Steps to Success Start In Counseling The Resources You Need to Become a Superstar Student

FAWWAZ ASHRAF STAFF

Meramec’s counseling department is here to support students’ mental health. Troy Hansen, manager of the Counseling Center, spoke more about the service available to students. Their primary responsibility is to provide mental health services for enrolled students. Describing this, Hansen said, “This includes pretty much anything and everything you could think of that a student might deal with.” Some of the most common includes anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship issues. They are also able to help just once or to provide ongoing support.

One of the counselors’ most notable attributes is that they are confidential sources, said Hansen. “It doesn’t go to anybody else on campus. It doesn’t go to their family or instructors. With the following exemptions: if they are a threat to themselves or someone else … if there’s child abuse that I know is going on or there is abuse of a vulnerable adult,” he said. Other than these exceptions, everything is kept private unless there’s a subpoena or the student signs a release form, said Hansen.

This service is available to all students and staff on campus. Every counselor in the district is a licensed, professional counselor, with one exception at Florissant Valley who is still a provisional counselor and will be receiving her professional license by the fall. Additionally, all of the counselors are generalists, meaning students can work with any counselor on any issue.

To receive help, Hansen said, “The only qualification is that students are enrolled at the college.” Current students who are continuing in the fall can also receive help over the summer even if they aren’t taking any summer classes.

To work with a counselor, students are encouraged to set up an appointment, and they can do so via email, phone, or going to their office in the administration building in room 249. Walk-ins are generally reserved for students in an immediate crisis.

There’s currently no portal to create an appointment online, but Hansen said, “We’re in process right now of trying to get an electronic health record management system, so students could go to our website and make an appointment directly themselves.” Unlike the other departments, they don’t use Navigate, as it doesn’t meet the standards of confidentiality needed for healthcare.

To learn more about the counseling department, students can visit stlcc. edu/counseling or scan the QR code below. Alongside information about the counseling department and setting up an appointment, the website contains many resources that students can use. These include hotlines for immediate crisis counseling, resources for suicide survivors, substance abuse resources, and many more.

One of Hansen’s final notes was, “Even if you don’t think you need our services, that’s ok but keep our information because someone that you know might.”

Additional student resources on campus

Academic Support

• Peer and/or professional tutoring

• The Writing Center

Visit stlcc.edu/academicsupport

Access Office / Disability Support Services

Support services for students with disabilities are available that include:

• Coordination of accommodations for academics and

• programs/services

• Consultation with faculty and staff regarding accommodation needs as well as help with connecting to community professionals and agencies

Visit stlcc.edu/disability

Financial Aid

Visit stlcc.edu/financialaid