The best way to make an appointment is to call the Counseling Center at 215.248.7104, ext. 1. Please leave your name, phone number as well as the days and times you are available to be seen. Also indicate the best times we can reach you by phone so that we can promptly return your call and schedule your first appointment. The Counseling Center is located in Rooms 53, 54, 55, & 56 on the third floor of St. Joseph Hall, in the North Corridor.
What do the staff in the Counseling Center do?
The Counseling Center offers free, short and long-term therapy to students in the Schools of Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Studies (from September to May). Counseling staff can also consult with students and members of their families. Workshops are offered to address students’ interests and needs.
When is the Counseling Center open?
The Counseling Center is open September to May, Monday through Friday, when the School of Undergraduate Studies is in session. Hours are 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
What do I do when I come for my first appointment?
If possible, arrive approximately five minutes before your scheduled session to complete a brief information form. Your therapist will meet you in the waiting area of the Counseling Center.
What happens in an intake interview?
Your first meeting at the Counseling Center, the intake interview, allows us to gather information about your current situation and determine how we can best help. A therapist meets with you to discuss your reasons for seeking help at this time.
The therapist also asks some general questions that help him/her get to know you. At the intake interview, you and the therapist will decide on the best treatment for you. Some possible treatment options include:
One session (some students want or need only one session)
Several sessions
A longer period of work
Referral to a local mental health professional or treatment facility
Please note that the therapist you meet for the intake interview may not be the one you work with if ongoing treatment is recommended.
How often do I attend sessions?
Your schedule is determined by you and your counselor. In general, therapists see students once a week for a fifty-minute sessions.
What happens if I miss an appointment?
We would be grateful if you would try not to miss an appointment without notifying us. However, if you do miss an appointment, it is important to call as soon as possible. Otherwise the therapist may assume you do not wish to continue treatment and may offer your time to another student.
How do I cancel an appointment?
To cancel or reschedule an appointment call 215-248-7104, extension 1. If possible, we would appreciate 24-hour notice You may leave a message on our voice mail.
What about confidentiality?
The Counseling Center is completely confidential, except in cases of life-threatening emergency (the threat or attempt of suicide, and the threat of seriously injuring another person, for example) or when we are legally required to report abuse of a minor. Except in these extraordinary circumstances, neither what you and your therapist discuss nor any of the required written records are shared with anyone- including roommates, parents, friends, faculty, and staff- without your written permission.
What happens if I have an emergency?
Therapists reserve time every day to see any student in crisis who needs immediate attention. Call or come to the Counseling Center and explain that you need to be seen that day. If a therapist is not available, please have a seat in the waiting area. A therapist will be free at 10 minutes before every hour and can speak with you at any time. The College provides 24-hour emergency coverage when school is in session. If no one is in the Counseling Center, please contact Campus Security at 215-242-7777.
May I e-mail my therapist?
Please use the telephone rather than e-mail if you need to contact the Counseling Center. E-mail is not always confidential and is not always accessible by a therapist. Therefore, communication by e-mail may not always be received in a timely fashion.
If I have been seen at the Counseling Center in the past, may I return if I need to?
Yes. Students may use the Counseling Center at all times they are enrolled at the College.
For information and resources on student health, please visit:
