UNO Counseling Services is an accredited university counseling center and maintains the highest level of standards as set forth by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. (IACS) and held by the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCD).
Counseling Services collaborates with UNO students to achieve their goals around mental health, holistic wellness, and healing. We acknowledge the systemic failures in the mental health community to live up to this mission for marginalized communities. Rooted in the complex history and culture of New Orleans, we support everyone’s right to live with dignity, joy, and purpose, and believe that promoting equity, empathy, and a just society lights the path towards that collective aim. We do this by reducing barriers to mental health services, challenging stigma, fostering growth, and responding to the evolving needs of our campus community.
Counseling Services professional staff are experienced in the assessment and treatment of mental health concerns common among university students. Graduate students from regional universities enrolled in various behavioral disciplines also provide counseling and are under the supervision of the licensed professional staff.
All counseling services are confidential to the limits provided by law, and no information can be released to anyone within or outside of the University without a client's written consent. The staff adheres to the ethical guidelines of the professional associations to which they belong.
Written consent from the legal guardians of enrolled minor students wishing to seek treatment at UNO Counseling Services must be obtained prior to the start of treatment. If a guardian is unable to come to UNOCS in person to provide this written permission, digital guardian signature on the UNOCS Minor Consent form will be accepted. In addition, both minor students and their guardians should be aware that any material obtained from a minor client may be shared with that student's parents or guardians until that student turns 18. Once the student turns 18, attendance and treatment information are private and such requests for information will no longer be honored. Please note that UNO Counseling Services is unable to provide services to minor students who are not U.S. citizens. Please also note that if a minor student is suicidal or homicidal, UNO Counseling Services will see any student seeking such emergency help regardless of age, and will provide assistance on an emergency basis in finding appropriate mental health resources.
The UNO Counseling Services’ primary purpose is to improve students’ ability to learn and strengthen their overall success both academically and socially during their college career. The Counseling Services staff believes that good mental health is the cornerstone of personal, academic, and career success. Therefore, our vision is to deliver quality mental health services that will facilitate personal growth and wellbeing in order to promote student engagement and overall academic success.
The UNO Counseling Services strives to create an environment that fosters student growth, development, and psychological well-being through education, awareness programs, and direct clinical services. The number of sessions is determined by clinical need, as defined by the clinician but is short term in nature. For those individuals who need more than brief individual therapy, our staff can help coordinate referrals to outside resources when longer-term or more intense individual therapy is required.
All currently enrolled students seeking services will receive an initial appointment for assessment. The initial assessment is sometimes extended to additional appointments to determine the appropriateness of UNOCS services. There is no charge for UNOCS services. After the assessment is concluded, a decision will be made about whether or not the needs of the student fall within the role and scope of the UNOCS or if the student would be better served by another organization.
Services provided include:
Students whose mental health needs cannot be accommodated within a short-term counseling model are provided with referrals to community resources. Similarly, students whose needs require a particular type of expertise that is not found in UNOCS are also referred to outside resources that can better address their mental health needs. UNO Counseling Services provides referral services either after the initial assessment or as these factors become more apparent during the course of services. The Counselor can provide sliding scale referral options, help the student identify mental health providers that accept their insurance, and assist the student in getting connected with these outside resources. The Counselor will offer additional assistance in finding resources as necessary.
Examples of situations for which brief therapy is contraindicated and would be inappropriate to treat at UNOCS include:
Students are asked to cancel any appointments 24 hours before missing an appointment. If a student misses and/or cancels within 24 hours of the appointment three times, the student will not be allowed to schedule another appointment and will instead go back on the waiting list until someone is available or the following semester.
