Counseling

HOW DO I GET STARTED? 

To make an appointment, call the Center at 328-6661 weekdays during regular business hours, between 8am - 5pm. Every effort is made to see students for initial appointments in a timely manner. However, there may be as much as a 2-3 week wait for individual appointments during peak times. Students experiencing an emergency* (see below for more information) should make this known, so that they may be seen as soon as possible. Please arrive 30 minutes before your assigned appointment time to complete paperwork. Be aware that this process takes time, and students arriving more than 15 minutes late will be required to reschedule their appointment. 

You will then meet with a counselor for approximately 20-30 minutes. The counselor will ask questions about the issue that brings you to the counseling center, as well as background information (history of the problem, the impact of the issue on your personal functioning, and any other information that may help the counselor recommend the best course of treatment). The counselor will discuss treatment options with you, and together you will decide the course of treatment that will best help you to address the issue. Except where noted, most students will participate in only one of the following treatment options at a time: 

Individual Counseling 

Individual Counseling is provided for the student who wishes to discuss particular issues relative to her/his personal life. Counseling is a process of exploring issues, learning new ways of coping, and increasing satisfaction with life. The counselor can assist you in clarifying goals and exploring options to problems through careful listening, guiding self-exploration, suggesting new perspectives for consideration, and providing new information. See more information about individual counseling. 

Couples/Partner Counseling 

Relationship counseling involves both members of the couple meeting with a counselor to address communication and relationship problems. To be eligible for this service, both partners must be enrolled ECU students. See more information about couples counseling.

Group Counseling 

Group counseling usually involves 5-8 students meeting with one or two counselors to address issues of shared concern within the group. For most people, group therapy is the most effective and appropriate treatment option. See more information about group counseling. 

Substance Abuse Counseling 

Counseling services are provided in a confidential, non-judgmental manner. Students can seek assistance with assessment, consultation, individual/group counseling, and referral. Many students refer themselves for concerns related to their own substance use and for support in their recovery efforts. Also, workshops are offered to individuals referred by various on and off campus offices. Outreach programs are provided throughout the campus with the goal of educating our ECU community about the risks of alcohol and other drug abuse including strategies to minimize these risks.  

Medication Consultation with a Psychiatrist

 For some students, medication may be helpful in addressing the presenting concern or for follow-up on previously prescribed medications. The psychiatrist will write prescriptions when appropriate and follow-up with students to make adjustments to medications as necessary. To be eligible for this service, you must also attend individual counseling on a regular basis, with the frequency to be determined by your individual counselor. See more information about medication consultation.

Referral to a Community Provider 

The Counseling Center utilizes a brief model of counseling, which means that a student will typically receive 4 to 8 individual counseling sessions, with no more than 12 individual counseling sessions per academic year. Although many presenting issues can be addressed within a brief model, some issues are more difficult to overcome, requiring longer-term treatment. We can provide you with a referral to a counselor in the Greenville area. See more information about community referrals.  

Workshops/Seminars 

The Counseling Center provides a variety of workshops and seminars that are open to all ECU students, regardless of whether or not you have ever attended counseling. No appointments are necessary for these events. See more information about our available workshops and seminars. 

* Emergency & Crisis Services 

Crisis counseling is available to students in emergency situations, such as: having a current plan to attempt suicide or to inflict bodily harm on another person, recent physical/sexual assault, hearing or seeing things that do not exist, etc. This service operates on a first-come-first-served basis, and is akin to utilizing a hospital's emergency room for a medical crisis. Sessions offered through Crisis Service are relatively brief, usually less than 30 minutes, and focus on stabilizing the crisis and creating a plan of action. 

Current hours for Crisis Services are 10:00am--4:00pm Monday thru Friday 

* After Hours Crisis & Emergency Services 

If you are currently experiencing a psychological crisis or emergency situation, please call the Center immediately at 328-6661 during regular business hours to arrange an immediate crisis appointment. If you experience a psychological crisis after regular business hours, you can access our On-Call Counselor by contacting the ECU Police Department at 328-6787. If you are away from the Greenville area, please call 911 or access your local hospital emergency department.