Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in counseling?
A lot of things can happen. Mostly you will be talking with someone
about your feelings and concerns. You will usually set some goals (e.g.
behavioral changes, skills that you want to learn) with your therapist.
However, your therapist cannot “fix” your problems and probably won’t
tell you what to do. Counseling is a collaborative process that requires
work and motivation on your end. Your therapist may suggest that you
read something to help you understand what is happening or provide
feedback to you. S/he may teach your some skills (e.g. relaxation
techniques) or might ask you to do "homework" between sessions (e.g.
practice techniques learned in session).
What if my issues are not serious enough?
If you are distressed by issues in your life, then they
are serious. Just because some people’s issues are more severe doesn’t
mean that yours are insignificant. We are always glad to help in
whatever way we can.
What if my issues are too severe?
We can handle most issues of an emotional/psychological
nature that college students experience. However, if the presenting
issues require more specialized or intense services, we can assist in
referring you to the appropriate agency or provider.
How much does it cost?
All counseling services are free to Bellarmine University
students.
How do I make an appointment?
To arrange an initial appointment, call our office at
502.272.8480. Let us know that you want to arrange a first-time
appointment for personal counseling. We will speak with you briefly to
assess your basic concerns and match you with a counselor. If preferred,
you can also email Ronda Purdy, our triage counselor, at rpurdy@bellarmine.edu .
How long does a session last?
A typical session is around 50 minutes. If this seems too
long or short for you and what is happening in your life, we can always
make adjustments.
How many times will I be seen?
This all depends
on you and your needs. You are under no obligation to continue, but
people who benefit the most from counseling tend to come for at least 3
or 4 sessions. However, some people meet their goals in a single
session, while other people may come for a semester or longer.
What if I
need medication?
If your therapist
feels that you could benefit from medication we have trusted health care
providers that we can refer you to. If you do not want to take
medication you will just continue to work on issues in other ways.
Can I
bring someone with me?
Sometimes it helps
to have a friend or support person along with you when you go to a new
place. Usually that friend does not come into a session but they can if
you wish. If you are experiencing problems in a relationship and need to
bring someone in to work on that with you, we can do that as well. This
goes for an intimate relationship with your partner but it can also be
useful for roommate conflicts or other friendship issues that have not
been able to work themselves out elsewhere.
Will other
people find out that I’m coming or what I tell you?
No. Counseling
services are confidential. That means that we can’t disclose any
information to parents, professors, friends or anyone else without your
consent to release that information. There are some exceptions to this
rule. We may need to disclose information in cases where we think you
may be at imminent risk of harming yourself or others, suspected child
or elder abuse, if recorders are court ordered or other situations
mandated by state or federal law.
Do you
provide couples/family therapy?
Yes, as long as one person involved in the therapy is a Bellarmine
student. We have seen students with their parents, boyfriends,
girlfriends, children, etc. We see same-sex and opposite-sex couples to
work on issues. We have seen students with one or both parents to work
on issues in the family. Just let us know what you need and we can work
on it.