Counseling Services
Mission:
The Counseling & Wellness Center is committed to empowering students to enhance and
maintain mental and emotional health during their academic tenure at UNT Dallas.
Vision:
To support and engage UNT Dallas students through individual and group counseling,
case management services, and wellness education programs.
Our Commitment to You:
The UNT Dallas Counseling & Wellness Center is committed to creating a safe, welcoming,
and affirming environment for all. We respect intersecting identities, including
ethnic/racial identity, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality,
socioeconomic status, age, body shape/size, ability, and point of view.
Contact Us:
Counseling.Wellness@untdallas.edu
(972) 338-1816
Located in the Student Center, Suite 1085
What is Counseling?
Counseling is a process whereby those struggling with some aspect of life enter into
a therapeutic relationship with a trained mental health professional in order to gain
insight and make changes in life. The process may involve exploring thoughts, perceptions,
reactions, behaviors, and emotions in order to better understand oneself. Counseling
can assist in reducing feelings of stress and improve the ability to engage in healthy
decision-making, and enhance relationships with others.
The Counseling & Wellness Center is available to students who struggle with such issues
as relationships, grief & loss, depression, anxiety, resentment, major changes in
life, anger, and many other emotionally difficult situations.
Counseling and case management services are scheduled by appointment only. To receive
counseling or case management services students must complete and return a request for services form. Students can also pick up a form from one of the Counseling & Wellness Center staff.
All forms can be returned to the Counseling & Wellness Center or student worker in
Student Affairs.
Tips for Making the Most Out of Individual Counseling
Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin brief individual counseling. Remember,
counseling is a process and approaching that process with intention can help you get
the most out of it.
- Have a Specific Problem/Goal in Mind
- Some problems might feel really big, so it’s important to focus on the specifics so
you can work towards meaningful change.
- Show Up
- Try to give yourself some time before your appointment so you can show up on time
and be present during your session. It’s important for your counselor to get to know
the real you.
- Counseling is Collaboration
- Counseling is about giving you support to help you reach your own conclusions and
act for yourself. Counselors can offer encouragement, but they cannot make your choices
or changes for you. Learning to internalize this encouragement will benefit you in
the long run, although it can be challenging at the time.
- Be Curious
- Counseling is about understanding yourself and how you relate to the world around
you. Ask yourself, which of your life experiences might be connected to how you currently
behave, think, and feel.
- Express Feelings About Counseling During Counseling
- How you feel about your counselor and the counseling process is important. Sharing
these feelings give you the opportunity to practice healthy coping skills and relationship-building
in a safe environment.
- Counseling Can Be Hard Work
- Just like a good workout, you may leave counseling feeling emotionally worn out. It’s
normal for counseling to be tough at times, so make sure to practice self-care in
between sessions. Talk to your counselor if counseling ever feels overwhelming.
- Be Ready to Change
- In counseling, change can mean different things for different people. You get to decide
what that change looks like. Your counselor can be a guide, but ultimately you have
to make the changes for yourself. Change can be challenging, and it’s up to you to
work towards the changes that will positively impact your life.
- Do Your Work Between Sessions
- Counseling doesn’t stop when you leave your counselor’s office. Think about it, write
about it, talk about it; find what works for you to make counseling a part of your
life. Counseling has the biggest effect on your life when you practice what you’ve
learned out into the world.
- Use Challenges in Life as Opportunities for Growth
- Counseling can help you address certain goals but know that challenges in life are
inevitable. Use what you are learning in counseling to meet challenges in new and
different ways.
- Get Support From Others
- Reaching out and getting connected to others is an important part of life. Change
doesn’t happen in isolation and support can’t come from your counselor alone.
- It's Okay to Have Boundaries in Counseling
- You have the right to set boundaries in all areas of your life, including who knows
about your counseling. You can choose how much you share and with whom you share.
- Be Patient with the Process
- Counseling is a journey. Despite the inevitable challenges that come with looking
inward and making changes, counseling can be a rewarding and transformative process.
Adapted from: Howes, R. (2010, May 26). 21 Tips for Clients in Psychotherapy. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-therapy/201005/21-tips-clients-in-psychotherapy
and Tartakovsky, M. (2015). Therapists Spill: 10 Tips for Making the Most of Therapy.
Psych Central. http://psychcentral.com/lib/therapists-spill-10-tips-for-making-the-most-of-therapy/
Scope of Care
Our purpose is not to provide long-term or intensive treatment for chronic or severe
mental illness or mental health problems. The Counseling & Wellness Center reserves
the right to determine if we have adequate resources and expertise to address your
particular treatment needs. If your needs cannot be met by the Counseling & Wellness
Center, we will work with you to secure an appropriate referral.
Confidentiality & Eligibility
Confidentiality
The Counseling & Wellness Center at UNT Dallas places a high priority on privacy and
confidentiality. All Communications between a student and counselor, including the
decision to seek counseling, are confidential to the full extent provided by law and
are not released outside the Counseling & Wellness Center with a voluntarily signed
consent.
Eligibility
Counseling services are available to all currently enrolled UNT Dallas students. Students are eligible for 6 sessions per academic year
at no additional cost.
Wellness Programs:
The following events are the key wellness initiatives offered by the Counseling &
Wellness Center every year. The goal of these programs is to increase awareness of
common mental and emotional health concerns for college students, staff, and faculty.
By providing these programs we are empowering students, transforming lives, and strengthening
communities.
- QPR Gatekeeper Training
- Suicide Awareness & Prevention
- Alcohol & Drug Awareness
- Domestic Violence Awareness
- Sexual Assault Awareness
- 10 Gallon Challenge Blood Drive
- Campus-Wide Tabling Events
- Wellness Lunch-N-Learns
- Stress Management
- Coping Skills
- Boundaries & Healthy Relationships
- Intro to Trauma
- Intro to Emotions
- Community Partnerships for Referrals & Workshops
- Campus-Wide Presentations & Workshops by Request
- Student Health Insurance