Student Counseling Services

Joel Hutchinson, Ph.D.
Director

Louise Welter
Staff Psychologist

Quad Building 370
(480) 727-1255
7001 E. Williams Field Road
Mesa, AZ 85212

Student Counseling Services Office Hours:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday

What does Student Counseling Services offer?
Student Counseling Services (SCS) provides confidential psychological services for students enrolled in courses on the Polytechnic campus. Counseling services are primarily short term and include developmental, preventive and educational services. All SCS staff have training and experience in issues facing university students and are committed to helping students adjust to campus life and meet their academic goals.

SCS Services

• Individual/couples counseling
• Group counseling
• Workshops
• Crisis intervention
• Career testing/counseling
• Organizational consultation
• Outreach
• Referral

Appointments
Students may schedule an initial appointment either by visiting Student Counseling Services (Quad Building 370) or calling (480) 727-1255.

Confidentiality
Counseling at SCS is confidential and is most effective when a student can be direct and honest with a counselor without fear that personal information will be shared. SCS does not release information about a student without that student's written permission, except in the cases of imminent danger to self or others, child/dependent abuse, court order, or where otherwise required by law. Notations of counseling are not part of a student's university records.

Individual Counseling
Students are initially seen by a counselor for a first session. During this initial meeting, a counselor will assess the student's current needs and determine if those needs can be met by SCS. Continuing services may be offered in the form of individual, couples, or group sessions. SCS may also provide referral services to community counseling and psychiatric resources as well as other sources of help. When needed, follow-up appointments are offered as soon after the initial session as possible, depending upon the urgency of the situation and staff availability.

Group Counseling
SCS offers general therapy groups and psycho-educational workshops that provide group members with an opportunity to receive professional help as well as support from others who are facing similar concerns. Groups have five to ten members, and typically meet once a week for one and a half hours. This format may vary slightly depending upon the group. Selected issues addressed in groups or workshop include: interpersonal relationships, family issues, gender concerns, multicultural issues, substance abuse issues, self-esteem and stress management.

Outreach and Consultation
Outreach
SCS provides preventive and educational interventions through outreach programs. SCS staff are available to design and implement presentations, programs, or workshops on a wide variety of topics. Presentations are typically offered to student organizations, residence halls and academic classes. Outreach topics might be in areas such as academic skills, personal concerns, career choice, or interpersonal relationships.

Consultation
Consultation is offered to university administrative units, organizations, and academic departments to aid in effective organizational functioning.

Crisis Intervention
Student Counseling Services provides crisis intervention for students who are experiencing a mental health crisis. During normal working hours, students may contact Student Counseling Services and request a same day appointment to discuss urgent situations. After office hours, EMPACT Suicide Prevention Center, Inc. is available for crisis consultation by calling (480) 921-1006.

Information for Faculty and Staff
SCS staff are available for consultation when faculty or staff are concerned about a student in distress. These consultations are offered both by telephone and office appointment.

Counseling services are available at the following location during office hours:
Quad Building 370
(480) 727-1255

Emergencies after office hours:
EMPACT Crisis Hotline......(480) 921-1006

Student Counseling Services has a strong commitment to meeting the needs of diverse people. All services at SCS are designed to make every student feel welcome.