Counseling FAQs

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES?

Only students currently enrolled at MUIH. Due to this policy, we do not provide family, relational or couples counseling.

WIS THERE A CHARGE FOR THE SERVICES?

No, services are provided to all registered students at no cost.

HOW MANY SESSIONS CAN STUDENTS USE?

We provide as many sessions as needed to address your specific area of concern. We utilize the short-term counseling model to allow greater access to services. Please note some students may need services that are outside our scope of service. These students will be referred to providers in their area that can best meet their identified needs.

WHAT IS SHORT-TERM COUNSELING?

In short-term counseling, issues are addressed over a few sessions in a solution-focused manner. The goal is to facilitate adjustment to college, reduce emotional distress, and foster resilience to help students continue attending college and pursue their academic, career, and personal goals.

DO YOU HAVE A PSYCHIATRIST ON STAFF OR PRESCRIBE MEDICATION?

Counseling and Wellness Services does not currently provide Psychiatric or Medication Management services. However, we do provide referrals to community agencies for evaluation, medication, and long-term therapy.

ARE MY SESSIONS CONFIDENTIAL?

Counseling and Wellness adheres to all professional, legal, and ethical guidelines established by the State of Maryland and the American Psychological Association ensuring that any aspect of your counseling relationship, including your appointments and records, will not be disclosed to anyone outside of the department without your written permission. Please note, to protect you and/or the public, Maryland law has established disclosures without your permission may occur under the following circumstances:

  • You are considered at immediate risk for harming yourself
  • You are considered at immediate risk for harming others
  • Previous or current child abuse
  • Abuse of elderly persons or persons with disabilities
  • To consult with another clinician in the department
  • With your expressed, written permission.
  • In accordance with a court order for records.

WHAT ARE COUNSELING AND WELLNESS SERVICES HOURS OF OPERATION?

Counseling and Wellness Services is open 9am to 5pm Eastern, Monday-Friday, and is closed on holidays. The clinician may not be always in the office during these hours; therefore, we ask that you give 2 business days for response to general emails. Urgent requests will be answered as soon as possible.

DO I ALWAYS NEED AN APPOINTMENT TO BE SEEN BY A CLINICIAN?

Generally, yes. Exceptions are made in the event of an urgent situation if clinicians have time slots available. If you have an immediate mental health-related emergency outside of the Counseling and Wellness regular business hours and are unable to immediately get in contact with us, please call 911. To make an appointment, email .

WILL MY COUNSELING RECORDS BE A PART OF MY ACADEMIC RECORD? IF SO, HOW LONG ARE RECORDS KEPT?

All counseling records are kept for seven (7) years. They are confidential and are not part of the academic records.

DO SOME GRADUATE SCHOOLS, PROFESSIONAL BOARDS OR REGULATORY AGENCIES REQUEST COUNSELING RECORDS?

Yes, some graduate schools, professional boards or regulatory agencies request counseling records. It is your decision to acknowledge whether therapy was received when asked. Your records with us can only be released with written permission.

I NEED HELP RIGHT AWAY. WHAT DO I DO?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.

Telehealth

Counseling and Wellness offers counseling sessions via face-to-face video conferencing (telehealth) to currently enrolled MUIH students who meet the eligibility criteria for distance counseling services and assessed as appropriate for this form of service. Due to licensing laws, clinicians may only provide ongoing therapy to those who are currently in the state of Maryland and waivered states. If a student is not eligible for telehealth their clinician will provide support, resources, and referrals to appropriate services in their area.

Your first session provides an opportunity for your clinician to get a good understanding of your needs and determine the best way to assist you. This may be through short-term, solution-focused telehealth sessions or more appropriate services.

Telehealth sessions are held via a secure and confidential video conferencing platform. To get started:

  • Register in our student portal 
  • Utilizing the same portal link, chose an available session time to be scheduled with your clinician
  • On the day/time of your session you will click on your session time in the portal to activate the video platform. 
  • It is recommended that you sign on to your account at least 5 minutes prior to your session start time to ensure you have a working connection. 
  • You are responsible for informing your clinician if you have trouble connecting to your session or need to cancel/reschedule.

Limitations of Distance Counseling

Distance counseling should not be viewed as a substitute for face-to-face counseling or medication by a physician. It is an alternative form of counseling with some differences from traditional counseling. For example:

Due to the use of technology, telehealth may have disruptions in service and quality of service.

If you are having a crisis, acute psychosis, or suicidal or homicidal thoughts, telehealth might not be appropriate for you needs.

Emergency Management for Distance Counseling

So that your clinician can get you help in the case of an emergency and for your safety, the following measures are important and necessary:

Your clinician will need to know the location/address in which you will consistently be during counseling sessions and will need to know if this location changes. (Please maintain updated information in the portal)

Your clinician will request that you identify someone in the portal, whom you trust, to give your clinician permission to contact should a situation occur that your clinician believes you to be at risk. This emergency contact person should be able and willing to go to your location in the event of an emergency, and if your clinician deems necessary, call 911 and/or transport you to a hospital.

Backup Plan in Case of Technology Failure

Your clinician will provide you with a secure zoom link in case there are technical difficulties with the portal platform. This link will be sent to your student email.

If you get disconnected, re-start the session on the original platform. If you are unable to reconnect within 5 minutes, please utilize the link sent to your email. Should none of those work, email your clinician.

Student/Client Rights and Responsibilities

You Have a Right to:

  • Be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Know the qualifications and professional experience of your clinician.
  • Informed consent and limits and exceptions to confidentiality (mandatory reporting requirements, life-threatening situations) before beginning treatment.
  • Privacy and confidentiality of your counseling records (exceptions for life-threatening situations or mandatory reporting requirements)
  • As questions about anything related to your treatment.
  • Be given information concerning diagnosis and treatment philosophy and participate in decisions related to your treatment.
  • Terminate treatment at any time (attending a termination session is highly recommended but not mandatory)

You Have a Responsibility to:

  • Take an active role in the counseling process.
  • Participate fully in your treatment, which includes openly sharing progress and challenges in meeting your goals, following through on agreed-upon goals and strategies established in session, and completing any homework assignments given by clinician
  • Provide accurate information about past and present physical and psychological problems including hospitalizations, medications, and previous treatment.
  • Keep your scheduled appointments and arrive on time or cancel/reschedule at least 24 hours in advance.