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Counseling and Psychological Services
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Because Life Just Comes With Challenges
Services
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
In general, counseling is a process where a trained professional helps someone understand themselves and their problems better so that they can gain more control, satisfaction, and meaningfulness in life. In counseling, students collaborate with their therapist to define problems they wish to address and to find solutions to these problems. Although, one's experience in counseling will vary depending on that person's unique goals, some of the things you can expect from counseling include:
- Talking with someone who will listen without criticism or judgment
- Talking with someone who will keep what you say private and confidential
- Establishing a positive, trusting relationship with a professional focused on making meaningful changes in your life
- Learning to gain greater control over your thoughts and feelings
- Identifying your concerns and exploring new ways to deal with them
Many students report that the decision to seek help through counseling is not an easy one. Our culture highly values independence, but sometimes to a faulty degree that may leave a person feeling like a failure when they reach out for help with problems "we should be able to fix ourselves." The vast majority of our students have reported that even when it was difficult to first come in to speak to a therapist, counseling has helped them to feel better about themselves and to overcome the challenges they were experiencing.
A great deal of the initial worry about going to counseling often comes from not knowing what to expect. Counseling is not a mysterious process involving magical techniques, confusion, and a lifetime of involvement. On the contrary, counseling is rather straightforward and easily understood by anyone. In fact, a good therapist should always collaborate with their client and ensure an ongoing understanding and mutual acceptance of the goals (and the methods used to meet those goals) that are important to each client.
The purpose of your first meeting with one of our counselors is to give you a chance to talk about your concerns and begin to collaborate on what may be the best ways to move forward. Some students find that this initial meeting is all they need to make changes and feel better about the concerns that brought them to counseling. For others, it may be helpful to schedule additional appointments at CAPS or to discuss other services on campus or within the community that will better match the student's needs.
When more than one appointment is recommended, most people come to counseling sessions once per week for about 50 minutes. During these sessions, the therapist and student will continuously collaborate on the goals of the student, monitor the progress toward these goals, modify goals if necessary, and work toward positive changes. Some common concerns addressed by students in counseling include feeling lonely or homesick, low self-esteem, academic problems, not feeling motivated, feelings of hopelessness, problems getting along with others, unhealthy eating patterns, depression, anxiety, and decision-making dilemmas.
The individual psychotherapy services at CAPS are primarily short-term and free of charge to any student currently enrolled at MMC. If students' needs and/or interests are for longer-term services, referrals to other agencies and providers in the area can be provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make and Appointment
CONSULTATION
CAPS offers a consultation services for students, staff, and faculty who might want to discuss how to help someone who is struggling with a personal concern. Consultation appointments can be made by calling CAPS and scheduling a meeting with a counselor or by coming to any of the daily walk-in hours listed on this webpage.
Additional Information for Faculty and Staff:
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND TESTING
CAPS provides a variety of psychological testing and evaluation services. Our trained staff performs evaluations of cognitive functioning, such as intelligence testing, personality tests, and psychodiagnostic measures. Standardized assessment instruments are used to help students identify intellectual strengths, limitations, and abilities; areas of emotional distress and emotional strength; and various personality characteristics. Students can be self-referred to our testing service or referred by other agencies/persons within or outside of the College. Some fees may be charged for testing.
Leave of Absence Evaluations
It is recommended that students requesting a Voluntary Leave of Absence from the College for mental health reasons be evaluated by an off-campus mental health professional. In some cases, evaluations for a Voluntary Leave of Absence can be performed by CAPS up to 30 days before the end of any given semester. However, in all cases, individuals requesting a mental health-based withdrawal within 30 days of the end of a semester must be evaluated by an off-campus mental health professional. Proof that the student's psychological/psychiatric issues are placing the student, or others, at risk for harm, or is significantly impeding the student's ability to function at school, will be needed in order to grant a leave without academic penalty.
College Policy on Leave of Absence
PSYCHIATRIC/PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who had special training after medical school in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. A psychiatrist can help determine if medication is appropriate for managing your emotional health and can prescribe and monitor that medication. A psychiatrist can also help identify when medical problems may be contributing to your mood.
At CAPS, a consulting psychiatrist is available to conduct initial evaluations and monitor prescription medications. To receive psychiatric services at CAPS, a student must be a client in on-going counseling with a therapist at CAPS. Students can only be seen by the psychiatric consultant if they have been referred by one of the counselors at CAPS. Additionally, we have a firm policy against establishing a counseling relationship here at CAPS solely to gain access to psychiatric services while, at the same time, maintaining a counseling relationship elsewhere. In this instance, a student will be referred back to her/his outside therapist for referral to an appropriate psychiatrist. Students requiring only monthly medication maintenance appointments are referred to off-campus providers.
There are no fees charged for appointments with the psychiatric consultant. The cost of prescribed medications is determined by multiple factors including the type of medication prescribed and the student's health insurance coverage.
It is important to note that the following services are not provided by the Psychiatric Consultant at CAPS:
1) Emergency psychiatric evaluations
2) Emergency prescription services
The psychiatrist at CAPS does not provide emergency supplies of medication. The best thing to do if you're running low on medication is to call your prescribing doctor and explain the situation. If you're interested in transferring your psychiatric care from your prior doctor, make sure to call CAPS to schedule an appointment within sufficient time before your medication expires.
Make and Appointment
COUPLES COUNSELING
In general, couples counseling is a process that helps partners resolve existing or emerging conflicts, feel closer, and become better partners to one another. Our counselors at CAPS are highly trained and qualified and have worked with numerous couples seeking to improve their relationships. To participate in couples counseling at CAPS, both you and your partner must be enrolled at MMC.
Make and Appointment
WORKSHOPS
CAPS provides a large diversity of workshops focused on students' emotional well-being. The workshops are considered to provide important skills related to the maintenance and/or improvement of emotional wellness among our college students. Although many of our workshops can be developed and tailored for specific needs, some of the current workshops we provide are listed below:
Listing of Workshops:
Self-Care:
This workshop is designed to teach individuals about the importance of, and methods for, attending to one's needs as an individual and as a student. Skills are taught that assist students in taking a positive approach to life and health and that maximizes their potential, maintains motivation to achieve goals, creates more balance in life, and allows for more satisfaction in day-to-day experiences.
Stress Management:
This workshop is designed to teach individuals about the physiology and psychology of stress, the short- and long-term consequences of stress, and the skills needed to effectively manage stress in a way that prevents in from causing major disruptions in their lives. The workshop provides general information to participants about stress, but also assists individual students in identifying their unique experiences with stress and stress management.
Relationship Enhancement:
This workshop is designed to provide participants and their partners (if also in attendance) with a variety of skills that help to create relationships that are more meaningful and satisfying. Workshop participants can be individuals or couples at any stage in their relationship, of any sexual orientation, and who are looking either to restore the closeness in their relationship, repair growing conflict in their relationship, or maintain the satisfaction already experienced in their relationship. Modules focus on communication skills, conflict resolution/problem-solving, creating/enhancing emotional closeness, and understanding your partner.
The Rainbow Connection:
This workshop clarifies, explores, and celebrates the range and various colors of sexual orientation and gender identity expression. Participants will better understand LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender) expressions and issues, including LGBT college student needs, supportive campus organizations for LGBT students to meet these needs, and directions to consider when providing services to LGBT individuals. This workshop can be tailored for classes, faculty & staff training, resident life, or student organizations.
Body Balance and Acceptance:
This workshop explores the messages women and men are exposed to about their bodies, examines the impact these messages as well as other factors have on self-esteem and the development of irregular eating habits, and discusses alternative, healthy ways to think about our bodies and eating. This workshop can be tailored for classes, faculty & staff training, resident life, or student organizations.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
We strongly believe that connecting our services and the skills of our staff with the College community is essential for both the prevention and the timely treatment of mental health related problems. CAPS strives to develop outreach services that not only reflect the current approaches to community outreach in the field of college mental health, but also that utilize more creative and innovative methods than those traditionally implemented. To this goal, every year the CAPS outreach team is assigned with brainstorming outreach programming initiatives, developing and designing programs, and reviewing/evaluating outreach programming outcomes. In an effort to foster a more creative and student-informed approach to conducting outreach services, two student representatives serve as members of the Outreach Programming Team. Interested students should contact CAPS to inquire about collaborative opportunities. Keep an eye out for our exciting and informative programs throughout the academic year!
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Contact Us
Location
221 E. 71st St.
Main Building-3rd Floor
New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 774-0727
Fax: (212) 517-0666
Email: counseling@mmm.edu (hyperlinked to email)
Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday: 8 am – 7 pm
Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Hours
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 3 pm – 4 pm
Tuesday & Thursday: 10 am – 11 am
Emergencies:
Dial- 911
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Disclaimer: The health information contained in this website is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional health care. It is not meant to replace the advice of health care professionals. If you have specific health care needs, or for complete health information, please contact someone at CAPS, see your doctor or other health care provider.
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