What to Expect From Counseling

To make an appointment at the Counseling Center, please call 205-348-3863 and ask to schedule an initial screening appointment with a counselor. The front desk will assist you with scheduling a first available appointment. If the appointment conflicts with class or other obligations, we can provide documentation of your appointment to bring to your professor.

What to Expect From Counseling

First appointments

• Your first visit is a screening appointment
• First visits require you to complete initial paperwork. Please arrive 30 minutes early. If you are running late, please contact our front office. This paperwork is very helpful in evaluating your needs and helping connect you to the best resources to help get your needs met.
• After completing your paperwork, you will typically spend 20 to 30 minutes with a therapist.
• First visits are free
• The purpose of a first visit is to evaluate concerns and connect you to the most appropriate resources
• If your needs are beyond the Counseling Center’s scope of services we will assist you with a referral
• If your needs are within our scope of care you will be assigned to a counselor

Counseling Services

• Once assigned to a counselor you will work together to develop goals and strategies to address your concerns
• Counseling is confidential
• Individual sessions typically last about 45-50 minutes
• Individual sessions are 15 dollars per session and are charged to your student account
• Up to 15 session are available per academic year

While You Wait

We want to be accessible to as many of our students as need our services. This sometimes means there is a wait for your initial screening visit. While you wait, please check out these resources:

• Same-Day Consults: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:
  • wish to consult with a therapist about a specific concern
  • have a specific question for a therapist
  • are interested in a single session with a therapist
  • are interested in receiving brief advice, behavioral prescriptions, or recommendations for further services

  This is a one-time consultation with no expectation of future appointments with the consulting therapist.

• Self help topics: Find a list of self-help topics related to common areas of concern for college students
• Free online peer support for UA students: University of Alabama students have free access to a peer support platform. Togetherall is a safe, online chat-based community where you can share experiences and process your feelings confidentially while receiving student-to-student support to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Use the power of community to heal, while being safely monitored by licensed and registered mental health practitioners. Support is offered 24/7 with a range of useful tools and resources to help you wherever you are on your journey in addition to a wide range of mental health and wellbeing courses.  
• Free online self-help for UA students: This is a free tool consisting of educational and interactive modules and practice tools. You can move through the courses at your own pace.  Topics include depression, anxiety, anger management, relationship/communication skills, recovery topics, and more.
• Support Groups