Penn State Greater Allegheny Counseling Services Information 2021-2022 Academic Year

How Counseling Services connects to students:

1.) Both in-person (masked) and telehealth mental health counseling services which typically last 50 minutes. These services are both FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

2.) Tele-psychiatry for students that may need psychiatric support is also available. Again, this is free and confidential conducted via a HIPPA- secure video and messaging third party, Mantra.

3.) Outreach events will continue throughout the academic year, some will be weekly others will be a scheduled event on a specific day. More details to come once our new counselor is hired!

How/When can you connect students to us?

Although students are most often self-referred for counseling, you may refer a student. Concerning behaviors may include:
- Frequent absences or sudden decline in quality of academic performance
- Significant decrease in energy or motivation
- A highly adverse event such as assault, abuse, or death of loved one)
- Escalating stress and / or anxiety
- References to bodily injury, suicidal thoughts, or harm to others Referrals come from faculty, staff, parents and friends.

If you see concerning behaviors, encourage your student to call the Student Affairs Office at 412-675-9081 so we can connect them with a PSU Counselor until a counselor is hired at GA.

If you have a student in need of urgent service, please call or encourage your student of concern to call our Penn State Crisis Line. Crisis services are confidential and available 24/7 by calling: Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400

Crisis Text Line: text “LIONS” to 741741

If you are dealing with a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or Police Services if you are on campus for immediate help.

What is Counseling?

Counseling provides students a safe place to talk with an objective, caring mental health professional who can offer fresh ways to interpret difficult situations.  Counseling gives students a chance to explore their feelings and learn new coping skills.  Unexplained changes in behavior, mood swings, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating are all indicators of a problem that could affect academic performance if not addressed.  Counseling can help resolve the problem.

Counseling can be used for a specific problem.  It can be used by students who want to better understand themselves or to make important decisions about their lives.

Most counseling sessions are individual, but students can also be seen with their partners, roommates, or family members on request and approval of the campus counselor. Walk-ins are seen if time permits, and evening appointments are available by request.  Students who are in crisis are seen the same day.

Common reasons students seek counseling include:

  • Difficulty adjusting to college or other changes
  • Stress, anxiety, or panic attacks
  • Depression and feelings of hopelessness
  • Problems with eating or body image
  • Relationship problems (dating, roommate, family, work)
  • Grief and loss (end of a relationship, death of a loved one)
  • Time Management/Organizational Skills 
  • Changes in sleep or mood patterns

What Students Can Expect at the Counseling Appointment: 

  • Assessment occurs during the first session
  • Student and Counselor identify goals and develop a treatment plan together 
  • Typical options include: - Crisis intervention - On-going sessions with a counselor - Referral to other campus services - Referral to off-campus agencies/counselors for higher levels of care – Local resources 

Confidentiality

Counseling is completely confidential (with rare exceptions when there is a threat to someone’s safety).  No information is shared with anyone on or off-campus without the student’s written permission, and files are not part of student’s academic record. Regarding Title IX reports, Counseling staff are considered confidential resources and do not have to report sexual misconduct information to the Title IX Liaison. 

Scheduling

  • To make an appointment, call 412-675-9081 
  • Counseling is available to all current students free of charge. 
  • Appointments can be scheduled between 8:00am-5:00pm. 

The Counseling Office is located in the SCC (Student Community Center) in the Student Offices, Room 110.