The college years are an exciting and challenging time for students. On the one hand, it can be a time filled with new, diverse experiences, people and knowledge. On the other hand, it can involve changes that are stressful to many.
It is normal, even expected, that students will face stressful or problematic times or events while in college. When students make use of resources that are available to them, the potentially negative impact of these events can be minimized or sometimes even eliminated. Left unattended, however, these same events can result in the impairment of a student’s ability to function and do well in school.
We encourage University of Alabama students to make use of the Counseling Center’s services. An overwhelming majority of our clients say that we help them remain in school or help to improve their academic performance. Within ethical and legal guidelines, our services are confidential so students can be assured of privacy. The number of visits students receive varies, but we are able to provide up to 15 counseling sessions per academic year. Students whose needs fall outside the scope of our services are assisted with appropriate referrals to community resources. Types of counseling we offer include screening and evaluation, individual, couple and group counseling, crisis intervention, limited psychological assessments, and referral for medical and other services.
Staff members working in the Counseling Center are licensed and experienced mental health professionals from the disciplines of counseling, psychology, social work and psychiatry. Combined, our professionals represent over 250 years of clinical experience, and they have worked in hospitals, private practice, mental health agencies, substance abuse facilities, and other settings. Advanced graduate students from these same fields, under the supervision of licensed professionals, also provide some services in our center.
To talk with a counselor or set an appointment, please call 348-3863. You can also learn more about counseling from our FAQ page.
For Bama By Distance students, the UA Counseling Center is available for telephone consultations if you have questions, concerns, or are in need of advice. Telecounseling may be available to you if you reside in the state of Alabama. We can also help you identify an appropriate referral in your area.
Individual counseling services are available. If you are a current student at UA and reside in the state of Alabama, you are eligible for services. For students out of state for the summer, we can assist with referral options. Please call 205-348-3863 to schedule an appointment or consult with a counselor. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m.
All initial screening appointments will be completed over the phone. Counseling services are offered in person or through telecounseling.
It can depend on the time of year, but generally students are able to get a screening appointment within 1 week. For fall 2022, the average wait time for a new screening appointment is 7.6 days.
During the fall and spring semesters, we are offering same-day 30 minute single session phone consultation appointments with a therapist. These appointments are designed to help students meet non-emergency mental health needs. This service is good for students who:
This is a one-time consultation with no expectation of future appointments with the consulting therapist. If you are unsure of what services are right for you, this is a good starting point. Students wanting to use this service should call the Counseling Center after 8:00 a.m. to schedule an appointment for later that day.
Group Services for the fall semester will begin the week of September 6. Please visit our group page for the most up to date information.
If you have outreach needs at this time, please call 205-348-3863 and ask to speak with a counselor or visit our program request form to request outreach services. Each request will be evaluated for feasibility on a case by case basis, with an emphasis on creating virtual outreach opportunities for the campus.
We are also offering two workshop series this fall:
For faculty, staff, students and parents, we are available for telephone consultations. Please call 205-348-3863 and ask to speak with a counselor if you have questions, concerns, or are in need of advice.
If you are in crisis or are experiencing an emergency, please walk-in or call 205-348-3863 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., to speak with a counselor immediately. Outside these hours, please contact UAPD at 205-348-5454 and ask to speak with the on-call counselor.
Please check out our resource page for information on mental health topics, tip videos, and other mental health and wellbeing resources. To request a counselor to provide outreach education for your class or student group, please visit our program request form.
