Counseling Services

The Center for Personal Development can help students resolve problems that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or success in college. Some of the more common concerns include:

• Balancing demands of home/school/work
• Coping with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression
• Learning time and stress management skills
• Dealing with relationships with roommates, family, friends
• Self-acceptance and self-confidence
• Exploring human sexuality and sexual identity issues
• Addressing problems such as substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual abuse

Consultation with a counselor is free and voluntary. All sessions are confidential, except in the rare instance when a student is in clear danger of harm to self or others. Some students come to the Center for just one or two sessions of counseling, others want to spend more time talking about problems that are affecting them. If you would like to make an appointment, please call us at (201) 761-6420, or stop by Henneberry Hall (104 Glenwood Avenue), third floor. The Center’s hours are from 9:00AM to 5:00PM; early morning or evenings sessions are available by appointment.

Students are urged to visit the Center when the need arises or simply to pick up informative pamphlets and brochures that may provide some good tips and suggestions to use throughout their college experience. Pamphlets are also available in MacIntyre Lounge on the literature racks.

Description of Services

The following services are provided through the Center for Personal Development:

• Initial assessment
• Individual counseling
• Couples counseling
• Group counseling
• Alcohol and Drug evaluations
• Alcohol and Drug counseling
• Recovery counseling and resources
• Consultation with students, faculty and staff
• Programs and workshops for campus groups
• Referrals

CONFIDENTIALITY

All counseling sessions are confidential; information about counseling sessions cannot be released without a student’s written permission. If, for some reason, you do agree to release information, you will specify what information is to be released and to whom it can be released. The areas of confidentiality include: whether or not a student has come to the Center, the content of the sessions, any information from a student’s records at the Center. Records of sessions are kept secure in accordance with the highest professional standards and they do not become a part of the student’s medical or academic records. Information cannot be shared with anyone – parents, faculty, administration – without the knowledge and written consent of the student.

EXCEPTIONS TO CONFIDENTIALITY

There are some important exceptions to confidentiality. For the vast majority of students, no exceptions are ever made, however, you should be aware that there are times when counselors are legally and ethically required to breach confidentiality.

• If a student poses a clear and imminent risk of harm to self or others, Center staff are required by New Jersey law to report that information to the authorities and to take action to protect you and/or the person who is in danger.
• If there is a suspicion that a minor (under 18 years of age) is being harmed or if an elderly person is being harmed, Center staff are required to notify the appropriate authorities.

If a court order is issued requiring release of records, we are compelled to comply.

If you have any questions about confidentiality, please discuss them with your counselor or with Center staff.

Appointments:

To make an appointment either call (201) 761-6420 or stop by our office.  An appointment will be scheduled with one of our staff members for an initial assessment.  We make every attempt to accommodate same day requests for services.  For mental health emergencies, please contact campus safety at (201)761-7400, Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 (800) 273- TALK (8255) or Jersey City Medical Center Mobil Crisis Unit (24/7) (201) 915-2210.