Resources for students

Counseling utilizes a short-term model of therapy. This means counseling is goal-focused and brief. In most cases, it is expected that sessions will be limited to six to eight per semester. The desired outcome of counseling is movement toward understanding thoughts, feelings, interests and aspirations; increased personal responsibility; relating meaningfully to others; and integrating personal and social responsibility. During your first session, your clinical counselor will ask about areas of your life, challenges and goals. The focus of therapy will be on working toward your specific goals. For Counseling to be effective, it is necessary for you to take an active role. Participation involves discussing your concerns openly and providing feedback to your clinical counselor about the progress of counseling.

The following are available to enrolled students:

In an effort to serve as many students as possible, the SUNY Adirondack Counseling Division employs a solution-focused treatment model, centered on helping students effectively meet a desired change or goal. Services are provided by licensed, professionally trained counselors who believe education is a process of integrating educational, personal and social development. The Counseling Division recognizes that each person’s journey is unique and we strive to offer counseling that promotes social justice, equity and belonging. Session limits do not apply to group counseling sessions or crisis appointments. However, frequent crisis appointments often indicate the need for a higher level of care beyond the scope of our practice.

Students can be seen for six to eight sessions each semester. The licensed mental health professional will work collaboratively with the student to determine the appropriate number, type and frequency of sessions based on the nature of the student's concerns as well as available resources. The limits to service are explained within the context of a discussion about each student's presenting concerns and referrals will be made when appropriate. 
 

Students are eligible for telehealth services if they are enrolled in courses at SUNY Adirondack and are located in New York state at the time of their session. 

Students whose needs require long-term support will generally be referred to community resources for ongoing treatment. Similarly, students whose needs require a particular type of expertise not available through the Counseling Division will also be referred to community resources through other community providers. In cases in which a student's ongoing needs necessitate a referral to community resources, the SUNY Adirondack counselors can often assist the student in managing the presenting concerns and provide support until the student is able to connect to the appropriate community resources. 

Counseling often involves sharing sensitive, personal and private information. Recognizing this, laws and ethical guidelines require that all interactions you have with Counseling, including the content of your sessions, records, scheduling of, or attendance at appointments, and progress in Counseling, are confidential. No record of Counseling is contained in any academic, educational or job placement file. Information will not be released to anyone outside Counseling without your written permission. To provide you with the best possible treatment, counselors participate in case consultation. Only licensed staff, adhering to NY State Mental Hygiene Laws, participate in these meetings. Counseling office staff may view student demographic information to schedule, update or cancel appointments.
 

Information shared by you in a counseling session will be treated with the strictest confidentiality, and will not be disclosed without your permission, except when, in the judgment of the clinical counselor, such disclosure is necessary to protect you or someone else from imminent physical or psychological danger. Counselors are legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, and this may include disclosure of some personal information. If the counselor believes behaviors are a concern for the health and safety of SUNY Adirondack’s campus, limited information can be shared with SUNY Adirondack’s BIT (a behavioral intervention team whose goal is to serve the needs of the campus as well as individual students). If we believe a child or elderly person is being abused or neglected, we may be required to file a report with the appropriate state agency. If you are threatening serious bodily harm to another, we are required to take protective actions. These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police or seeking hospitalization. If you threaten to harm yourself, we may be obligated to seek hospitalization or to contact others who can help provide protection. If this should occur, it is our policy that, whenever possible, we will discuss with you any action being considered. 

In addition, clinical counselors must also surrender client records to a court if subpoenaed by a judge. In cases of formal complaint against Counseling, client records may be used or disclosed to demonstrate acceptable practice standards were adhered to. While information will not be released to an outside agency without your written permission, professionals confer within Counseling to improve services for you. Under New York law, you may request access to your treatment records, including therapy notes prepared by the clinical counselor.
 

The Counseling Division does not provide psychiatric or diagnostic services and some students may require long term treatment beyond the scope of our services. 

Students with the following concerns and characteristics will likely need a different type or level of care than what is within the role and scope of SUNY Adirondack Counseling Division. 

Reasons for a referral may include but are not limited to: 

• Chronic suicidal intent and/or recent history of multiple suicide attempts
• Serious addiction/substance misuse
• Eating disorders (requiring medical or psychiatric services)
• Psychotic symptoms (requiring medical or psychiatric services)
• Need for psychiatric medication or medication management
• Students consistently needing services more than once per week and/or frequent consultation after hours that cannot be stabilized with short-term crisis intervention
• Students with concerns which a brief therapy model of treatment will not appropriately address
• A student who is diagnosed with a serious mental illness as defined by NY State Mental Hygiene Law. These include: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

We do not provide services for: 

• Incoming first-year students before the start of the semester (exceptions will be made for students enrolled in the summer EOP program)
• High school students enrolled in Early College Career Academy
• Alumnae/i
• Students returning from time away before the beginning of the semester
• Clinical services for employees who are not students
• Clinical after-care following a psychiatric hospitalization
• Specialty care (psychoanalysis, body work, etc.)
• Intensive substance abuse treatment
• Testing for learning disabilities and/or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Assessment and documentation for service or emotional support animals
• Forensic evaluations
• Neuropsychological evaluations
• Court-ordered treatment or treatment that is the stipulation of probation
• Evaluations for attorneys or courts related to difficulties such as alcohol infractions (e.g., driving under the influence) or other domestic matters such as parents seeking custodial authority of a student
• Services to students who are not medically stable or require intensive medical treatment
• Students who consistently miss appointments without notice
• Harassing, inappropriate, dangerous or threatening behaviors
   

In therapy, you may learn things about yourself or your relationships. Often growth cannot occur until you confront issues that cause you to feel sadness, sorrow, anxiety or pain. Your clinical counselor will be there to support you as you accept the responsibility for making choices and changes required to achieve your goals. There is also a risk that therapy might not resolve your problem or that therapy alone may not be sufficient. Should this be the case, your clinical counselor will explore alternative plans with you.
 

• https://bewell.ny.gov/
• https://jedfoundation.org/
• https://www.activeminds.org/

https://renfrewcenter.com/

• https://www.samhsa.gov/
• https://startyourrecovery.org/treatment/rehab-centers/new-york/queensbury
• https://www.narcotics.com/na-meetings/new-york/glens-falls/
• https://nyproblemgamblinghelp.org/northeast-problem-gambling-resource-center/

• https://rainn.org/
• https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/new-york/queensbury/12804/queensbury-health-center-4257-91110
• https://www.zontaclubofglensfalls.org/for-victims-of-violence-abuse
• https://troopers.ny.gov/campus-sexual-assault-victims-unit
• https://www.dvpww.org/about-us

• https://ahihealth.org/resource/resources-for-supporting-lgbtq-well-being/
• https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

• https://www.sportspsychology.org/articles/student-athlete-mental-health-resources/

• https://hycwaithouse.org/
• https://sheltersofsaratoga.org/