Frequently Asked Questions

We are located on the South end of Drew University’s campus in Holloway Annex 21 in the same building as the Health Center up the hill from the University Commons.

First Appointments

• When you first reach out to the counseling center, you will be set up for either a brief screening appointment (15 or 20 minutes) or a full intake (45 or 50-minute appointment) depending on scheduling and availability. During that meeting, you and the intake therapist will discuss treatment options.
• If all you needed was a single appointment with a clinician to problem-solve or get a referral, you will be done.
• If you need more than one visit, the intake therapist will present your case to the clinical team to develop and recommend a treatment plan.
• We will try to develop a plan that will be most helpful for you. This could be:
  • Group therapy at the Drew Counseling Center
  • Time-limited individual therapy at the Drew Counseling Center
  • Referral out for specialized or long-term individual therapy in the community
  • Referral out for psychiatric medication
  • Referral out for more intensive outpatient or residential treatment

Be advised: ANY student (typically Grad or Theo) attending  classes exclusively on-line, residing  outside of NJ or the US will not be eligible for campus counseling services. We can consult and assist in connecting you with an appropriate off campus provider.

Crisis Appointments

If you are in crisis: you are worried about harming yourself or someone else, experiencing severe psychological symptoms, unable to sleep or eat, hallucinating or feeling out of control, had a recent trauma, or exacerbation of symptoms, call 973-408-3398 between 9 AM and noon or 1 PM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday. After hours call Campus Security (973-408-3379) to connect with the Res Life Professional Staff on call or 911 for immediate assistance.. If you are off-campus, call 911.

Individual counseling at the counseling center is usually based on a brief treatment model

• Staff members will meet a student at least once to assess their current situation and needs.
• Short-term Individual counseling is typically 4-8 sessions of 45-50 minutes.

Group Therapy is often the ideal treatment for students

• Groups provide support, a sounding board, camaraderie, promote social skills and problem solving as well as insight and self-awareness. Group participation can promote more  change and connection than individual therapy.
• Students are required to protect the privacy of the other attending members.
• Members of an ongoing group are expected to consistently attend as the development and maintenance of safety and trust within the group will partly depend on whether members can rely on each other to be physically present.

Counseling usually involves meeting on a consistent basis

• For many students, it is a relief to know that they have a set hour to talk and to work with a professional about what is bothering them.
• We understand if you have to attend to an unexpected emergency (i.e. illness or personal/family emergency), but we may not be able to reschedule your appointment for the same week.

Students are expected to notify their therapists of future cancellations

• The counseling center often has a waiting list, and thus, if we know of a cancellation in advance, we are able to use that time to help other students.
• If you are aware of a future appointment you can’t attend, please provide us at least a week in advance notice.
• If you are sick, then please prioritize your health over your appointment (unless it is a crisis).
• Since the counseling center sets consistent, weekly meetings, we expect you to anticipate and manage your workload so that you can attend your regularly scheduled individual and/or group appointment.
• Students who miss repeated appointments will likely be referred elsewhere for treatment.

If a student has an issue with the therapist/therapy, they are encouraged to talk about it in session

• Having a problem/issue with your therapist/therapy is actually a fairly common experience. Speaking to them about it is often a useful part of the work. In fact, there are times that this can be the most helpful part of therapy.
• Whatever the issue, we encourage you to talk with your therapist so that both of you can reach an understanding and work out an appropriate solution. There are no restrictions on what you can say to your therapist, they will not take it personally, (and you can always come back the next week and talk some more).

Other Important Points

• We always try to protect your privacy. If you see any counseling staff outside of our office (in a workshop, class, the Student Center, on a path) they won’t greet you or say “Hello” to you unless you do so first.
• We can’t tell your professors, coach, friends, parents, or anyone else that you even attend therapy without consent from you – almost always in writing – except in life or death emergencies.
• Therapists cannot accept gifts from clients. Instead, we encourage students to verbally share the message that they wanted to convey through the gifts

No. Our services are free to all Drew students, including the CLA, Grad, and Theo.

If you are 16 or older, you are considered to be an adult when seeking psychological treatment. That means that you have the right to clinical confidentiality. This means that your counselor is under a legal and ethical obligation to keep private all discussions with you within the counseling relationship. This would include your decision to see (or not see) a psychiatrist or whether or not you’re in counseling. We won’t even share whether or not you attend counseling.

We also won’t share any information with University faculty, staff, or administration.

There are a few times when we are under legal and ethical obligation to reveal information. For example, if you are in serious danger of hurting yourself or someone else, or when you talk about a child that is currently being abused, we must inform the appropriate people who are most likely to be able to help you or the child.

Clinical staff at Drew Counseling and Psychological Services consult with each other about cases. These are only other therapists in the center.

If you are seeing another mental health clinician or are being treated in a mental health program we will ask you to sign a written release so we can communicate with them to coordinate treatment.

We can’t and don’t reveal any information regarding our clients, without having our client’s written permission. Sometimes parents call us because they have a concern about their students. We will not let parents know if the student is or is not in counseling, nor will we discuss the student. However, we will listen to your parent and we will try to help them with THEIR problem. Often, we recommend that the parents go for counseling; that the family attend counseling; or, that the parent refer their student to counseling. We also tell them that we will not let them know if the student has actually come for counseling (unless we have the student’s written permission), but that they should follow up with their student.

If you think someone needs to know or should know that you are in counseling, and WHAT they should know is up to you. You can let whoever know on your own or sign a written consent for us to reveal information to whomever, including faculty, staff, administration, parents, or other services on campus (Health Services, Campus Ministry, Dean of Educational and Student Affairs, RD’s, etc..) We will notify no one without your written permission.

If you are in crisis and the Counseling Center is closed, please contact Campus Security, 973-408-3379.

Other crisis numbers include 988 (National Suicide Lifeline) or Morristown Medical Center Crisis Intervention (973-540-0100). If you have Drew insurance you can call CareConnect and talk to a licensed mental health clinician any time, day or night, at 1-888-857-5462.

Drew University has recently entered into a partnership with Mantra Health, a telehealth platform that provides psychiatric nurse practitioners who work in conjunction with the existing counseling staff. This is a session limited service. All referrals to Mantra come through Drew CAPS.. In addition, we can provide referral list information including psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses in the area who are accessible by public transportation, ridesharing or driving.

We have seen students for all kinds of reasons, ranging from academic issues to psychosis. Some of the most common reasons are stress, anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflicts, loneliness and homesickness, inability to start papers or late assignments, deterioration of the quality of work, feeling discouraged, lack of motivation, trauma, suicidal crisis and other crises, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and drug issues.