The Student Counseling Center supports the intellectual, emotional, social and cultural development of students by offering a wide range of services, including personal and group counseling, consultation and educational services.
We value an atmosphere that is welcoming and comfortable for all students, regardless of race, gender, ethnic background, age, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship or disability.
Contact
Student Counseling Center
Center for Life Directions
210-436-3135 (for appointments)
Fax: 210-431-6706
stmuspats@stmarytx.edu
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
24-hour Crisis Response
The counselor on duty may be accessed by calling the Student Counseling Center emergency line at 210-825-3622 after 5 p.m. or before 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. Emergency services are available during regular office hours by calling 210-436-3135 or by walk-in to the office.
Couples Counseling
Students can be seen with a relationship partner for relationship problems if at least one of the couple is a St. Mary’s University student. Couples may receive marital, pre-marital or significant relationship counseling through improving communication, increasing problem-solving skills and working on reducing obstacles to relating to each other in a healthy, growth-enhancing manner.
To provide the best use of Student Counseling Center resources and to promote availability for clients, persons that are undergoing couples counseling cannot undergo concurrent individual counseling.
Group Counseling
Each semester, the Student Counseling Center offers skill-building groups centered on current topics of commonality or interest for our clients. Groups that have met in the past have been designed to allow clients to discuss relationship issues and promote self-understanding.
Individual Counseling
Personal problems of all kinds can potentially interfere with a student’s ability to study, learn and achieve academic goals. Achieving independence, setting goals and relating them to a choice of major, learning to live in close proximity with others, moving into or out of important relationships: all are important developmental steps which can be, at times, stressful. Additionally, students sometimes bring to college significant family problems or even more serious problems, such as depression or severe anxiety, that may interfere with their goals. The Student Counseling Center staff is available to help students with these or other problems. Counseling is confidential within the limits established by law.
Outreach Presentations
Staff members from the Student Counseling Center are available for outreach presentations to the St. Mary’s University community. Presentations can be made on a wide variety of issues, and in the past have included stress management, procrastination, test anxiety, relationship issues, and improving communication.
Personal Assessment
A variety of psychological tests, including personality tests as well as tests of intelligence, cognitive ability and achievement, are available to students. Testing to identify potential learning disabilities and other academic difficulties are available as well. Students interested in testing of this kind should schedule an intake appointment by calling 210-436-3135 to discuss the matter fully and to determine the test or tests that will be most applicable
Psychiatry Services
The Student Counseling Center is staffed by a board-certified psychiatrist who provides services to students at additional cost, 15 hours weekly. Students are reminded, by a phone call, one to two days prior to their appointment. Initial appointments for psychiatric evaluations are scheduled for one hour. The psychiatrist will schedule follow up appointments. During the summer, there are walk-in clinic days for refills only.