What to Expect

So, you’re going to try counseling. Good!

It’s free. It’s confidential. And it’s easy to start.

Due to state licensing laws, students must be residing in Maryland to be eligible for Let’s Talk, assessment, and therapy services. The Counseling Center located in Humanities 150 is open M-F from 8:30am until 5pm (EST) and closed when the university is closed.  If you would like to make an appointment with a counselor, schedule an appointment online, stop by our office, or call 410-617-2273. We can usually schedule you to be seen within 1-5 days of your request, or the same day if you are in crisis or if your needs are urgent.

Where to Find Us

We’re in Humanities 150: Enter the door at the bottom of the ramp opposite Starbucks, then hook left up the spiral stairs or take the elevator to the 1st floor. Come on in and head to our friendly Reception Desk, where you can schedule an appointment or check in for your session.

What to Expect in the First Session?

Your first session will be aimed mostly at getting to know you and your concerns. You’ll start with some brief paperwork, which a counselor then reviews before sitting down with you. Expect to feel significantly better after this session: you’ll have a new source of support, and you’ll have started dealing more effectively with what’s bothering you.

The Services We Offer

The Counseling Center offers a range of in-person and telehealth services to meet the mental health needs of Loyola undergraduate and graduate students. We offer groups, workshops, "Let's Talk" single sessions, brief individual counseling, and comprehensive referral support. Often, we recommend group counseling as the most helpful first step. This might be a RIO workshop or one of our themed groups.

• RIO (Recognition-Insight-Openness) Workshops: In three 1-hour sessions, a facilitator will introduce basic concepts and strategies for approaching life’s problems, easing emotional pain, and making changes. Feedback from Loyola students has been very positive.

• Group Counseling: Led by one or two counselors, with typically 5-8 members, group sessions last 60-90 minutes and offer opportunities to talk confidentially about your concerns, share them with others who have similar challenges, receive support from group members and counselors, and learn alternative ways of looking at personal problems. Group offerings vary by semester, and you can learn more about our current group and workshop options.

• Brief Individual Counseling: Weekly or biweekly sessions with a professional counselor. Although many students may find their needs met through short-term individual counseling, those whose circumstances require longer-term support can be connected to therapists in the community. Due to ethical and professional standards, students who are actively in treatment with an off-campus therapist are unable to engage in concurrent individual therapy with a Counseling Center therapist. Crisis services, Let’s Talk sessions, and group counseling options are available for all students.

• Let's Talk Single Sessions: A solution-focused, goal-oriented, one-time space for students to meet with a counselor. Counselors will work with the student to identify their existing strengths, resources, and coping skills that may assist them in moving forward with a specific concern, as well as offering additional recommendations. Let's Talk is not appropriate for emergency or crisis concerns; view our emergency services page for crisis resources. 

• Comprehensive Referral Support:  When circumstances require more frequent or open-ended counseling than the Counseling Center can provide, a counselor can help get you connected with a private therapist off-campus. The counselor will assist you with identifying an off-campus provider that fits your counseling needs, financial and insurance parameters, and transportation considerations. In addition, we can assist you with making phone calls to schedule your first appointment with the new provider. We will then continue to meet with you and support you while you get connected, and we will remain available to you in case of a crisis if you can’t meet sooner with your private therapist.

Bottom line: We’re friendly, professional, confidential, free, and here to help you! Consider Togetherall, a 24/7 confidential peer to peer mental wellness resource, free to all enrolled Loyola students. Register here today.