Student Counseling Center

Temporary Virtual Services

Last updated March 18, 2020

On March 23, 2020, the spring semester will resume with students completing all courses in an online format. At this time, and for the remainder of the semester, all in-person counseling and psychiatric sessions have been suspended. The Wellness Lab is closed.

The Student Counseling Center (SCC) is preparing for a continuation of services using Zoom or phone appointments to provide telehealth counseling and psychiatric sessions, and will contact you with further details when we are ready to implement these services. Both Zoom and telephone sessions are HIPAA-compliant. Note that telehealth sessions require you to have a good Internet connection, a private space, and a device with a camera. If you prefer telephone sessions, please notify the Student Counseling Center (SCC) at 210-436-3135 or your counselor via email. You will need a private space and good cell service for phone counseling. Earphones or earbuds can also be useful to improve sound quality and clarity of communication.

It is imperative that the SCC has your current phone number and email address to provide telehealth services. Please contact the SCC at 210-436-3135 to update your phone number and email address if necessary.

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. Once the University resumes on-campus classes, the SCC will return to direct, in-person delivery of services.

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.

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 already have a scheduled appointment with the Psychiatrist (Dr. Matthews):

Scheduled appointments will remain in place unless you inform us otherwise. Please note that your appointment time reflects Central Standard Time (CST) and 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 mental health services and do not already have a scheduled appointment:

Please contact the SCC at 210-436-3135 to schedule an intake appointment with a counselor. 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 now 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.

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.

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.