FAQs
Counseling Services
Get answers to your questions about the counseling resources offered by Oxford.
Examples of the kinds of concerns for which students seek counseling include:
- Conflicts with friends or family members
- Homesickness
- Difficulties adjusting to new environment, culture, lifestyle, etc.
- Performing poorly in academics
- Feelings of sadness, depression, moodiness or irritability
- Concerns about alcohol or drug use
- Difficulty sleeping or feeling low in energy
- Procrastination
- Preoccupation with food and/or weight
- Concerns with self-esteem
- Feelings of anxiety and/or fear
- Lack of clarity on an educational or career direction
- Problems managing anger
- Difficulties in romantic relationships
- Unwanted habits and/or self-defeating behaviors
- Questions about whether to remain enrolled at Oxford
- Feeling stressed
- Issues related to having been sexually abused, harassed or assaulted, either recently or in the past
- Questions about sexual orientation
If a student's problem or concern is something the counselor is unable to help with or if the student's concerns require services beyond what the Center for Counseling and Wellbeing can reasonably provide, the counselor will refer the student to an appropriate off-campus resource. Another reason for a referral to a provider off-campus is a personal preference on the part of the student and again the counselor will assist the student to access a qualified off-campus resource.
In general, sessions are limited to 12-15 sessions per year.
The Center for Counseling and Wellness (CCW) typically provides short-term counseling for the kinds of concerns and difficulties students encounter in early adulthood. These can be "developmental" or "psychological" in nature. Examples of developmental concerns include homesickness, choosing an appropriate major and a future career direction, learning or improving interpersonal and communication skills, and developing one's own identity separate from family. Examples of psychological concerns include depression and low self-esteem, recovering from traumatic incidents, eating disorders, anxiety and substance abuse. For issues such as eating disorders, severe depression or anxiety, substance abuse and traumatic stress, a longer course of counseling is usually recommended.
Counseling sessions are 45 minutes in duration. Medication management appointments are 20-30 minutes in duration.
Staff of the Center for Counseling and Wellbeing adheres to the ethical principles of the American Psychological Association. We have a strong commitment to keeping your records and the information you share confidential. Information about you and records regarding your concerns and treatment are privileged and will not be disclosed to anyone without your written consent.
Under rare and specific circumstances, however, our counselors may be ethically and legally obligated to breach your confidentiality. The circumstances in which confidentiality may not apply are as follows:
Your counselor believes that you or someone else is in clear and imminent danger of harm. In this circumstance, your counselor is legally obligated to inform proper authorities and others in order to help prevent the harm from occurring; your counselor may also decide that it is in your best interest to contact your family and Oxford College administrators.
You provide information indicating that someone under 18-years-old is being abused. In this circumstance your counselor is legally required to notify proper authorities.
A court orders or subpoenas your counselor to disclose information about you.
You are under 18 years old. Students under 18 years of age must have parental consent before they can receive our services. And for students under 18 years of age, their parents or legal guardians, by law, have access to their medical information.
No. Counseling records are not part of the student official record. Counseling records are protected by FERPA and are not released without the consent of the adult-age student or parent of students 17 years of age or younger.
On or before your first appointment you will be asked to fill out a simple intake form. It will have contact information, questions about your current concerns. You will review the confidentiality policy. And you will also be asked to complete a computerized intake that will collect demographic information and information regarding your level of distress, medical and psychosocial history. In your first session you and your counselor will discuss what brings you to counseling, as well as the information on your intake form and the computerized report generated from your responses to the computerized inventory.
It is often best to schedule a meeting with a counselor to discuss your concerns and needs, even if all you want is a referral to an outside provider. This way, the counselor can offer you a "best-fit" referral. However, if what you need is exclusively a referral to an outside psychiatrist and psychologist for psychological testing and/or medication to diagnosis and/or treat Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, our support staff can offer you a list of community providers that will meet your needs.
Yes. When contacting our office, please request a "consultation appointment" to discuss the concerns you have regarding a peer/resident.
Offering counseling via email, instant messaging, and Facebook would pose a potential breach of confidentiality, as these vehicles of communication are certainly not secure. CCW staff do not offer counseling via any of these computer-based avenues of communication to protect your privacy!
The Center for Counseling and Wellbeing, however, does have Facebook and Instagram accounts. Check them out for information regarding upcoming health education events and workshops.
The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) can answer questions in regard to disabilities and needs for special accommodations. To speak with a representative from OAS, please email oas_oxford@emory.edu or call 770-784-4690.
Need Help?
In case of emergency
- If you're experiencing a mental health crisis in which your safety is in question and our office is closed
or - If you've been prescribed medication by our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and you're experiencing a negative reaction to the medication
Call Emory Police at Oxford, 770-784-8377, and ask to speak with the RLC on call.
Sexual Assault Response
Our office is located in the same suite as Student Health Services. We're in the breezeway that extends from Moore Street to the wooded area behind Murdy and Elizer.
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (when classes are in session) Closed noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch.