First-Time Counseling
To request a first-time counseling appointment, please call 919-530-7646 (available Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or you may email [email protected] to request an appointment or non-emergency communication.
Getting Started with Counseling
Talking to a North Carolina Central University Counseling Center therapist is a mature step to take for a student's overall health, well-being and success at the University.
24-Hour Crisis and Emergency Response
After-hours crisis service is also available. You may reach this service by calling 919-530-7646 or contacting the campus police at 919-530-6106.
All students begin counseling through an initial assessment in the first meeting. Students will be sent a link to complete online forms during the initial assessment. Then, students will speak to a mental health professional to discuss any challenges in managing academic and personal demands.
Students and counselors will also create a mutually agreed-upon plan to help each student reach their goals. Students are assigned to an individual therapist. A treatment plan is made through clinical judgment of a student’s needs during the initial assessment. There are no additional fees for NC Central students to use counseling services or programs.
While students often initiate services on their own, it is also usual for a concerned friend, faculty, staff or family member to encourage a student to contact the Counseling Center or accompany them to the first appointment.
Confidentiality
All information shared in counseling sessions is regarded with the greatest respect. The confidentiality of the counseling relationship will always be maintained. No information from the sessions will be released without prior knowledge and written consent of the student.
The following are exceptions:
- A determination has been made that a student is a danger to themselves or someone else.
- A determination has been made that a child or elderly person is in danger of abuse. In this case, the appropriate authorities will be notified.
- A counselor has been notified of a court order to release confidential information. In this event, the counselor will maintain confidentiality in accordance with ethical and legal practices.
Services We Offer
Here at the Counseling Center, we offer individual, couple and group counseling to students seeking support for a variety of issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief and loss
- Anger management
- Crisis intervention
- Substance misuse prevention and intervention
Although there is no specific session limit, treatment is designed to be short-term and solution-focused. The treatment plan could include individual, couples, group therapy, or medication evaluation. There may be times when referral coordination will be used to help connect students to providers in the community.
We also offer psychiatric consultation, medication management appointments and off-campus referrals for higher-level needs through partner providers. Contact us to be connected to one of our partner providers for any of these services.
Therapy Assistance Online (TAO)
In addition to direct counseling services, we also offer adjunct services, including self-help tools such as Therapy Assistance Online (TAO). TAO is a suite of online tools that promote well-being, resilience and behavioral health and wellness. As an NC Central student, you have free 24-hour access to TAO. For more information about TAO, check out this link: https://taoconnect.org/what_is_tao/us/.
You can also see a video about TAO here in the Wellness Resources section of our website. You can access TAO through your “myEOL” portal.
Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Services
The Counseling Center provides the following services to students seeking substance use support:
- Individual and group counseling
- Alcohol and other drug assessment and evaluation
- Psychoeducation
- Prevention and education
- Outreach
- Eagle Choosing Healthy Options in Challenging Everyday Situations (CHOICES)
Healing, Overcoming, Persevering, Evolving (HOPE) Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC)
The Counseling Center is the sponsoring department for the NCCU CRC named HOPE. HOPE is one of many collegiate recovery centers on college campuses nationwide. HOPE aims to provide a safe space for NCCU students in all recovery phases to assist them on their path to sobriety and overall personal wellness.
Learn more about the CRC from our Instagram account here:
Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
NCCU complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, which requires that any institution of higher education that receives federal financial assistance to adopt and implement a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse by students and employees.