Skip to header Skip to Content Skip to Footer
counseling a student
img_30

Counseling Center

Counseling Center

We're here to help you during your time at UNCW. To schedule an appointment, or ask questions about our services and programs, call us at (910) 962-3746 or stop by our office, located on the 2nd floor of DePaolo Hall.

We encourage all students who may be sick, or have symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or persistent cough to call the Counseling Center and cancel your appointment until you are well. Sometimes telehealth appointments are an option if you are sick, please call our office at (910) 962-3746 for more information. If you enter the Counseling Center while sick you may be asked to wear a mask while you are here.

Quick Links

Counseling Center Services

Therapy

College can be a stressful time of transition and change. Concerns about relationships, depression, anxiety, sexuality, and family are all considered to be a natural part of these life changes. Sometimes talking things over with a therapist or in group therapy gives you a chance to benefit from another perspective as you determine how you might want to approach a difficult or challenging situation. Therapy can also support you in increasing self-awareness, self-confidence, and a wide variety of coping skills. 

Initial Consults

In order to start therapy, you must first have an Initial Consult. During this appointment, students meet with a therapist to discuss their concerns and explore options. Based on this discussion and the therapists' review of the paperwork, the therapist will make recommendations for services. For example, self-help resources, workshops, brief goal-oriented individual, relationship, or group therapy, etc. Plan to arrive 20-30 minutes early to complete the required paperwork.

Individual Appointments

Once you have met with a therapist, and it has been determined you are a good fit for our services, you will be scheduled for your first individual appointment. The UNCWCC typically provides short-term goal-oriented therapy, most commonly on an every-other-week basis for 50 minutes sessions. Therapy at the center is not recommended for students seeking or needing intensive or long-term treatment.

Crisis Consults

These are one-time appointments to help a student cope a mental health crisis (such as suicidal or homicidal thoughts, urges, plans, hallucinations or hearing voices; or an inability to cope with a recent crisis). There are therapists scheduled to be available for these appointments from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. M-F. (Summer hours may vary) However, if needed for emergency purposes, students may access a crisis consult between 8 a.m.-1 p.m. M-F. To initiate a crisis consult, please come to the center, located on the 2nd floor in DePaolo Hall and complete the required paperwork.

Referral Consults

Students who are seeking and/or needing intensive or long-term treatment, not eligible for on campus counseling services, or who are interested in meeting with an off-campus therapist for other reasons, can meet with our Clinical Resources Coordinator, Erika McCullough-Simpson. During these 30-minute appointments, students will have an opportunity to briefly discuss their concerns and will be provided with a list of community-based providers that will match their needs. Students can use our referral database to find a local therapist or use Psychology Today for additional options.

Educational Programming

We provide many mental health resources, programs, and events that reach students outside of the center. We have self-help resources that vary in topics and additional self-help information can be found at the Healthy Hawks website. We host a variety of virtual events that are posted on WaveLink. For a variety of helpful psychoeducational videos and meditations, please visit our YouTube channel.

Individual Counseling Individual Counseling
Group Counseling Group Counseling
Crisis Get Consultation Options
Events Let's Get Healthy Together
Healthy Hawks Find out More
Workshops & Training Emotional Health Programming
Self Help Resources Explore your Options
Training Program Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellowship Program

Frequently Asked Questions

The Counseling Center is located on the 2nd floor of DePaolo Hall, Suite 2079. Parking is available on the backside of the building in spots marked "University Testing Services" These spots are first come first serve and are for 2 hours. You will need to get a parking pass from the Counseling Center to put in the front window of your car prior to being checked in to avoid being ticketed.
Therapy can be a wonderful journey to explore anything in your life that may be impacting relationships, academics, or general well-being. Therapy can assist you in gaining insight, process events, or increase skills in managing your mental health. We strive to create an open non-judgmental space that individualizes therapy to the needs of the student.
To be eligible for services you must be a current UNCW student, located in North Carolina, and complete required paperwork and procedures.
There is no cost associated with services. We also do not go through insurance and insurance is not required to receive services.
The center staff bios can be found here. Staff members are licensed on different levels depending on education obtained. We currently have licensed counselors, psychological assistants, social workers, and psychologists. You have the option to request to work with someone for your initial consultation. If you do not have a preference to meet with a specific provider, you will be scheduled to meet with the next available person.
You can come to the Counseling Center or call 910.962.3746 to make your first appointment.
The first session is called an initial consultation appointment and will be 20-30 minutes. Prior to this appointment, you will complete paperwork that will take between 20-30 minutes to complete. Following this appointment, the therapist and student will decide what next steps (individual therapy, group therapy, a referral to a community provider etc.) are appropriate based on the needs of the student.
Yes! We have many outreach programs that have educational materials and activities supporting mental health. These programs are open to all students. We also offer self-help resources to support the campus community.
There is not a session limit for therapy. The center provides short-term goal-oriented therapy, most commonly on an every-other week basis. Individual therapy at the Center is not recommended for students seeking or needing intensive or long-term treatment.
You can use our referral database to find a local therapist or use Psychology Today for additional options. Additionally, if you are a student, you can call and schedule an appointment with our Clinical Resources Coordinator who will discuss referral options with you.
The center does not provide diagnosis, assessments for accommodations, ESA letters, or medication. On campus, please see the General Psychotherapy and Assessment Clinic (GPAC) for assessment, Disability Resource Center (DRC) for assistance with accommodations, Student Health Center (SHC) for medication, or use our referral database for community options.
The Counseling Center's primary way of offering appointments is in person, in the Counseling Center.  Individual Teletherapy (therapy over video) may be an option for students who meet all three of the following criteria: 1) Is a current UNCW student that will be located in North Carolina for all sessions; 2) Is appropriate for teletherapy and a brief therapy model as assessed by the IC clinician; 3) Has completed the teletherapy agreement and other required paperwork. For more information, call the Counseling Center at 910.962.3746.

The Counseling Center has staff available daily for "crisis and emergency" clients.

 

The Counseling Center offers a after-hours crisis line that you can access by calling 910.962.3746 then press #3.

In accordance with ethical standards and state and federal law, Counseling Center staff take every reasonable precaution to protect your privacy.

The identity of those using our services, along with the personally identifiable disclosures made in counseling, are held in confidence. Confidential information is not shared with anyone outside the center without your written consent unless there is a clear and imminent danger to you or to others or a special court order. There is no information about your counseling kept with your academic or health records at UNCW.

 

Contact Us

Counseling Center

Phone: (910) 962-3746

CounselingCenter@uncw.edu

DePaolo Hall
2nd Floor  Room 2079

Office hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m..-5 p.m..

Summer Hours (usually starts the Monday after graduation and ends the Friday before the fall semester starts):

Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m..-5:00 p.m.

Friday 7:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.. 

Crises/Emergency hours:
Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m..

Emergency & Safety

The safety of our faculty, staff, students and guests is UNCW's highest priority. Visit the Emergency & Safety Page to learn more about how UNCW prepares for the unexpected and keeps the campus and community informed about actions resulting from severe weather and other emergencies.

Go To the Emergency & Safety Page
top