Counseling Services

Counseling Services PIC

The Counseling Center offers SFU students the opportunity to talk privately about personal issues and concerns in a safe, confidential setting. Support and consultation are also available to faculty and staff who have concern about the psychological and emotional well-being of a student.

Counseling Center

Office Location: 120 Francis Hall
Phone: 814-472-3211
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 am-4 pm

evening hours by appointment
counseling@francis.edu

IMPORTANT NOTE: The SFU Counseling Center does not maintain 24-hour access to email correspondence and cannot guarantee that emails will be read in evenings and on weekends. If you have an emergency, please contact a mental health crisis counselor (24-hour, on-call status) at 877-268-9463.

Our Services

The Counseling Center, located in Saint Francis Hall, provides confidential counseling to students, including individual, marital and group counseling. If assistance is needed in arranging for mental health services in the community, the Center staff can assist students with referral to local treatment providers.

Students in need of services are encouraged to call for an appointment during regular office hours. The Center is staffed two evenings per week. Resident students who desire to speak with a counselor after regular office hours should contact the Resident Assistant on duty. Commuter students should contact the Department of University Police at 814-472-3360.

Programming on relevant psycho-social and developmental issues is provided and sponsored by the Center throughout the year along with QPR Gatekeeper Certification. Topics include stress management and relaxation training, sexuality, eating disorders, dating, substance abuse and family issues. Resource information on mental health issues, chemical dependency and health and wellness is available at the Center and is provided to students upon request.

Resources for Students

For current students seeking assistance, we have assembled a listing of counseling resources to help connect individuals with the support they need.

First Year Students

First-year students (and parents!) may be interested in browsing transitionyear.org for guidance in dealing with common issues families encounter as students embark on the college experience.

Resources for parents

The counseling center works with many parents as well providing consultation, information, and referrals. Here are answers to few questions you may have.

How does the counseling center help students?

The Counseling Center is part of the University's mission of helping students to develop into healthy, well-rounded individuals. Counseling Services assist students in meeting the personal and developmental challenges they face during college. Students seek counseling for a range of issues from adjustment and relationship issues to managing emotional and behavioral issues, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse.

When to seek counseling and community services?

When To Seek Counseling

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, tense, or worried
Feeling moody, irritable, depressed, or hopeless
Trouble coping with the break-up of a romantic relationship
Difficulties with friends or roommate(s)
Worrying about a family problem
Experiencing problems with alcohol or drug use
Sleep disturbance
Eating disorders
Having trouble adjusting to college
Worrying about life after graduation
Trouble coping with a traumatic event
Having thoughts of death or suicide
Concerned about a friend with a mental health issue

Community Resources for Gender Based Violence (Sexual & Physical)

Victim Services provides confidential, free services for victims of sexual assault and violent crime in Cambria & Somerset Counties. Phone 1-800-755-1983.
PCAR (PA Coalition Against Rape) - PCAR provides quality services to victims / survivors of sexual violence and the significant other. Toll Free Hotline: 1-888-772-7227.
Women's Help Center provides victims with options, resources, educative and supportive services, empowerment counseling and emergency shelter. Phone: 814-536-5361.
Title IX Help Center
Student Health Center
SFU University Police webpage includes contact information for on and off-campus resources.

Resources for Anxiety/Depression

Self Injury-a non profit outreach providing information and resources about self injury to those who self injure, those who have recovered, and those who want to help.
Anxiety Disorders Association of America- Anxiety disorders are real, serious, and treatable. This site can assist with understanding anxiety, finding help, and living with anxiety.
Looking for help with relaxation or having trouble sleeping? Go to Sleep Scripts for words you can print out and read to yourself to help with focusing. This site also has some free guided imagery to help with relaxation.

Resources for Mental Health

Best Colleges-Guide for college students, finances, lifestyle, health.
Strength of Us - Online community developed by Nami and young adults impacted by mental health.
Ulifeline - Learn more about protecting your emotional health and what to do if you or a friend is struggling with mental health issues.
Here at Half of US.com, you can find help, feel better, check yourself and help a friend. This site is helpful for those who want to take control of their mental health.
Health Place - This website provides general information on mental health.
The Impact of Sleep on Mood and Mental Well-Being
https://www.sleephelp.org/mood-emotions-sleep/

Resources for Suicide Prevention

International Association for Suicide Prevention- Information and resources on suicide and mental health issue, Provides listing of international crisis centers.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline - For suicide prevention information.
Veterans, call—1-800-273-TALK (8255)
The Forever Decision —For someone thinking of suicide. The Forever Decision by Paul G. Quinnett (An online book for those who are thinking about suicide.)
Suicide & Depression: www.activeminds.org (Active Minds on Campus—Fact sheets on mental illness); JED —The Jed Foundation—Youth & college-age facts about suicide and depression. Halfofus.com—Half of Us—Learn more about Anxiety, Depression & Suicide.
American Association of Suicidology - A family member or friend of someone who completed suicide may benefit from this SOS handbook from Survivors of Suicide. http://www.detrick.army.mil/asap/SOS_handbook.pdf

Resources for Grief

Grief Support. A helpful website for college students dealing with grief.

Veterans Resources

Military One Source
Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center
Veterans Crisis Line ~ 1-800-273-8255, Press 1
Adam Bolton- Veteran & Military Affairs Coordinator-
Guide to understanding ROTC Programs. The college guide for service members and veterans.
(814) 472-3113
arb101@Francis.edu

How can the counseling center help parents?

Counselors are available for consultation with parents. We can provide additional information about the types of services available through our Center and help parents to identify off-campus resources when appropriate. We can discuss your concerns with you and help you to make decisions about the appropriateness of a referral to the Counseling Center and ways to discuss this with your son or daughter. The counselors are also very familiar with additional support resources on campus and can help you to assess ways to connect your son or daughter with those resources.

What is counseling center's approach to confidentiality?

Confidentiality is an important part of establishing trust in an effective counseling relationship. confidentiality laws also prohibit us from sharing any information about a student's counseling contact without written permission. However, confidentiality considerations do not prohibit us from discussing ways in which parents can be helpful in dealing with issues their sons and daughters are confronting. In most cases these discussions are held with a counselor other than the one working with the student in question.

Do you have any wellness tips I can recommend to my child?

Facilitate good decision-making skills.
Stress the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Healthy sleeping pattern -8 to 10 hour a night
- Healthy eating habits - 3 meals a day of nutritional value
- Exercise
Discuss how often you will keep in touch
Assist student in creating a budget to manage finances.
- Discuss responsible use of credit cards.
- Gift cards are a good alternative to credit.
Talk about your concerns regarding the use of alcohol & drugs.
Become familiar with Saint Francis University website and the many campus resources available to assist your student.
If student has a chronic illness or is on medication, assist student in making arrangements for continuity in their care.
If student is involved in counseling prior to beginning college, do not discontinue services. Encourage student to schedule an appointment for fall break and maintain appointment even if student seems to be making a positive adjustment to transition.
Be patient with student and yourself. This transition can be a time if great ambivalence for you both.