How long will I have to wait for an appointment to see a counselor?
This varies depending upon the time of the academic term/year, the urgency of your concerns, your schedule, and any preference you may have to see a particular counselor. We will work with you to offer next available appointments, as well as to address any urgent scheduling needs you may have.
What should I expect when I come for my first counseling appointment?
Prior to your first appointment you will be asked to review and complete a set of online intake forms with Wellness Services. When you attend your first appointment, you counselor will spend time getting to know you, assessing your current needs and goals, and developing a plan for next steps.
What kinds of initial paperwork is required?
The paperwork consists of a contact information sheet, a consent form, a questionnaire asking about your personal history and reasons for counseling, and a symptom checklist of your feelings and outlook. These are required prior to your first scheduled appointment and must be resubmitted for each academic year in which you receive services.
What if I already filled out forms at Wellness Services last year?
We ask students to complete new forms every year to help us better understand your current situation and concerns.
What happens to the intake forms after I fill them out?
They are kept on a secure Wellness Services server that is accessible only to the counselors. Certain limited ITS staff members maintain the technical aspects of the program, but do not work with any identifiable client data. Intake forms as well as counselors' notes are destroyed no less than 7 years after your departure from Lawrence University. They are not part of your educational record and cannot be accessed without your specific permission. No counseling records are contained in any academic, education, or job placement file.
How confidential is counseling?
If you are at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, you counselor may need to share information about you in order to maintain your safety or the safety of others. If you provide information related to the physical or sexual abuse of a child, your counselor may consult with the proper authorities for the protection of that child. Additionally, in rare cases a court order from a judge may require the counselor to disclose information.