FAQs

When should you seek counseling?

The goal of counseling is to help you work through any personal concerns that may occur during the course of your college life.  Speaking with our licensed Counselor is a good way to get help and support if you’re dealing with a stressful situation, especially if it’s something that you might not feel comfortable talking through with friends or family.  It can also be a good resource if you’re worried about a friend and want advice from an experienced professional about how you can best be helpful. If you are experiencing any of the following concerns, then please make an appointment. Please note this list is not all-inclusive.

How do I make an appointment?

• Stop by St. Joseph’s, Room 101
• Call (814) 886-6515  or  (814) 886-6336
• Email  mevans@mtaloy.edu   or  ceberhart@mtaloy.edu

What would an appointment be like?

Students sit down with the Counselor to survey the situation and decide together where the problem lies and what is needed.  The Counselor will listen and prompt you to clarify your own thinking, rather than deciding for you or giving advice.  The Counselor will make suggestions and recommendations about what course of therapy might be most helpful.

How often are appointments? How long do they last?

Ordinarily, students will see a counselor for a 30 to 45 minute appointment. The frequency of appointments, (e.g. once per week, bi-weekly) will be based on what might be the most practical and helpful way to address the student’s individual needs.

How long can I continue counseling?

Most students find that they have reached some helpful clarity with six sessions. It is certainly possible to return if the problem reoccurs or if another problem presents itself. Counselor Services can also help students with referrals for longer-term counseling with private therapists in the area.

Will Counseling Services tell anyone else that I have used their services?

Counseling Services is a confidential resource; a counselor would only talk with a professor or parent if a student makes a request, or there were an imminent risk of serious injury or violence. No other campus has knowledge of a student’s visits to Counseling Services without his or her explicit permission. Counseling Services records are destroyed 7 years after graduation.