Counseling Services

Therapy is free and confidential to all SJC students and records will not be linked to your official school transcript.

Individual Counseling

In individual counseling, you work one-on-one with a therapist to clarify your concerns, create specific goals to work towards, better understand yourself, and learn new skills to improve the way you function.

During the first session, you will be asked a series of questions that will help the therapist get a sense of your strengths and the areas in which you can improve. Therapeutic goals are created followed by weekly sessions or referral services.

Individual counseling is a process that can sometimes stir up uncomfortable feelings as you begin to develop deeper levels of self-awareness. Through this internal work, session by session you will learn how to do the work that is necessary to grow.

Group Counseling

In group counseling, you and a small number of students meet together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help yourself and other members of the group. It is a safe place where you can come together with others and share problems or concerns, to better understand your own situation and to learn from and with others.

It is not unusual to feel uneasy or embarrassed when you first join a group. However, in time group members will begin to develop feelings of trust in the group and will benefit from experiencing a great deal of relief at the opportunity to talk with others who are experiencing similar problems.

In group therapy students are able to share strengths and difficulties, are able to help one another through this sharing process and also stand to learn that they are not alone. Group therapy also allows each member to learn about them by observing how they interact with others in the group setting.

Crisis Counseling

A crisis is defined as a situation or event in which a person feels overwhelmed, has difficulty coping or has a lack of self-control. Crisis counseling is a short-term intervention offered for students in distress to provide guidance, education and support. If a trauma or crisis is not resolved in a healthy manner, the experience can lead to more lasting psychological, social and medical problems. 

Crisis counseling is not a substitute for individuals who need and are not receiving intensive or long term psychological care and may involve outreach and work within the community. 

Some signs of being in a crisis include:

• unable to go to classes
• unable to stop crying
• thoughts of hurting oneself or others
• have not eaten in a few days 
• have not slept in a few days 

If this is an emergency, please contact The Counseling and Wellness Center at 631.687.1262 OR call 911 immediately.

Other Helpful Contacts

Crisis Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433

Community outreach occurs throughout the academic year to build a rich network of resources in the community for all students on campus. Both mental health and wellness resources are canvased for a full spectrum of holistic health. Through this program students gain the opportunity of benefiting from modalities that expand and work complimentary with the St. Joseph's College community.