Office of Counseling Services

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Greetings
Golden Bulls!

With a team of dedicated, inclusive, empathetic mental health professionals, we provide non-judgmental individual, group and couples counseling, crisis intervention, substance misuse prevention/intervention, outreach programming and other services to include domestic violence/sexual assault support and advocacy to help promote your total wellness and evolution at JCSU.

Affirmations

I am capable
I am loved
I am gifted
I am more than enough
I am not alone

Mission

The mission of the Office of Counseling Services of Johnson C. Smith University is to promote and facilitate the interest, wellness, and growth of all JCSU students. The Office of Counseling Services strives to encourage student involvement on campus and in the community by enhancing self-awareness and aiming to inspire the individual and collective leadership skills of all students.

Values

We appreciate and respect diversity and cultural differences of our students. We strive to provide services and support that reflects the content of student’s wellness needs. We aim to do so in a sensitive and caring manner.

We strive to identify with our students’ circumstances and to have a sense of their feelings and emotions related to their needs. Offering a high level of empathy enhances trust and the quality of services that our students deserve.

We believe that the provision of resources is essential to providing quality and effective services to our students. We continually strive to provide resources that meet our students’ needs.

We strongly uphold ethical principles in our daily service delivery. Our students entrust their wellness to our professional care and expect to be treated, and to receive treatment, in a manner that honors professional codes and standards, as well as supports the University’s mission.

We value our student’s well-being and strive to provide a professional and friendly atmosphere in which they feel welcome; and environment conducive to the sensitive nature of their needs and to the settings in which our professionals provide treatment to meet those needs. Excellence in customer service is our top priority.

Confidentiality Statement

 

Confidentiality is an important aspect of the student-counselor relationship; therefore, counseling records are separate from JCSU records which prevent the counseling staff from discussing the student’s counseling in any capacity in the absence of authorized disclosure from the student.

 

In accordance with ethical guidelines, what you discuss with a mental health professional/counselor is kept confidential. Your written permission will be required to release information to other parties (i.e., professors, university staff, parents, spouse, other family members, or outside institutions). To maintain professional standards, your counselor may confidentially discuss specifics of your situation with other mental health professionals as part of a consultation to ensure that appropriate services are provided to you.

 

There are circumstances where information can be released without your consent or authorization. These include:

 

  • If you are at risk of being a threat/danger to yourself, a mental health professional is permitted to release information necessary for the purpose of your safety and protection (i.e., contacting family members/emergency contact, administrators and/or seeking hospitalization).
  • If an immediate threat of physical violence against an identifiable individual is disclosed, your counselor may take action (i.e., notifying the individual, police, administrator or seeking hospitalization, etc.).
  • If abuse or harmful neglect of children, the elderly, or disabled/incompetent is known or reasonably suspected, your counselor must file a report with the appropriate state agency.
  • In the event a client decides to bring a malpractice suit against the counselor/counseling center, the client’s record will be admitted as evidence in court.
  • In court proceedings, a judge may require the mental health professional’s or counseling staff’s testimony and the client’s record if he/she/they determine this is necessary to resolve the issues before the court.

 

Understand that the laws concerning confidentiality can be complex. While your counselor is willing to discuss these matters with you, he/she/they are not an attorney. If you have specific legal questions, it is advised that you speak with an attorney/legal representative. Counseling staff are not permitted to provide you with legal counsel or legal counsel referrals.  

Nature of Services

The Counseling Center offers mental health counseling services and referrals for enrolled JCSU students using individual, group and couple formats. While there are various approaches that can be used to address a student’s presenting concerns, it is preferred to use approaches that have been supported through scientific research. Specific information about the type of counseling to be used will be discussed during the counseling session. Information about alternative treatment options or campus and community referrals that may be available will be discussed with you. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinion about your level of comfortability working with a particular counselor. Should you have any doubts or desire a different approach to address your presenting concerns, you will be assisted in finding an appropriate campus/community referral to another mental health professional/provider.

Appointment Cancellations

If you need to cancel an appointment, it is expected that you will provide at least a 24-hour notice. While every effort will be made to reschedule your appointment (with the earliest available appointment), this may not be until the next regularly scheduled session time due to the professional or ethical obligations of your counselor. 

Client Rights

It is expected that your counselor will treat you with dignity and respect (i.e., maintaining professional standards of conduct as a mental health professional and discussing any concerns or questions you may have in a respectful and non-judgmental manner). It is also expected that you reciprocate respect to your counselor. Acknowledging your client's rights, you can determine when you should end services as part of the counseling process. It is expected that you will discuss any decision to end services with your counselor rather than ending the process abruptly to ensure continuity of care and proper referral coordination.

Timely Care

Timely Care is a 24/7/365 Telehealth Service powered by our partner company Timely MD. Timely Care is a convenient way for Johnson C. Smith University students to receive 24/7, no-cost Medical, TalkNow, Scheduled Counseling and Health Coaching visits for common conditions that can be safely and accurately diagnosed and treated online. All you need is an internet connection. Mobile and tablet users can download the Timely MD app. Visit www.timelycare.com to register today!

Frequently Asked Questions

The hours of operation for the Counseling Center are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday (evening sessions by appointment).

You can reach the Counseling Center by calling 704.378.1044 or by contacting one of the counselors directly (see Counseling Center Staff and Counselors).

The Counseling Center is located across from the main security booth (brick cottage near street corner #11).

To make a referral you can call 704.378.1044, or you can fill out our referral form and a member of the counseling team will contact you to schedule an appointment. You can also walk over to the counseling center and make an appointment in person any time from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, or fill out our referral form online.

Resources

 

Life-Threatening Emergencies: 911

 

Campus Police: 704.378.1003 or x1004

 

Atrium Health 24/7 Mental Health Support Number: 704.444.2400

 

Mecklenburg County Mobile Crisis

 

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

 

National Crisis Text Line: 741741

 

National Mental Health Line: 1.800.662.4357

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

 

Mental Health Screening Tools

 

JCSU Food Pantry: Serving faculty, staff, student and student families.
Located at 301 Campus Street, Charlotte, NC 28216.

 

Single Stop at JCSU: 301 Campus Street, Charlotte, NC 28216
Email: singlestop@jcsu.edu

Mission: To build pathways out of poverty by leveraging partnerships and technology to connect people to existing resources, all through a unique one-stop shop.

 

Stalking Prevention Awareness and Resource Center

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Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) logo

 

 

The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) is a federally funded project providing education and resources about the crime of stalking.

Safe Horizon

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Safe Horizon logo

 

 

 

Safe Horizon is the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, operating a network of programs across New York City communities and systems. We work with survivors of all forms of violence, including racism, to move from crisis to confidence.

National Center for Victim of Crime: Stalking Resource Center

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National Center for Victims of Crime logo

 

 

 

The mission of the National Center for Victims of Crime is to forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives.