Students
Center for Counseling and Wellbeing
The mission of West Virginia College Counseling Services is to provide a professional and confidential setting of non-judgement for the psychological, emotional, and developmental support of students as they pursue academic goals and explore personal growth. It is our goal to act as a resource for faculty and staff to assist in their interactions with students.
The WVWC Counseling Center offers free consultation, crisis support, solution-focused single sessions, and short-term counseling sessions to all undergraduate and graduate students as part of Wesleyan’s commitment to student well-being.
The Center partners with Community Care therapists as well (these sessions are billed to the student’s insurance). While both therapy options are located in the Health Center building, they are separate entities. The main WVWC Counseling Center door is located across from the back of Christopher Hall of Science.
To set up an initial session at the Counseling Center, email counseling@wvwc.edu.
To set up an initial session with Community Care, call 304.937.0041.
If you are in crisis after-hours, call Campus Security at 304.473.8001 or 911.
Follow us!
Instagram: @wvwc_counseling
FB: WVWC Counseling Center
-
Meet Your Counselor
Shauna Jones, MA, MFA, NCC
304.473.8803
Shauna has been a counselor and advisor in the college setting, public schools, and institutional education for over twenty-five years. She is a certified Koru Mindfulness instructor. She is a BIPOC and LGBTQ+ ally and strives to help students feel as comfortable walking into the Counseling Center as they are walking into the Wellness Center. Her counseling philosophy is best summed up by a Jon Kabat-Zinn quote: “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
The best way to schedule an appointment with Shauna is to email counseling@wvwc.edu.
-
Confidentiality
Information you share in counseling is confidential. Your counselor cannot share your information with anyone except to consult with other educated counselors. You must sign a consent form in order for a counselor to release your information to any other individuals, including your parents.
Please note: The counselor is required by law and professional ethics to disregard confidentiality if:
- A student discloses their life or others’ lives are in danger
- A student communicates a child or vulnerable adult abuse is taking place
- A court requests counseling records related to a crime
-
UWILL Teletherapy
WVWC is pleased to announce a partnership with Uwill, the leading student mental health and wellness solution. Uwill offers students an immediate, secure, and convenient way to receive teletherapy counseling services should the need arise.
To schedule teletherapy:
Register/login to Uwill and choose a therapist based on your preferences including availability, issue, gender, language, ethnicity. You can also choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability.
Access is quick and easy. You can register and book your first session in just minutes.
Uwill is Private. Secure. Confidential.
If you need any assistance, you can refer to the Uwill FAQ, Student User Guide, or reach out directly to Uwill at support@uwill.com.
-
Emergency Resources
In case of an emergency when the Counseling Center is closed, contact Campus Security at 304.473.8011 for immediate assistance. Security has the ability to reach all other on-call personnel.
Residence Life staff are on duty in each building with professional staff on call 24/7. Security or the on-duty staff person will contact 911 or other resources as needed depending on the situation.
For crisis intervention you can also call Appalachian Health Center’s 24-hour hotline at 304-472-2022 or St. Joseph’s Hospital at 304-473-2000.
-
Mindfulness
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is “the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.” (Jon Kabat-Zinn) Mindfulness isn’t just meditation, though meditation is one form of mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness through breathing exercises, body scans, and other awareness activities allows us to keep from getting stuck in the past or feeling extreme anxiety about the future. Research is proving that even ten minutes a day of mindfulness can help reduce stress, increase sleep, and increase focus in the classroom, on the field, and in relationships.
Our counselor, Shauna Jones, is certified in Koru Mindfulness.
Uwill provides instructor-led live and on-demand events in yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and work/life balance.
Suggested mindfulness apps: Calm; Headspace; Moodpath; 3 Good Things
-
Suicide Prevention
Students experiencing a potentially life-threatening emergency should always call 911.
If you are in a crisis but not actively in danger, call 988, the National Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
If you commit to keep breathing, the Counseling Center will surround you with support. Most everything is figureoutable as long as you are alive. YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND THIS IS NOT THE END OF YOUR STORY.
What constitutes a mental health emergency?
- If you are concerned about your personal safety or the safety of others.
- If you are concerned about harming yourself or someone else .
- If you believe that you are losing touch with reality
Suicide warning signs for yourself or others:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
- Looking for ways to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings
On-line resources:
-
Counseling Services Hours and Appointments
Counseling Services is open Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30. Appointments are made by emailing counseling@wvwc.edu.
During the initial intake visit, the counselor will: (1) provide information about what to expect from the counseling process; (2) discuss the student’s presenting issues and concerns; (3) develop a plan for treatment including bi-weekly counseling sessions or referral to another provider if it would best meet the student’s needs.
We support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students. We support survivors of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and harassment.
-
Would I Benefit from Personal Counseling
If you are not sure whether you might benefit from therapy, here is a screening quiz: https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/therapy-quiz
No screening measure is a substitute for counseling, yet it can help you make a decision about whether to make an appointment. If you chose to set up a session, email counseling@wvwc.edu.
-
Common Issues that Students May Experience
- Academic concerns
- Adjustment
- Anxiety/stress
- Assault or abuse
- Depression
- Gender/identity issues
- Suicidal/homicidal thoughts
- Personal growth
- Sexuality issues
- Grief and loss
- Spiritual concerns
- Eating concerns
- Phobias
- Self-harm
- Substance use
- Relationship issues
- Family
- Career/future plans
- Financial difficulties
- Loneliness
- Low self-esteem
- Sleep changes/disturbances
- Trauma
- Strange experiences, voices, or odd thoughts
Free quizzes and screenings along with general information about various conditions: https://psychcentral.com/program/quizzes
No screening measure is a substitute for counseling, yet it can help you make a decision about whether to make an appointment at our Counseling Center. To make an appointment, email counseling@wvwc.edu.
If you would like online, anonymous support, visit https://togetherall.com/en-us/. It provides support, safely monitored by licensed and registered mental health practitioners. They serve a variety of affinity groups.
-
Third-Party Counseling Resources and Helplines
Community Care of WV: 304.937.0041
Appalachian Community Health Center: 304.472.2022
United Summit Center: 304.623.5661 (24/7 Adult Crisis: 1.800.SUMMIT.0)
National Suicde and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (call, text, chat)
844.HELP4WV
WV Centers Against Violence: 304.636.8433; 304.473.0070
WV Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ support): 866.488.7386
Trans Lifeline: 877.565.8860
BIPOC Lifeline: Text STEVE to 741741
-
Counseling Services Policies and Procedures
-
Faculty and Staff Resources
Referrals: Faculty and staff who need recommendations for mental health services for themselves, family, or friends may contact the Center for providers in the community.
If you would like online, anonymous support, visit https://togetherall.com/en-us/. It provides support, safely monitored by licensed and registered mental health practitioners. They serve a variety of affinity groups.
Consultation: Often, students first confide in faculty or staff. The Center can provide confidential consultation to you about how to support students, address a non-crisis emotional/psychological concern, or how to make a referral.
Supportive language when a student confides in you:
- “I’m sorry for what you are going through. Thank you for sharing. Are you connected with campus resources? If not, lets get you connected with resources that can help.” (You don’t have to be the counselor or investigator)
- “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m here for you and will help you get connected to resources.”
- “Thank you for trusting me. I want you to know that I am here to listen and not judge.”
- “There are people and resources both on and off campus that can help you. We’ll figure out the academics later. Right now, let’s get you the help you need.”
Psychoeducational Outreach: If there is a mental health topic that you would like presented to students in your class, on your team, in your residence hall, or an organization, contact Shauna at counseling@wvwc.edu or jones_s@wvwc.edu. She is very limited in time but will work with you to arrange something.
