Student Counseling Center

Temporary Virtual Services

Last updated August 3, 2020

In an effort to support the health and well-being of our community, counseling and psychiatric services will be offered via telehealth sessions using the HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom. The Wellness Lab will remain closed until further notice.

Note that Zoom telehealth sessions require you to have a good Internet connection and camera on your device (e.g., smart phone, laptop, and/or computer), as well as a private place to talk.

If you prefer telephone sessions, please notify the Student Counseling Center (SCC) when you schedule your appointment by calling 210-436-3135. You will need a private space and good cell service for phone counseling. Earphones or earbuds may be helpful for optimizing sound quality and clarity of communication.

If you already have a scheduled appointment with a Counselor:

Scheduled appointments will remain in place unless you inform us otherwise. Please note that your appointment time reflects Central Standard Time (CST). Please ensure that your scheduled appointment time still works with your current schedule. If you are in another time zone or now have a scheduling conflict, please contact the SCC at 210-436-3135 to reschedule for another appointment time. If you need to cancel one or more upcoming appointments, please call 210-436-3135 as soon as you are aware of the need to cancel the appointment(s). Failure to reschedule or cancel a scheduled appointment may result in loss of your appointment time and/or referral to community providers.

If you desire counseling and/or psychiatric services and do not yet have a scheduled appointment:

Please contact the SCC at 210-436-3135 to schedule an intake appointment with a counselor. If appropriate and desired, the counselor will refer you for psychiatric services. Please note that some conditions are not amenable to treatment via teletherapy and the counselor may assist you with a referral to appropriate service providers based on your individual circumstances and location.

If you need crisis counseling:

The Counselor on Duty (COD) is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by calling 210-825-3622. For students currently residing outside of Bexar County or San Antonio, we strongly encourage you to be aware of your local emergency facilities for mental health crises requiring urgent care.

You are encouraged to closely monitor the University’s emergency webpage for the latest information related to our response to this situation. Please monitor your email and for further communications about teletherapy consent and scheduling.

Most importantly, remember to practice good self-care and to keep your life as routine as possible. We understand that this situation is stressful and completely shifts your University experience. Please know that we are working hard to create avenues to support you and your mental health.

Traditional In-Person Services (Suspended)

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.

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.

Psychiatry Services

The Student Counseling Center staff includes a board-certified psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse practitioner who are available for appointments several days a week. Students are reminded of psychiatry appointments one to two days prior to their appointment. Initial appointments for psychiatric evaluations are scheduled for one hour, and follow-up appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes. During the summer semesters, more limited psychiatric services
(e.g. prescription refills and dosage modifications) will be available one day per month to ensure continuity of care between the Fall and Spring semesters.