Who We See and Why
Student mental health is the priority of EMU’s counseling center. We seek to serve both undergraduate and graduate EMU students with the resources available to us, including knowledge, skills and staffing. We are committed to student care and will provide outside referral options if necessary to provide the best student care available.
Faculty and staff who wish to access counseling services for themselves should use EMU's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Accessing Services
All fully enrolled EMU students at the Harrisonburg, VA campus are eligible for counseling. Appointments are scheduled during open hours of Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Drop-in Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-2 p.m. To schedule an appointment you can email counselingservices@emu.edu OR speak with the Counseling Services Front Desk Attendant at 540-432-4317. For more information visit our What to Expect page. Counseling is open for services in conjunction with the undergraduate university academic calendar and is not open in the summer months.
When you meet with your clinician, you both will discuss your needs and determine
a schedule.
We work on a case by case basis and your clinician will recommend a plan. As your
sessions
continue, your clinician will assess and determine any changing needs. Many
students can receive what they need from counseling in a few sessions. Other students
need
more. Our team will base recommendations on your clinical needs. Please discuss this
with
your clinician if you have questions or concerns.
Common presenting concerns addressed in the EMU Counseling Center include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief and loss
- Relationship issues (romantic relationship difficulties, roommate problems, family issues, loneliness, anger, guilt)
- Academic concerns (performance anxiety, perfectionism, underachievement, low motivation)
- Developmental issues (adjustment to college, life transitions, spiritual concerns, identity development (including transgender))
- Low self-esteem and self-confidence
- Trauma from the past or present
- Body image and mild to moderate eating and exercise concerns
Issues Commonly Referred to Community Resources
Students whose needs cannot be accommodated with campus resources or who require a particular type of expertise not found in the EMU Counseling Center are provided with a referral to a community or expert provider.
Students who need specialized clinical services which are NOT available through the EMU Counseling Center are:
- Eating Disorder treatment from a clinical team of providers
- Addiction treatment for alcohol, drugs, other addictions
- Psychological testing/evaluation to assess for the presence of learning disorders, to grant housing accommodations (e.g. single room, emotional support animal), or for the purpose of employment clearance or other nonacademic purpose
- Services to fulfill requirements for pre-adjudication and/or court-mandated mental health treatment or assessment.
- Intensive or long term care needed more often than the schedule allows or is
beyond the scope of the university academic calendar
The general guidelines listed above are only intended to serve as a guide. The nature and complexity of presenting concerns and the broader context are considered in making the appropriate treatment recommendation(s).
