Appointments

The initial appointment is not a therapy session. but a time to meet with a therapist to assess and discuss your needs. We ask that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete the necessary paperwork and to avoid the possibility of being rescheduled. Students may be assigned to a therapist or group at the Counseling Center, as well as given referrals to outside resources if that is the best avenue for getting appropriate help. The therapist who meets with you will explain all of this and help you through the process.

What to expect from the Initial Assessment

The purpose of the initial assessment is for your assessment counselor to obtain information about what is bringing you to the Counseling Center, assess your needs, and determine an appropriate course of action.   At the end of the appointment, the assessment counselor will provide information regarding appropriate services and facilitate the process of meeting your counseling needs through a variety of options. Options include being seen by one of the Counseling Center therapists for brief treatment, participating in one of the Counseling Center therapy groups, or being referred to a provider off-campus in the community to better meet your needs. The therapist who meets with you will answer questions and help you throughout the process.  If you have any additional questions about the initial assessment, please do not hesitate to call the Student Counseling Center at 404-727-7450. 
IMPORTANT: We ask that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete the necessary paperwork and to avoid the possibility of being rescheduled.

Getting Started in Counseling

If it is determined that receiving brief services at the Counseling Center is the best option for you and you choose to pursue individual counseling through our office, you will be assigned to a counselor following your initial assessment (this may or may not be your initial assessment counselor). Typically, you will meet with your counselor for a 50-minute session, usually on a weekly or biweekly basis. Early on, you will work with the counselor to set goals. Establishing clear treatment goals will provide direction as well as help you to monitor your progress in therapy. If you have any questions or concerns about the counseling process, do not hesitate to bring these up with your counselor, who will be pleased to discuss them with you. At first, you may feel a little nervous about counseling, but this usually fades as your counselor helps you talk about your concerns. There is likely to be some balance between talking about your present-day experiences and adjustments and discussing the roots of your concerns in your family and experiences growing up. The more you share your thoughts and feelings about yourself and your problems in counseling, the more you are likely to benefit from this process. Your counselor will help create a safe place for you to explore alternative points of view and to understand connections between different aspects of your experiences. The exact direction of your counseling experience will depend on the issues you bring into therapy, your counselor's perspective, and the goals you set for your work together.