Health and Wellness
AUC Wellness Counseling Center provides short-term individual and group counseling, testing, seminars and workshops, consultation, self-help courses, and referral assistance to students free of charge.
Our staff of licensed mental health providers and administrative support are committed to being a safe, nonjudgmental, and confidential space to all members of the AUC community. We represent a diverse range of identities, backgrounds, and theoretical orientations – all of which allow us to serve the range of mental health needs in our community.
If you need to talk, receive support, problem-solve, or simply want to be in the company of someone who you know will not judge you for any part of your identity, please call on us.
Center Information
Hours: 8:00am – 5:30pm | Monday - Friday
(Extended hours are available upon request.)
Cost: Free
Location: Building 1 (Next to Chertok Hall)
Phone: 721-545-2298
Email: [email protected]
Mission Statement
Our emphasis is to provide confidential Wellness Counseling Services to help students succeed in medical school.
Vision
- Create and develop programs to increase healthy lifestyle, and coping behaviors across campus.
- Workshops and presentations (Wellness Wednesday, Mindful Mondays, etc).
- Thrive Week: Promoting healthy lifestyles (yoga, mindfulness, walk/run, panel discussions, etc.)
- Consultation with faculty members for professional consultation only. No identify and confidential information will be disclosed.
- Group counseling opportunities/Support groups (Veterans, etc)
All counseling records are kept confidential and are not part of the university record. Information is only shared with a person’s written permission.
Exceptions to confidentiality are rare and include when a person poses a threat to his/her own safety or the safety of someone else.
Services Information
Medical students face a variety of issues with transitioning to the rigor of medical school coursework and transitioning to the Island. As an individual, you have unique concerns and needs. The Wellness Counseling Center offers various counseling methods tailored to meet your needs. The following is a list of possible reasons you might want to see a Wellness Counselor.
Click here to find specific resources and tools for each issue listed below.
| Stress | Self-Esteem | Anxiety | Test Anxiety |
| Family Issues | Crisis Intervention | Body Image | Depression |
| Grief | PTSD | Adjustment Issues | Sexual Assault |
| Motivation & Burnout | Relationships | Self-Concept | Alcohol/Drugs |
| Mindfulness | Sleep Hygiene | Discrimination | Social Isolation |
- Initial Consultation
- Intake
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Support Groups
- Skills Workshops
- Crisis Intervention
- Couples Therapy
We also offer:
- Consultation to faculty, staff, and students concerned about others
- Consultation to University committees (CARE Team)
- Consultation to Medical Providers
- Consultation with Community Organizations & Providers
1st Visit
When scheduling an appointment for the first visit, students will be seen for an intake session with a counselor who will:
- Wellness Counselor to provide introduction of self.
- Provide information about what to expect from the counseling process.
- Discuss the student’s presenting issues and concerns.
- Develop a plan for treatment.
- Review limitations of confidentiality.
Follow-Up Visits
The length and frequency of follow-up visits to the WCC will be determined in consultation with your counselor. Meetings typically last for either 25 or 45 minutes. Some students find relief by coming for 2-3 sessions to talk about something very specific, while others are unsure about how frequently or for how long they would like to attend sessions. Students are typically seen at biweekly or triweekly intervals. Positive outcomes in counseling are often dependent upon the work that clients do in between sessions. We encourage our clients to practice the skills that are learned and discussed in counseling during the time in between sessions.
Between the hours of 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday, walk-in and same-day urgent appointments are available for students who may be at an elevated mental health risk, including:
- Current or recent thoughts of harm to self or others
- Concerned about the safety of another person
- Experience of a recent trauma
- Experiencing hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and/or behavior, or have been unable to sleep for two or more days.
- If there are imminent safety concerns, please call University Safety at 721-587-6661
- If immediate assistance is needed call the On-Duty Security Supervisor at 721-588-4018
Additionally, below are U.S. National crisis resources that you may also utilize:
Emergencies
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you are in crisis, but not immediately in danger, you can:
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), 24/7.
- Contact the National Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, 24/7.
Note: Urgent appointments are not used for academic concerns. For concerns related to courses or academic issues see the information below.
How to Make an Appointment:
Call: 721-545-2298, ext.4041387 | Email: [email protected]
AUC contracts with locally licensed psychiatrists to regularly meet with students requesting psychiatric medication management.
As a vital part of our center’s overall mission, the Wellness Counseling Center is committed to mental health promotion, education, and prevention through community engagement and outreach. We strive to be visible and trusted partners to the broader AUC community by serving the campus beyond our offices and being appropriately engaged in all dimensions of university life. We offer:
- Consultation to faculty, staff, and students concerned about others
- Consultation to University committees (CARE Team)
- Consultation to Medical Providers
- Consultation with Community Organizations & Providers
Consultation & Outreach
In keeping with the mission of our outreach services, our staff members are available to lead and/or collaborate on a variety of presentations, programs, and events across the campus. If your campus department or organization would benefit from a workshop, Thrive event, or other form of outreach programming, please completely fill out this form. A staff member will get back in touch with you shortly. Whenever possible please submit requests at least three weeks in advance.
- Outreach Request Form – AUC Wellness Counseling Program Requests.pdf
- How to Develop a Program (Handout) – Program Planning 101.pdf
- Student Organization Needs Assessment – Student Organization – Member Needs Assessment.docx
Educational presentations on various wellness topics to students, faculty, staff.
Campus Community Outreach and Programs:
- Mindful Mondays
- Wellness Wednesdays
- THRIVE Wellness Week
- Programs with/for Student Organizations
- Conference presentations and publications
