Counseling Services

The goal of Counseling Services is to promote total student development by assisting students in realizing and attaining full potential. Particular emphasis is placed on opportunities which foster emotional, social and spiritual development.

To meet as many student needs as possible, the Counseling Center offers a wide range of services including consultation, workshops, individual therapy and group therapy. Clinical services include initial intake assessment, brief individual counseling, group counseling, and referral to community resources where appropriate. If you currently see a professional for counseling in your hometown and can continue to see him/her, our recommendation is that you continue care with your current provider. If you are seeking specialized/intensive clinical services that require meeting with the same therapist beyond one semester or meeting more than once every other week, we recommend receiving care by a specialist in town.

Counseling Services is committed to providing counseling from a Christian perspective for Union University students with respect for individual differences based on race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, spirituality, and sexual orientation. We strive to provide an atmosphere in which students can feel secure and comfortable to explore their personal, academic, or other concerns. The many transitions encountered by students during their college years involve significant change, increased responsibility, and important decision making. Social and emotional concerns can also generate conflict or dissonance which make it difficult for students to function at their best. Our role is to assist students with personal difficulties in an unbiased, objective way and expand their ability to cope with personal development and environmental demands through their own resources.

We respect your privacy and will provide you with information about our confidentiality policy. Counseling records are private and not a part of any other university records. Appointments of 45-50 minutes in length are typically scheduled once every other week, unless the nature of the concerns warrants more frequent contact. Because we are sensitive to the demands on your time, we use a short-term therapy format, which is effective for the majority of counselees. Sometimes students may need longer term counseling and support and this is also available, but is usually provided in the community. Students whose needs are beyond the scope of Counseling Services will be provided with consultation and referral services.

Typical issues and concerns which bring students to counseling may include:

• Adjusting to college life
• Family problems
• Relationships
• Depression
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Motivation and goal setting
• Roommate conflicts
• Lack of self-confidence
• Decision making
• Stress management, relaxation
• Feeling blue, lonely
• Death of a loved one
• Test anxiety, study skills
• Time management
• Eating problems
• Substance abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Sleep problems
• Marital or premarital concerns

Screening for Depression, Anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder and other conditions is also available.

Counseling Services is available to student organizations, residence complexes, classes, and other groups upon request to provide programs on such topics as dating violence, stress and anger management, assertiveness and communication training, burnout, healthy life styles, and others. Arrangements can be made by contacting Tamarin Huelin at thuelin@uu.edu or 731.661.5923.

These online screening tools may prove helpful to determine if you (or a friend or family member) may be dealing with common mental health problems. Please note these tools are not intended to replace professional assessment and counseling services, but they can be helpful in indicating a potential problem. If you use them, please consider printing your results to bring to your first counseling appointment.

• Screening for Anxiety
• Screening Test for Attention Deficit Disorder
• Screening Test for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Screening Test for Depression
• Depression and Bipolar Alliance – information on depression and bipolar disorders. Screening tests for depression, mania, and anxiety.

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, dial 911, or go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room for evaluation. For emergency assistance locally, you may contact Pathways 24-Hour Crisis Line at 800-372-0693.