Information
for Parents
Introduction / Our Staff / Eligibility / Confidentiality
Common Questions and Answers / Additional Resources
Introduction
Welcome to our Counseling Services Parents web pages. Our goal is to provide you with information about issues, concerns, and other important information that will assist you in supporting your daughter or son while they are a student at the Eastern Michigan University.
Counseling Services at Eastern Michigan University is located in the Snow Health Center. We offer a variety of personal short-term counseling, crisis intervention, workshop, and consultation services to EMU students.
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Our Staff
Counseling Service's staff is helpful, open, and experienced. In addition to our professional staff, graduate students from the departments of Psychology and Leadership and Counseling are also available to work with clients. Click here to meet us.
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Eligibility
Eligibility for our services extends to currently enrolled EMU students. No fees are charged for therapy services. Students seeking medication at Snow Health Center will have expenses for office visits and medications.
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Confidentiality
For the person seeking psychological therapy, privacy is vital for a successful counseling experience. As a parent, it is understandable that you would want to know about the services that your son or daughter might be receiving at Counseling Services. However, confidentiality in the mental health arena is a professionally and legally complex issue. Treating information confidentially means not releasing it to anyone outside of Counseling Services without written consent, including parents. Our staff keenly recognizes that this may be difficult for some parents; however we are legally and ethically required to maintain these standards of confidentiality. What may be helpful to know is that in many instances, students are more than willing to sign a release of information that would allow the therapist to discuss their situation or concerns with their parents.
However, for any number of personal reasons, there are students who are not willing to sign a release of information. In these cases, we cannot release information without our client’s permission, unless we determine that the student is a danger to self or others, in situations involving child or adult abuse or neglect, court orders or the subpoena of records.
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Common Questions and Answers
How much does counseling cost?
There is no fee for Counseling Services.
How does my son make an appointment?
To schedule a first appointment, he will need to come into our office on the third floor of Snow Health Center, between the hours of 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday, or call (734)487-1118. The first appointment will start with your child filling out some paperwork. This will help the therapist know the reason(s) he has sought our services and how we can assist him. The therapist will meet with your son for approximately 45 minutes. When he meets with a counselor he will be asked questions to clarify his current situation and past history. The counselor will discuss treatment options with him. We will make every effort to see that you receive the best available care, whether it is on or off campus.
What can I do if I suspect that my daughter or son could benefit from professional help and support?
It might be helpful to say something like "You don't seem to be yourself lately and I’m worried about you. Have you thought about going to talk to someone about your concerns? I think it would be really good for you to talk with an objective person who can help you sort out whatever is bothering you. Will you go to Counseling Services and make an appointment?"
Does Counseling services provide walk-in services?
Yes. Emergency consultation and crisis counseling are available to students in person or by telephone. If a student is dealing with an urgent situation or crisis during regular business hours, they can come into the office and request to be seen by a counselor as soon as possible. Students needing an emergency appointment should arrive no later than 4pm so we have time to help them.
After 5:00 p.m. and on the weekends, the following resources are available:
- Call 911
- Go to the local emergency room
- St. Joseph Mercy Hospital: (734)712-5637
- Psychiatric Emergency Services, University of Michigan Hospital: (734)996-4747
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
Can I talk to a counselor at Counseling Services?
Yes. One of our Senior Staff will talk to you about concerns regarding your son or daughter. However, remember that once the student is receiving our services, counselors can only talk with you in general terms without written consent from the student.
My son is a first-year student and is coming to EMU already diagnosed with a depression and needs medication monitoring. Where does he go?
Your son can make an appointment with a counselor, or call (734)487-1118, to discuss referral sources for ongoing psychiatric support and medication monitoring. Appropriate referrals will be suggested given a variety of factors, i.e. insurance plans, financial needs, distance from campus etc. It is important that your student doesn't run out of medication prior to being evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Learn more about depression and antidepressant medication
Recommendations for Students with Histories of Mental Health Concerns
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Additional Resources
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