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Getting Started

For information about eligibility for services at the Counseling Service and how to set up an initial evaluation, referred to as a brief assessment, please review the information within the tabs below.

Currently registered UMD students are eligible for short-term group, individual, and couples counseling. The number of individual or couples counseling sessions used depends on the nature of the issues being addressed. The average number of individual sessions per client is approximately 6. Former clients who wish to return for subsequent individual counseling may do so one year from the date of their last counseling session. There is no limit to the number of group sessions used.

Non-registered and non-University affiliated persons are eligible to receive one brief assessment at the Counseling Center, at which time resources may be provided to obtain additional services elsewhere. Non-university-affiliated persons and former UMD students are also eligible for individual career counseling for a fee. These sessions are limited to a brief assessment plus up to 4 career-focused sessions. Faculty and staff are also eligible for free and confidential referral services through the Care Manager.

The therapeutic relationship and what is discussed by a therapist and client are considered private and protected under the law. We adhere to professional, legal, and ethical guidelines established by the State of Maryland and the American Psychological Association. Information about any aspect of your counseling relationship, including your appointments and records, will not be disclosed to anyone outside of the Counseling Center’s professional staff without your written permission. Please note that clinical records are completely separate from educational records and cannot be accessed by parents, faculty, staff, administrators, or others without your written permission or court order.

However, Maryland law establishes that in order to protect the client and/or the public, disclosures without the permission of the client may apply under the following circumstances:

  • You are considered at immediate risk for harming yourself
  • You are considered at immediate risk for harming others
  • Previous or current child abuse
  • Abuse of elderly persons or persons with disabilities
  • A court order

The first session at the Counseling Center consists of an appointment with a counselor in which the student’s well-being and reasons for seeking services are evaluated. This is called a brief assessment. The goal of the initial meeting is to determine the nature and impact of the presenting issues and discuss options for addressing these issues.

After completing the brief assessment, many students are referred for one of our workshops, which are designed specifically to address common college student concerns and provide useful techniques for managing these concerns in a timely manner. If counseling is indicated, the intake counselor will recommend the most effective method of treatment, which may include group counseling, individual counseling or psychotherapy, or couples counseling. Additional services such as a referral to another division of the Counseling Center, such as the Accessibility and Disability Service, or another campus department, such as the Health Center, may be provided. In some cases, the brief assessment is sufficient in helping students address their concerns.

We make every effort to recommend the best course of treatment. In cases when a student’s concerns require more specialized or longer-term counseling, a referral to an off-campus community provider is recommended and coordinated by our care manager.

Prior to your meeting with a counselor, you will be asked to complete a set of online forms with items related to background information and functioning in a variety of areas. You will also be asked to review a “consent to receive treatment” form that describes the counseling relationship and limits to confidentiality. If you agree to receive treatment, you will be asked to electronically sign the consent form to acknowledge that you read the confidentiality policy. Brief assessments are typically 30 minutes.

To schedule a brief assessment, call the Counseling Center at (301) 314-7651, or stop by the Counseling Center reception desk on the main floor of Shoemaker Building.

Counseling Center services are free to registered UMD students. Non-university-affiliated persons and former UMD students are eligible for individual career counseling for a fee.

To schedule a brief assessment, call (301) 314-7651 or stop by the Counseling Center reception desk on the main level of the Shoemaker Building.

During the academic year, the Counseling Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you are experiencing an urgent crisis, you may go to the Counseling Center front desk to request to be seen for an urgent visit. Urgent visits are unscheduled same-day appointments with a Counseling Service staff member.

Fall and Spring Semesters

The Counseling Center is a safe and inclusive space where counselors provide support to students from underrepresented populations. Recognizing that stigma about seeking counseling and unfamiliarity about the counseling process prevent some students from getting the help they need, the Counseling Service makes requesting time with a counselor easier to specific student populations.

Free unscheduled time with a counselor is available to students of color, LGBTQ+ students, international students, and veteran students during the times listed below. Please note that students will be asked to complete several brief surveys prior to meeting with a counselor within an hour of arrival. Please note that our therapists are knowledgeable about working with students who have multiple-marginalized identities. If you hold more than one marginalized identity, please choose the space that feels most relevant to your concerns at the time of the appointment.


Student Population Description Time Days Therapist
International Students Foreign-born Students 3 - 4 p.m. Mon - Fri International Ally
Rainbow Drop-In LGBTQ+ students 3 - 4 p.m. Mon - Fri LGBTQ+ Therapist or Ally*
Rainbow Drop-In Racial and ethnic minorities 3 - 4 p.m. Mon - Fri Therapist of Color
Veteran Students US military (active duty and veterans) 3 - 4 p.m. Mon - Fri Therapist of Color

* Therapists who identify as LGBTQ+ are available to meet with students on Mondays and Fridays. Therapists who identify as LGBTQ+ allies are available to meet with students on Tuesdays through Thursdays.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Counseling Center Urgent Visit

During regular business hours, students experiencing an urgent crisis can request to be seen for an urgent visit at the Counseling Center. Urgent visits are unscheduled same-day appointments in which Counseling Service staff evaluate the student’s current functioning and nature of concerns and help the student problem-solve and determine the next steps. To request an urgent visit, please stop by the Counseling Center reception desk on the main level of the Shoemaker Building. To schedule a non-urgent appointment, also known as a brief assessment, please call the Counseling Center at (301) 314-7651.

Counseling Center After-Hours Crisis Support

Phone: (301) 314-7651

The Counseling Center offers after-hours crisis support to any UMD student or any person concerned about a UMD student. Professional mental health counselors are available when the Counseling Center is closed to assist callers with mental health crises. Counselors also can provide information about the Counseling Center or other campus resources. When appropriate, Counseling Center staff will follow up with the caller on the next business day.

Additional After Hour Resources
Other Campus Resources

 

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