Counseling Services

Mental health involves how we think, feel, act, and get along with others. Therefore, mental health counseling helps individuals improve emotional and behavioral wellbeing by providing services to individuals who seek help in dealing with issues that affect their lives. Counseling provides a safe space for students to share their concerns and struggles with a trained professional who can help with processing and treating these issues through the use of a variety of therapeutic skills and strategies.

Many students find it helpful to have a safe space to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings, and common reasons students seek out Counseling Services include: 

• Coping with emotional difficulties (sadness, anger, anxiety, grief, etc.)
• Building skills for managing stress effectively
• Overcoming loneliness and homesickness 
• Coping with the loss of a loved one
• Exploring issues related to identity
• Enhancing relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners
• Strengthening confidence and self-esteem
• Coping with acts of discrimination
• Processing traumatic events and experiences
• Addressing suicidal thoughts or urges
• Managing sleep, body image, or eating concerns
• Reducing alcohol and drug-related problems

Counseling can be an ongoing journey. Although we cannot guarantee to find a solution for every one of your concerns, our staff will support you every step of the way and connect you to the necessary resources throughout the process.

Counseling Services offers initial consultation appointments for students who would like to connect with a counselor who will work with them to evaluate which services best meet their needs. Services we offer include:

• Individual counseling, which can be scheduled throughout the semester or utilized as-needed
• Group counseling (groups offered each semester are determined by student needs and attendance)
• Resource sessions to help students connect with off-campus providers 
• Wellness programming that provides psychoeducation to all students about a variety of mental health topics
• Training and presentations for faculty, staff, and students
• Emergency and crisis support 

Counseling Services at MSMC are completely FREE! There is no charge for any of our services, and no insurance is needed.

During the counseling process, information shared with counselors is protected by state law and professional ethics, and is not shared with individuals outside of Counseling Services without written consent by the student. However, the staff may be required to disclose information to others in specific situations related to imminent safety concerns or in situations that require mandated reporting. 

Students must schedule their own appointments – third parties are not allowed to schedule for someone else. Appointments can be scheduled during office hours by calling the office at (845) 569-3115, emailing counseling@msmc.edu, or visiting our office in Aquinas 6 and speaking with the administrative assistant or other staff member. 

If you schedule a virtual Zoom appointment, please find a private location so you will not be disturbed and can ensure your session is kept private. Zoom appointments are offered to both commuter and resident students.

The duration of individual counseling or services varies based on a few factors. Counseling Services uses a short-term treatment model, meaning our staff will help students to address their immediate concerns until the student begins to see an improvement or resolution of what has brought them into counseling. Typically, students meet with a counselor for an average of 6-8 sessions during an academic semester, based on their level of need and the timing of when the student seeks counseling.

It’s important that students get the care they need. If a student could benefit from more specialized or in-depth care, our staff will help connect them to an off-campus provider.  

Yes! Sometimes a student requires more treatment than college counseling can provide. In those cases, a counseling services staff member will help the student connect with an off-campus provider. 

We also offer Resource & Referral Sessions for students who are not interested in receiving counseling through MSMC Counseling Services but would like assistance with finding off-campus resources.

We will always meet with any student who walks through our doors. Chances are, if you already see a therapist, you will not require services through the college. However, sometimes when a student is struggling or has a therapist out of state, they may want to speak with someone on campus. In these cases, we encourage students to speak with their off-campus therapist about having seen an on-campus counselor. If it is necessary, students can provide consent for our staff to speak with their off-campus therapist.

You are welcome to reach out to our staff if you have a concern about another student. We will listen to your concerns, work with you to figure out how to help you and your friend, and keep everything confidential. 

Note that due to confidentiality, if contact is made with the student of concern, we are not able to follow-up and share this information with the referring party without the written consent of the student.

While we try to meet as many needs of our students as possible, there may be a time when a student requires more than what college counseling can offer. In those cases, counseling staff will assist students to the best of our ability in finding resources off-campus. Services we do not offer include:

• Emotional Support Animal evaluations, recommendations, or letters
• Disability paperwork for on-and-off campus accommodations
• Psychiatric or medication services
• Evaluations and testing for ADHD, learning disabilities, or Autism Spectrum
• Long-term psychotherapy
• Counseling for individuals whose primary concerns include severe and active substance abuse, eating disorder, psychosis, recent history of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, and those who are experiencing serious and imminent risk of harm to self or others. 

Students with any of the above concerns will likely be referred to community providers, given the need for ongoing treatment and resources that are not available through MSMC Counseling Services. This list is not exhaustive: if you have any questions, please reach out to the Counseling Services office.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: dial 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/
  • Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 and select "1" or text 838255
• Crisis Text Line: text "HOME" to 741741, or visit https://www.crisistextline.org/
• Trans Lifeline: dial 877-565-8860, or visit https://translifeline.org/

• Orange County Crisis Call Center: dial 1-800-832-1200
• Ulster County Mobile Mental Health: dial 844-277-4820
• Sullivan County Mobile Mental Health (18+): dial 845-791-7123 or 800-710-7082
• Rockland County Behavioral Health Response Team: dial 845-517-0400
• Dutchess County Helpline: dial 845-485-9700
• Putnam County Crisis Hotline: dial 845-225-1222
• Westchester County Crisis Prevention & Response Team: dial 914-925-5959
• Bergen County, NJ Crisis Hotline: dial 201-262-HELP (4357)
• Fairfield County, CT Mobile Crisis Unit: dial 203-974-7300

Adjusting to college life, whether a student is a resident or commuter, may take some time. For the traditional aged student entering college immediately after high school, it can take time to get used to the differences in scheduling and support that was offered in the K-12 setting. For non-traditional students, adjusting to being in academic courses after some time away from school can cause feelings of overwhelm while trying to balance other responsibilities as well. It’s important to remember that these adjustments are normal, and there are a lot of resources available on campus to help! If you’d like more information, refer to this resource from Mental Health America titled, “How to Deal With Freshman Year Issues.” 

While it's normal for students to experience some mood changes and "ups and downs" when adjusting to college, some signs that a student may need extra support include:

• Increases in irritability or extreme mood fluctuations
• Significant changes in academic performance
• Withdrawing from others or reporting loneliness
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Self harming behaviors or suicidal statements
• Drastic changes in hygiene or appearance

Some students struggle at first with their increased sense of freedom and responsibilities in college, and families can sometimes step in and take over when it isn't necessary. We recommend encouraging your student to make responsible decisions and actively problem-solve, as opposed to fixing their problems for them. This will help them develop confidence and responsibility.

If you notice your student is struggling with emotional difficulties, the following resources may be helpful for you:

• JED Foundation: "Going to College with a Mental Health Condition"
• Forefront Suicide Prevention: "Supporting Your College Student Through Mental Health Challenges"

Counseling Services aims to see students as quickly as possible. Students are typically scheduled within a few days from their outreach, but this timeline can fluctuate depending on office demands, your student’s availability, and timing during the semester. Counseling also offers brief same-day drop-in appointments for more urgent and time-sensitive matters.

As a family member, you may rightfully be concerned about your student's well-being and want to be involved. Due to confidentiality, Counseling Services may not disclose any information without the written consent of any student age 18 or older. Family members are always welcome to contact Counseling Services for questions or concerns.

Third parties cannot make appointments for students. Students must contact the office via email, phone, or visiting the office to initiate services and schedule an appointment. However, if you have any questions or concerns, we would be happy to hear from you!