PERSONAL COUNSELING

The Counseling Center offers free, confidential, short-term personal counseling and referral services to enrolled students and alumni at STCC.  While appointments are preferred, students in crisis are seen immediately on a walk-in basis.

Crisis Counseling – A crisis can occur quickly or it may build over time until you feel you cannot cope any longer.  If you feel you are experiencing a crisis, please come to the Counseling Center and alert the receptionist to the crisis nature of your situation – you will be seen promptly by a counselor to assess your situation and identify options for dealing with the crisis.

Campus Police – alternative resource in the case of a crisis such as theft, assault or accident. 
Emergency: 755-3911
Office: 755-4444
Main gate – 24 dispatch:  755-4220   

Health Services – in case of a physical or health issue
Jonathan Miller, PA
Building 20/room 320
755-4230    (emergency services – 755-3911)

Students come to counseling for many reasons:

  • Experiencing an emotional crisis caused by a personally traumatic event or conflict  (e.g. grief, loss, separation, divorce, relocation, sexual assault or harassment)
  • Resolving personal problems
    • Feeling lonely, alienated and/or isolated
    • Relationship issues (family, friends, co-workers, teachers)
    • Substance abuse and other addictive behaviors
    • Self-esteem/self-defeating behavior/s
    • Depression
    • Anxiety/panic/post-traumatic stress disorder
    • Eating Disorders
    • Managing stress
    • Referral for learning disabilities
  • Finding direction, purpose, clarification and support in making important life decisions
  • Assistance with enhancing motivation and work performance or other academic difficulties
  • Help in finding community resources to resolve a personal/family problem

Please don’t wait until a small issue becomes a major problem that starts interfering with your success as a student.  Call and make an appointment to see a counselor:

Telephone:  413-755-4985
Location: Building 27/second floor
Hours:  8 AM – 4 PM, Monday thru Friday

The following links may be helpful in resolving some of your personal issues:

Psychiatric/Mental Health Issues– General

  • Free, confidential Online Screenings  are available for depression, anxiety, alcohol and/or eating disorders.
    The STCC Counseling Center and the Health Services Department welcome you to online screenings for depression, anxiety, alcohol, and/or eating disorders. This free screening is available to all STCC students, is taken anonymously and is completely confidential.  Neither SMH (Screening for Mental Health, Inc.) nor the Counseling Center can view your individual results.   This is a screening only and is provided so that you may find out - in a few minutes - whether or not professional consultation would be helpful to you.  To complete any or all of the screenings, click on the underlined links.  Each screening takes approximately five minutes to complete.  At the conclusion of each screening, you will receive an immediate result which can be taken to a member of the Counseling Center for further evaluation and discussion about possible treatment options
  • To Help a Friend with a Mental Health Problem
    This site is designed to encourage, educate, and inspire people between the ages of 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. The prevalence of serious mental health conditions in this age group is almost double that of the general population, yet young people have the lowest rates of help-seeking behaviors. This age group has a high potential to minimize future disability if they receive the right support and services early on. http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov
  • Ulifeline is a confidential, user-friendly place to learn about many mental health issues. It also includes a screening program that will help uncover whether you or a loved one are in danger of committing suicide.  http://www.ulifeline.org/  please contact one of the counselors in the Counseling Center if you wish to further discuss a mental health concern.
  • Campus Blues is a website offering resources for the physical and mental health of college students.  Some of the resources include: tips on academic issues such as time management, a screening for compulsive eating, discussion on many mental health concerns, and access to participating college websites 
    http://www.campusblues.com
  • GO ASK ALICE! “Alice!” answers questions about relationships; sexuality; sexual health; emotional health; fitness; nutrition; alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs; and, general health.  Originally, the site was for Columbia students only. Its instant success on campus, combined with new Internet capability, quickly landed Go Ask Alice! on the World Wide Web for global access.  Go Ask Alice! receives over 1,100 inquiries weekly from college and high school students, parents, teachers, professionals, older adults, and others, on every conceivable health topic. All questions are read.  Inquirers to Go Ask Alice! are anonymous — their addresses are electronically scrambled prior to reaching GAA!’s e-mailbox.  Go Ask Alice! is supported by a team of Columbia University health educators, health care providers, and other health professionals, along with information and research specialists from health-related organizations worldwide.
    http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
  • The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers a wealth of information regarding advocacy, support groups for families and friends of someone with mental illness, links to state affiliates, latest legislation, etc.
    www.nami.org
  • The National Institute of Mental Health offers information about the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for Anxiety disorders, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bipolar Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Panic disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Schizophrenia.
    http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/
  • Psychnet – APA online – Information on psychological issues that can affect your physical and emotional wellbeing
    http://www.apa.org/topics/homepage.html
The links and resources provided on this page may also be helpful in resolving some of your personal issues.