The Counseling Center

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I make an appointment at the Counseling Center?

  To set up an initial or follow-up appointment, please call our office at 843-953-5640 or submit an appointment request form  

  To make a same-day (or timely access), appointment, please call the front desk to schedule. There are a limited number of same-day appointments available, and they will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.  

• What can I expect at my first appointment?

  During the initial appointment, you will complete paperwork and then meet with a counselor to discuss your concerns. The counselor will gather information to gain a better understanding of your needs and will work with you to develop a plan for the next steps that best meet your needs. 

• How often will I meet with my counselor?

  You and your counselor will make a plan that best meets your unique needs. In general, you can expect to meet with a counselor every other week. If you prefer regular weekly sessions an off-campus provider might be a better fit for you.

• Is there a session limit?

  Although there are no session limits at The Counseling Center, our services are designed to be short-term. Most students find their concerns can be addressed in 3-4 sessions; others may need more time to meet their therapy goals. Your counselor will help you identify your goals and determine whether those goals can be achieved within our short-term model. If your needs would be better met with longer-term therapy, you may be referred to an off-campus provider. 

• What should I do if I think my friend needs counseling?

  If you think your friend might benefit from counseling, it may be helpful to talk with one of our counselors to discuss your specific concern. We can help you develop a plan for how to talk to your friend about your concerns, identify additional resources available to your friend, and provide support to you. 

• What if I'm in crisis and need to talk with someone right away?

  If your concern is urgent or you feel you are in crisis you DO NOT need to make an appointment. Please come in during office hours to consult with a counselor.  

  If you need immediate assistance after 5pm or on weekends, you can speak with a counselor-on-call by dialing 843-953-5640 and choosing menu option #3. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. 

• Do you prescribe medication?

  Yes! Like our counseling services, our psychiatry services are designed to be short-term. Our psychiatrist will conduct an initial consultation with the goal of determining the proper medication and dosage to help you achieve symptom relief. Once stable on medication, you will be referred to an off-campus provider for medication management (i.e., refills and continued monitoring). To qualify for our psychiatric services, you must be engaged in counseling at our center and referred by one of our counselors. Our psychiatrist is not available to students already taking medication and needing refills only, or to those who are not using our counseling services. 

• Is my concern appropriate for counseling?

  There are a variety of reasons students decide to come in for counseling. In short, any concern that is keeping you from being your personal best is an appropriate reason to seek counseling. Some common concerns are depression, anxiety, stress management, family concerns, educational/academic concerns, substance use, trauma history, interpersonal difficulties (e.g., conflict with friends, roommates, or romantic partners), or concerns related to gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or culture. 

• Can someone from The Counseling Center come to speak to my organization?

  Yes. Our counselors are comfortable presenting on a variety of topics related to mental health and well-being. Our ability to accommodate requests depends on counselor availability and having enough advance notice to ensure we have time to prepare (usually 2-4 weeks). We may request to meet with you to discuss your specific programming needs.  

• I was referred for an assessment by another office. What happens next?

  Sometimes students are referred to The Counseling Center due to a College of Charleston policy violation. The goal is to provide an opportunity for you to reflect on the factors that contributed to the violation and help you identify whether those factors represent an area of concern you want to create change around. Our counselors are NOT involved in any disciplinary decisions and are here to support you as you navigate the conduct process. You will be asked to complete a release of information allowing us to notify the referring party that you attended the session and engaged in the assessment. Depending on the situation, we may also be required to provide recommendations back to the office or department that referred you.