Appointments
Office Hours Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. & Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Please call 618-650-2842 to make an appointment or for information about our services
Our services are offered on a time-limited basis, which is generally described as "brief counseling." While we don't have session limits, we do frame the counseling experience around meeting targeted SMART goals created by counseling provider and client. Decisions about changes in treatment will then be made on the basis of goals being met.
Counseling Services appointments are offered both virtual and in-person.
Screening/Initial Assessment Sessions: In most circumstances, an initial assessment is required. This is an information-gathering session in which the Assessment and Triage Counselor will determine which treatment mode is in the best interest of the student. There are two exceptions:
- Your visit to Counseling Services is for a crisis appointment, which support students in stabilizing emergent situations. Crisis appointments are available Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 12:30 p.m. 1 4:00 p.m.
- Your visit to Counseling Services is for group therapy only, in which case you can request a Group Screening with the group leader instead of an Initial Assessment.
PLEASE NOTE: All initial assessment questionnaires must be completed by 8 a.m. the day before the scheduled initial assessment appointment.
- Questionnaires can be found at cougarcare.siue.edu under the appointments tab.
- If you encounter any barriers to completing the questionnaire, please call our office at your earliest convenience for assistance.
- If the questionnaire is not completed, Counseling Services' Office Support will cancel all initial assessments that have incomplete initial assessment questionnaires.
- If your initial assessment appointment is canceled, you will receive a secure message through your cougarcare.siue.edu account under the messages tab, indicating that you have not completed the appropriate paperwork.
- You may call our office, 618-650-2842, to reschedule your initial assessment appointment.
- Please note that this questionnaire is highly important for the counselor to determine the best course of treatment for each individual.
- As cancellations occur, we attempt to contact students with completed questionnaires to offer earlier appointments.
The Initial Assessment is the primary pathway to access the following services
- Life Skills: Solution-focused, skills-building sessions. These sessions occur over 1-5 weeks.
- Counseling Groups: A group format is often the most beneficial option for many student concerns. This usually involves 4-12 students and 1 or 2 group facilitators. Most groups meet every week at the same time for 1 ½ hours. Groups differ, but generally, members of the group discuss the issues that are concerning them and offer each other support and feedback.
- Individual Counseling: One-on-one work with a counseling provider is reserved for students experiencing higher levels of distress that are severely impacting functioning (e.g., how you interact, your ability to perform academically and occupationally). Students in individual counseling are seen biweekly.
- Referral to community providers: If concerns exceed the scope of our brief counseling focus, or if recommended resources are not available within the University, the student will be referred to community providers/resources. Our staff can support you in making your first appointment (e.g., navigating choice and location of provider, cost, transportation, insurance coverage).
- Note: Counseling Services is a proud supporter of LGBTQ+ identified students. As such, we are happy to support gender affirmation by providing supportive resources and/or evaluations for related medical services.
Virtual Appointments
Disclaimer: Providers in Counseling Services are licensed in IL and MO, so virtual services can only be rendered for students residing in these states.
What space and technology are required for teletherapy?
A quiet, private location is necessary for teletherapy appointments to allow for personal, confidential conversations. For videoconferencing, a computer with a web camera and microphone, or a cell phone, is required, as well as reliable WiFi.
What platform does SIUE Counseling Services use for teletherapy?
Teletherapy primarily consists of videoconferencing sessions through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform, Zoom for Healthcare. Prior to your first session with a provider, it is important to download Zoom on the device you plan to use. If you do not have access to all of the technology necessary for videoconferencing, please email cougarcare@siue.edu. If you are getting connected with a provider for the first time or are currently working with a provider, it is important to be checking CougarCare and responding to secure messages from your provider to ensure minimal delays. To best protect your information, providers at Counseling Services use CougarCare, rather than normal email addresses for communication.
How do I connect to my appointment?
For in person appointments, you will check in at the front desk of Counseling and Health Services (SSC Room 0222). For virtual initial assessments your provider will send you instructions on how to access videoconferencing via secure message.
For all other appointments you can access your provider's online waiting room one of two ways:
- You can check your CougarCare secure messages for a message from your provider that will contain their Zoom meeting room link (this is usually sent at the start of services).
- You can visit our Meet the Providers webpage, click your provider's name, and use their Zoom meeting room link embedded in their webpage.
Pros & Cons of In Person and Virtual Therapy Sessions: Click Here
Psychological Assessment
(Updated 8/1/2022)
Psychological Assessment consists of a clinical interview, testing, and development of a report often used to support students requesting accommodations or related services. While we are not able to support all requests, we can assess for common mental health concerns such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders (depressive and bipolar), attention disorders, and trauma.
SIUE Counseling Services offers psychological assessments only for students referred by ACCESS for accommodations or by a Health Services or Counseling Services provider. It is recommended that if you are struggling with a mental health concern you start with an initial assessment appointment through Counseling Services where it can be determined if a psychological assessment is recommended.
What is the purpose of a psychological assessment through SIUE Counseling Services?
- For accommodations documentation via a referral from ACCESS
- For diagnosis and treatment planning via a referral from a SIUE Counseling Services or Health Services provider
What requests are “out-of scope” for a psychological assessment through SIUE Counseling Services?
- A student interested in determining a mental health diagnoses without wanting to pursue accommodations or not already connected with SIUE Counseling Services for treatment.
- Already have a psychological or mental health diagnosis.
- Already working with a mental health practitioner or psychiatrist in the community (these individuals can provide diagnoses)
- Court mandated mental health evaluations
- Evaluation of the assessment counselor and/or Clinical Team that the student’s assessment needs are beyond the scope of services offered by Counseling Services
What disorders is SIUE Counseling Services unable to assess for at this time?
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Substance Use Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
- Learning disorders (for example dyslexia, dyscalculia)
*If you are seeking a psychological assessment for one of the above disorders please call SIUE Counseling Services at 618-650-2842 to schedule a referral consultation appointment for assistance finding a provider in the area that can conduct an appropriate assessment for one or more of the above concerns.
How do I schedule a psychological assessment appointment?
If you find that you are either coming to Counseling Services for an assessment for accommodations OR that in the process of being seen for psychotherapy (individual or group)/psychiatric services an assessment is recommended, you should expect the following:
Referrals from ACCESS:
- A referral form from ACCESS will be submitted on your behalf. You will receive a call from an Office Support Specialist in Counseling and Health Services to get you scheduled.
Referrals from Counseling or Health Services provider:
- A referral form from your health provider will be submitted on your behalf. You will receive a call from an Office Support Specialist in Counseling and Health Services to get you scheduled.
- A referral form from your counseling provider will be submitted on your behalf. Your counseling provider will schedule you for the psychological assessment during one of your standard counseling appointments.
What should I expect at my psychological assessment appointment?
First and foremost, all students participating in a psychological assessment will be expected to complete initial paperwork found in their SIUE Cougarcare account prior to their appointment. The paperwork must be completed by 8 am the day before the scheduled appointment to avoid appointment cancellation. The paperwork includes important informed consent documents that all clients must complete.
Currently all appointments through Counseling Services are virtual. You will receive a secure message to your SIUE Cougarcare account with a HIPAA compliant Zoom link prior to your appointment.
The initial psychological assessment appointment, 1-2 hours, will be scheduled with Staff Counselor, Taylor Rogers, MA, LPC or Assessment and Triage Counselor Shervonti Norman, MA. During this appointment, a clinical interview will be conducted and a battery of standardized psychological instruments will be administered.
Student are offered a follow-up consultation appointment lasting from 30 minutes to an hour to discuss the results of the evaluation, if appropriate she will provide treatment recommendations and accommodation recommendations, and will help you to complete the appropriate Release of Information forms so that the report can be released to yourself and any other provider or office you would like to have the report.
Expected timelines for receipt of the psychological assessment evaluation report in .pdf format are 4-5 weeks from date of the appointment. Students should expect to receive their evaluation digitally.
*Should a student need a copy of their report from a previous assessment please contact Kristin Cruz in Medical Records.
