Counseling Services
The Mercyhurst College Counseling Center contributes to the mission of the college by offering a wide range of psychological counseling, outreach, and consulting services to members of the Mercyhurst community. As counseling psychologists, we are committed to the standards and ethics of our profession and endeavor to provide the best services possible to all who seek our assistance.
Our primary goal is to enhance the development of the whole person providing the support and facilitating the personal insights necessary for students to live fulfilling and productive lives. Mindful that young adulthood is a time of profound development and change, the Counseling Center strives to respond compassionately and professionally to the psychological, relational, emotional, and spiritual issues of students. The counseling process is aimed at helping students resolve personal difficulties and acquire the skills, attitudes, abilities, and self-knowledge that will enable them to take full advantage of the Mercyhurst experience.
We respect the dignity and worth of all students as maturing individuals with unique perspectives and contributions to make including those which reflect gender, race, creed, family and ethnic background, socioeconomic status, physical ability, and sexual orientation. We strive to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and comfortable for all students. We work cooperatively with faculty, administrators, parents, peers, and other health care professionals toward promoting the personal growth of students during their years at Mercyhurst.
Counseling Services offers a variety of services and programs designed to support and enhance students' well-being and personal growth. Services are directed toward helping students develop insight, resolve emotional conflicts, and improve personal skills, all of which are necessary for the establishment and accomplishment of goals.
The professional counseling staff provides individual counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, as well as in-service workshops and consultations. Counseling Services makes referrals to other professionals and agencies as the need arises or when requested to do so. Counseling services are strictly confidential and free to currently enrolled students. Sessions usually last about 50 minutes. Most issues that students present are those that occur with the normal transition of leaving home, entering adulthood, and developing healthy, significant relationships. While many personal circumstances may be readily resolved in short-term counseling, we do provide longer term counseling for more complex issues requiring more extensive exploration of the psychological, relational and emotional issues involved. Common concerns students present include:
- Confusing, distressful feelings
- Low self-confidence and self-esteem
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression/Despair
- Relationship issues
- Feelings of shame or guilt
- Disordered eating and body image
- Alcohol and/or other substance abuse
- Obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors
- Self-harm behaviors (i.e. cutting) or thoughts of suicide
- Just needing someone to talk with confidentially
Whatever the presenting problem, counseling is intended to enable individuals to realize their personal worth and potential so that they may fully engage in life at Mercyhurst College and prepare for life after college. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a counselor, call the Counseling Center at X3650. Office hours are: Monday - Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Thursday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. In the event of an emergency after hours or on weekends, please call Police and Safety at X2304 and they will contact the on-call counselor.