Counseling Services

The counseling team at the Health and Wellness Center provides confidential and no-cost mental health services and resources to all enrolled Fisher students.

Your mental health matters. The experienced professional counselors at the Health and Wellness Center are here to help you navigate the personal or emotional challenges you may face. All students have access to crisis support, counseling, and consultation services. Our services are confidential, and we will partner with you to find the best path forward, offering short-term treatment, self-help tools, or referrals to off-campus specialists to ensure your needs are fully met.

Navigating Transition 

Transition is defined as a change from one thing to the next, either in action or state of being. Entering a new academic year is a time of transition for our incoming students. 

You may be transitioning from high school to college or from a different university or from the world of professional work to the role of a student. Transitions can be a time of uncertainty, but they can also be a time of great excitement and anticipation. 

Navigating through a transitional period can be a bit bumpy, but it is not insurmountable. You may feel overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, or worried at times. Remember, these feelings may be natural responses to life’s stressors.  

Here are three key things to remember during a time of transition: 

  • You are in good company! Everyone entering the university for the first time is in this period of transition. Keeping in mind that you are not the only one going through can decrease loneliness and isolation. 
  • Each person will have their own path for navigating the transition. Remember you know yourself best and what will be helpful at this time. Resist the urge to judge yourself if you are handling things differently from those in your circle. 
  • Know your resources and supports. Who are your go-to people? Who makes up your hype team? There are lots of ways to connect here at Fisher. Find the path that fits for you!

Stressors that begin to impact daily functioning can be more concerning. If you’re finding it hard to manage your daily routine, academic or athletic performance, or if you feel disconnected from friends or family, seeking support can be very helpful. It’s important to know that it’s okay to ask for help, and there are many resources available to support you.

Charting Your Path

Everyone’s path to mental wellness will be unique. We provide a range of services to partner with you in deciding the best way to move forward.

  • Mental health consultation
  • Time-limited/short-term counseling
  • Crisis support
  • Referral to off-campus resources 
  • Health education  

If you are unsure about counseling/therapy and what it entails, you can utilize a resource provided by the Jed Foundation: What is therapy and will it work?

You can also reach out to the team at the center to ask questions. 

Requesting Counseling Services

To connect to counseling at the Health and Wellness Center, please complete the Counseling Appointment Screen located under Forms in the patient portal.

After you complete this form, the Health and Wellness Center will be in contact with you during our regular business hours to make recommendations and provide options for your care. We may send you a secure message through your portal, so please continue to monitor Messages within your own portal profile. 

*Health and Wellness Center Staff do not maintain 24-hour access to our electronic health record and cannot respond in real-time. We review requests during our regular business hours M-F, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

  • If you need medical or mental health care and it is an emergency, please call 911 or Safety and Security at (585) 385-8111.
  • If you need urgent help or assistance during normal business hours, please contact Health and Wellness at (585) 385-8280.
  • If you need urgent help or assistance after hours, please consider calling or texting 988, calling 911 for any emergency needs and/or reaching out to Safety and Security at (585) 385-8111.

Psychiatric Services and Medication Management

If you require medication to manage a psychological disorder and/or mental health symptoms, the Health and Wellness Center employs a part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner who schedules psychiatry visits. Please complete a Counseling Appointment Screen form if you are seeking to connect to our provider.  

To access our psychiatric services, you must first be evaluated by a counselor in our office, who will facilitate the referral to the psychiatric nurse practitioner. If you have questions about this service, please call the Health and Wellness Center at (585) 385-8280 or send an email to healthcenter@sjf.edu.

Note: Students should seek to connect with our provider during the academic year. We cannot connect new students during the summer session or during times when the university is closed.

Referrals to Off-Campus Services

Below are some situations where we may refer you to off-campus or speciality services within the community:

  • Serious and persistent mental health disorders that require intensive monitoring and treatment
  • Recent or chronic suicide attempts
  • Chronic non-suicidal self-harm
  • Active psychosis
  • Active eating disorders that present significant medical complications
  • Substance or alcohol dependency
  • Transitional care outside of semester parameters or post-graduation

Note: In general, we are unable to provide long-term or unlimited counseling, even if you do not require specialized treatment or expertise. Similarly, we are unable to guarantee that you will be able to be seen on a weekly basis through our office. If you request or require this level of care, we will be able to refer you to the services best able to help.

Alcohol and Other Drug Education

Experimentation and social pressures surrounding substance use are common aspects of the college experience, but they can sometimes impact your well-being and academic success.

If you or someone else has expressed concerns about your use of substances, a screening tool designed to help you understand your current use patterns is recommended. TAPS or Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication and other substances is an online screening tool that you can use to begin to evaluate your use of substances. Please reach out to your health care provider or the Health and Wellness Center team if you are concerned or struggling with the use of substances. 

Students needing specialized or intensive services related to substance use disorders may be screened through the Health and Wellness Center counseling team.

If intensive substance use care is recommended, students will be referred to off-campus programs to meet their needs.

For more information, please visit Alcohol and Other Drug Education.