Services
The MSU Student Counseling Center is the primary campus provider of mental health services. The center offers free and confidential counseling sessions to enrolled MSU students. The focus of the initial consultation, or intake appointment, is to determine the nature and impact of the presenting concerns and to identify which options for addressing these issues are most appropriate. If additional treatment is indicated, a clinician will recommend the most effective mode of treatment, which may include individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, career exploration, or a referral to an off-campus mental health provider for long term or higher level of care. In some cases, the intake appointment is sufficient for identifying ways to address the problems and no follow-up appointments are necessary.
Model of Care
The Mississippi State Student Counseling Center utilizes a short-term/brief model for individual counseling. Short-term counseling addresses concerns over a few sessions in a solution-focused manner. Our clinicians work in a brief model to facilitate adjustment, healthy functioning, and symptom relief as quickly as possible. Since therapy concerns vary from person to person, the length of treatment is based on goals set by the therapist and client. While the Counseling Center provides 6-8 individual sessions per semester, for individuals seeking long term treatment appropriate referrals can be made to community providers.
Clients who present with persistent and chronic psychological concerns and require continuous long-term treatment, may best be served by community providers who can offer uninterrupted treatment and care. Referrals to outside sources can be facilitated if needed.
Confidentiality as a Minor
If you are under the age of 18, please discuss with your clinician how confidentiality applies to you. Permission from a legal guardian will likely be required.
Visit Verification Forms
You may ask your clinician for a visit verification form, which is official documentation that you received services on a particular date. A written release of information will be required in order for your clinician to be able to provide this documentation. These forms are only for the purpose of verifying that you have received services, no psychological, mental health status, or diagnosis will be released in verification forms.
A Note About Email
E-mail is not an appropriate medium for engaging in personal counseling and relaying other private information. Unfortunately, e-mail is not always confidential and cannot be guaranteed to be an effective or timely means of communication. The Counseling Center does not communicate confidential information by e-mail.
Additional Information
For more a more comprehensive description of services and policies, please refer to the following document: Description of Services and Privacy Practices