Counseling

To schedule a regular appointment, students may stop by the counseling offices in person, email, or phone a counselor. For urgent matters, students will be seen immediately.

Students utilize counseling services for a variety of reasons. Adolescence is a period of significant change, physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. This combined with attending a school that has a demanding academic environment, with many students adjusting to living away from home for the first time, or perhaps, experiencing a new culture, students may struggle with questions and stressors that they have never experienced before. Students seek out counseling services to get support around a number of issues including homesickness, roommate conflicts, relationship issues, to more serious issues such as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, etc. Some students meet with a counselor to discuss a concern about another student and how to handle the situation. Counseling helps students develop healthy coping skills and personal insight to deal with whatever problems or stresses they are facing.

In cases where the safety or wellbeing of a student is in question, a concerning pattern of behavior has developed, or with certain disciplinary violations (substance use, violence/ threatening behavior, or sexual activity) the school may require the student to meet with a counselor. Additionally, any student diagnosed with a concussion, must meet with a counselor as part of the concussion follow up protocol.

We always encourage students to inform their parents if they are struggling, but we do not automatically contact parents unless there is a concern about the student’s health or safety.

Conversations with a school counselor are held in confidence unless it is suspected that a student’ safety and/or wellbeing is at risk. Information indicating that a student is at risk of harm to self or others, suspected abuse or neglect, or a report of physical or sexual assault will be shared with a senior administrator at school, along with any appropriate outside agencies and the student’s parent/ guardian. In cases where certain information may be helpful for a faculty member to work more effectively with a student, a conversation will occur with the student to discuss what information might be passed on and will get the student’s permission before speaking with anyone.

The Counseling Department keeps all session notes confidential and they do not become a part of the student’s school record. Per Connecticut state guidelines, all counseling files are destroyed seven years after a student graduates or withdraws from school.

The consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Miller, comes to campus on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Parents are contacted by the Counseling Department and need to provide permission for Dr. Miller to meet with their child. Parents are billed directly by Dr. Miller.