You will always have the option to discontinue treatment, even if the counselor recommends more sessions. 

If you decide that you want more sessions than the Center can offer, we will help you find a resource in the community. You and your counselor will discuss the frequency of your appointments. We cannot guarantee that all students will be seen weekly, and may refer you to an off-campus provider if we determine that your need exceeds our ability. 

If you and your counselor decide that medications should be considered as part of your treatment, there are several options available. We have a psychiatrist who consults with students here in our office on a regular basis. There is currently no additional charge for this service. Arrangements to see the psychiatrist must be made through your counselor. Once you are stable on your medication, your counselor will facilitate a referral to Eagle physicians for ongoing medication management. If you prefer to meet with a psychiatrist in the community instead of our psychiatrist, we can provide a referral. 

That's okay! Not everyone is a match for every therapist, and we understand that. And it's important that you feel like there is a fit. Research into the efficacy of therapy shows that the therapeutic alliance (that is, how well you and your counselor work together) accounts for the majority of change and progress a person makes while they are in therapy.

If you think you would like to change therapists, we ask that you give it at least 2 sessions. If you don't feel that your therapist is able to work with you to meet your goals, email us at counseling@guilford.edu. We are a training facility, so not everyone can or will always exclusively be scheduled with our full time staff, but we will accommodate a switch as we are able to. 

Please know that you will not necessarily be assigned to the same therapist you have worked with in previous years, if you visit us throughout your time at Guilford. 

If you work with a therapist after you leave Guilford, we hope you know that you have the right to work with someone who feels right for you. 

Yes, your sessions here are confidential. Your appointments will not appear in any official College record, and we will not speak to anyone outside of Counseling Services without your written permission, with the following exceptions: 

• If we believe you are a danger to yourself or others, we are committed to doing what is necessary to keep you and others safe. 

• If we learn about child or elder abuse, we are required by law to report it. 

• If you are involved in a court case, your records may be subpoenaed. Your counselor will explain the ethical limits of confidentiality during your first session and can answer any additional questions you may have. 

Please call Guilford College Public Safety at 336.316.2911 or, if you’re a residential student, contact your Community Director or Resident Adviser. Any of these people can put you in touch with an on-call therapist by phone to assist you through the crisis. 

In an emergency situation, please call 911.

Students can also access the Guilford County Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center at 931 3rd St, 27405, for 24/7 Assessment and Referral. (336) 890-2700  

Other emergency numbers:

Suicide and Mental Health Lifeline (Crisis line): 988
Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741
Hope4NC: Call or text 1-855-587-3463
Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ specific crisis line): 866-488-7386 or text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200 

Sexual assault emergency (Family Service of the Piedmont):  336-273-7273
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673 

Eating Disorder Helpline (M-F, 9am-7pm): 866-622-1235 

• If you are a parent concerned about your student’s psychological wellbeing, we are available to consult with you about how to handle your situation. If you have any questions about how to help a student, please consult with someone at the Counseling Center by calling 336.316.2163. In an afterhours mental health emergency, please call Public Safety at 336.316.2911. 

• If you are a staff/faculty member and you believe there may be imminent danger to the student or someone else, please call Public Safety. If the student is not in immediate danger, please fill out a NAVIGATE alert. If the student is in distress but willing to seek help, please refer the student to the Counseling Center at 336.316.2163 or counseling@guilford.edu to schedule an appointment. It is most impactful if you can either escort the student to our offices, or if you include the student on the email that you send. 

• If you are a student concerned about a fellow student, you may consult with someone at the Counseling Center by calling 336.316.2163. If a friend is experiencing a mental health emergency and the Counseling Center is closed, please contact your Resident Advisor (RA)  or Public Safety at 336.316.2911. 

We maintain a list of community referral resources. This is not a list of recommendations, merely a list of local providers that are either close to campus, have a particular specialty, or have reached out to us to be added to our provider list. You can access the list here, or you can call us to schedule a consultation to determine your needs and help you narrow down the list by service, insurance/cost, and proximity. 

Please visit our Student Resources Page