Some common reasons students might come to Counseling Services include:

• Managing stress effectively

• Exploring issues related to identity

• Coping with acts of discrimination

• Enhancing relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners

• Improving academic performance

• Reducing anxiety and coping with depression

• Coping with loss of a loved one

• Overcoming loneliness or homesickness

• Reducing alcohol and drug-related problems

• Processing trauma

• Strengthening self-esteem

• Addressing suicidal thoughts

• Managing sleep, body image, or eating concerns

• Helping a friend

Our staff are dedicated to providing students a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space to listen to students’ concerns, provide feedback and validation while offering support and strategies for coping.

Take a look at our information on how to directly connect!

“Let’s Talk” times are available first-come, first-served on Mondays in the Multicultural Center located in the Library between 11-12pm, on Thursdays in McCann from 11-12pm, and on Fridays in Allied Health from 12-1pm.  “Let’s Talk” offers an informal opportunity for students to speak with a counselor for a brief problem-solving consultation. 

Counseling Services does not offer Open Clinic or drop-in hours at this point in time. If you feel as though you may be experiencing a mental health crisis, you may stop into Midrise 113 or call 845-575-3314 to receive support. 

Our team of mental health professionals all specialize in college mental health and are trained to assess the level of care that you need. The counselor who first meets with you will listen to your concerns and recommend services that will be the most helpful to you. That might mean continuing to meet with that counselor or another who’s a better fit, attend groups or workshops, or specialized care with an off-campus provider. 

To experience the full benefits of counseling, we encourage you to:

• Regularly attend your sessions and let us know if you need to miss or reschedule

• Actively participate in your sessions

• Work collaboratively with your counselor to focus on a concern or issue

• Be willing to explore new behaviors both during and outside of sessions

• Be open and honest with your counselor about how the sessions are going for you, particularly if you don’t think you’re being helped

Counseling Services uses a goal-focused, brief treatment model, meaning our staff will help students to address their immediate concerns using culturally-responsive and trauma-informed care. Typically we meet with students biweekly or every other week. While the frequency of sessions varies, most students see us for 4-6 sessions during an academic semester.

It’s important to us that students get the care they need. If a student might best benefit from weekly sessions or more specialized care, our staff will help you connect to a provider off-campus or close to home. We will also help you plan effectively for semester breaks, study abroad, and after graduation.

We strongly encourage students and families to maintain communication and ongoing care with their treatment providers at home. Marist Counseling Services support is available to help as a liaison and assist with adjusting to campus life. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and arrange for signed releases of confidential information.

Students who are interested in psychiatric services must first meet with a counselor for a thorough assessment and then be referred for psychiatric evaluation. Many medications work best in combination with psychotherapy and other support, therefore we maintain a policy that students who are prescribed medication by our psychiatrist also regularly meet with one of our counselors.

Students who are already on medication are encouraged to maintain relationships with their home providers. However, students who are far from home or are considering a change in their medication are welcome to connect with Counseling Services. We are also happy to connect students to psychiatric services off-campus if that better suits their needs. You may also wish to review the Health Services policy on the prescription of ADD/ ADHD medication.

We don’t offer testing for ADHD or Learning Disabilities, but we can refer you to providers who do. You may also wish to contact the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility. Please discuss this matter with your counselor.

We don’t offer specific evaluations for Emotional Support Animals, but we can help you connect with your health care providers at home who are familiar with your situation and/or refer you to other providers in the community. Please discuss this matter with your counselor and refer to the college policy and forms available on my.jiado.net/accommodations-and-accessibility.

We don’t offer specific recommendation letters for campus housing, but we can help you connect with your health care providers at home who are familiar with your situation and/or assist you to navigate campus services and resources as part of your ongoing counseling support. Please discuss this matter with your counselor and refer to the college policy and forms available on my.jiado.net/housing-residential-life.

There is no charge for our services!

Students 18 years or older must call or email to connect with our services, but parents and families are certainly welcome to call us if they have questions or concerns!

No, Counseling Services records are separate from your academic and other records.

For students 18 years and older, your sessions are confidential. Exceptions to confidentiality are: if you pose a clear and immediate danger to yourself or others; if the counselor is concerned about the abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person or disabled adult; or if your records are subpoenaed by authorized court jurisdiction. Please discuss any questions or concerns about confidentiality with your counselor, Assistant Director, or Director of Counseling Services.

Check out our infographic to help you identify whether you’re experiencing a mental health concern, crisis, or emergency. We want to support you and your resilience!

If you’re experiencing a mental health concern, please contact us to visit our daily Virtual Open Clinic. You can also go to our Virtual “Let’s Talk” sessions, a confidential drop-in service offered twice a week!

If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis during normal business hours, contact us and we’ll connect you to the next available counselor. If you’re experiencing a crisis after business hours, contact your RA/RD on Duty or the Office of Safety & Security (845-471-1822) and ask to speak to the On-Call Counselor. 

If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency that’s related to yours or another’s personal safety, please call 911 or go to the emergency room at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, 241 North Road, Pougkeepsie, NY 12601.You can also call or text the Dutchess County Helpline at 845-485-9700.

Contact us! We will listen to your concern, work with you to figure out how to help you and your friend, and keep everything confidential.

We are happy to discuss opportunities to provide outreach and prevention services to your group! In order to give our staff enough time to schedule and prepare, two weeks' notice is requested. If less time is given, the request might become more difficult to schedule and provide.

• Presentation topics include, but are not limited to:

• Overview of Counseling Services and supports 

• Stress Management

• Adjusting to Life on Campus

• Building Healthy Relationships

• Effective Communication

• Radical Self-Care

• Inclusive Leadership and Diversity Awareness 

• Coping with Grief and Loss

• Crisis Response

• Helping Students in Distress

• Mindfulness 

• Suicide Awareness and Prevention

• Time management

Please visit our linktree for Online Wellness Suggestions, Advocacy & Resources, and Helpful Apps:  linktr.ee/maristcounselingservices.

We work closely with many campus partners to help students adjust, connect, and thrive. You are welcome to contact us by phone, email, or attend Let’s Talk to discuss your interests and available community building opportunities with Housing & Residential Life, First Year Programs, Center for Multicultural Affairs, Campus Ministry, Student Activities, Fitness & Intramurals, and more!

Some students prefer to remain with a provider from home. Counseling Services can offer private reserved rooms for students to utilize for virtual sessions. Private room reservations are booked by reaching out to Counseling Services via e-mail or by calling. 

If students are looking for off campus providers in the area, it is recommended to utilize our personalized search engine, http://marist.thrivingcampus.com/. Students can search for providers who accept sliding scale payments, as we understand going through insurance is a barrier for many. Psychology Today can also be a helpful tool for finding a provider

Please note that many off campus resources are easily accessed through the utilization of ride share services such as Uber or Lyft. Only CVS and Rite-Aid are accessible through walking.

Students of Sobriety Group (AA – off campus, located in Poughkeepsie) which meets on Mondays at 7:30pm. 

Good Morning Group and Serenity on the Hudson are also two AA groups that meet virtually. http://sober.com/aa-meetings/new-york/poughkeepsie/  (please note that locations may change to protect privacy, so checking this website weekly is important)