Services for Students

Counseling Services offers several resources for Kent State Stark students:

• Free, individual counseling sessions that are safe, private and confidential
• Educational workshops and events
• Referrals to community resources
• Coordination with other student support offices as needed

ELIGIBILITY

 
Fall & Spring Services

In order to utilize semester counseling services at the Stark Campus, students must be registered for a course at Kent State Stark. This does not apply to walk-in or crisis counseling.

Summer Services

Summer services are not available at this time.

COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS STUDENTS

College Credit Plus (CCP) students who are attending classes in person at the Stark Campus may present for walk-ins and crisis support. These CCP students, who are attending classes in person at the Stark Campus, may also be eligible for individual counseling services. Similar to other students, they need to be enrolled in classes for the current semester at the Stark Campus. The CCP student will speak with a Clinical Counselor to assess their clinical needs, available resources, plans for remaining engaged with the university, and the consent of their parent or guardian. CCP students, depending on their clinical needs and other factors, may be referred to their school district mental health services, off-campus mental health services, or may be seen by Counseling Services following existing procedures and Ohio law based on a case by case basis.
 
In the state of Ohio, minors (individuals under the age of 18 and/or are enrolled in high school), may be seen for up to 6 sessions with a licensed mental health clinician or be seen within a 30-day window (whichever comes first) prior to parent or guardian consent for treatment. After the 6 sessions or 30 days, whichever comes first, the minor must get consent for continued care from their parent or guardian. Counseling Services has a parent/guardian consent form for CCP students who want to engage in continued counseling. 
 
CCP students interested in individual counseling services should contact the office directly to discuss their needs by calling 330-244-5048, emailing starkcounseling@kent.edu and providing contact information, or by completing the online appointment request form.

POLICIES

• Statement of Policy & Services pdf
  • Includes Privacy of Health Information and Consumer Bill of Rights

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 
Is there a cost for services?

Counseling services are completely free to students.

What does confidentiality mean?

When we say that your sessions and information is confidential, it means that it stays completely private. Unless you sign a written release, no one (not faculty, staff, other students, friends, family, or people from the community) can call to find out if you come to Counseling Services or anything that you talk about in sessions. However, there are limits to confidentiality for safety reasons. If there are concerns that you are a risk for harming yourself or someone else, this confidentiality may be broken in order to keep you and others safe.

Why do I have to talk to a counselor before making my first appointment?

The counselor wants to make sure that the type of services they can provide are a good fit for your needs. Sometimes a student's needs are better addressed by another office on campus or by a resource off campus. The goal is to get each student the best help at the beginning.

I'm not sure that I want to set up appointments. Can I still come in and talk to someone?

Absolutely! If you are unsure if you want or need appointments, still make contact with Counseling Services to meet informally with you to discuss what is going on to help figure out what services may best fit what you are looking for.

What if I feel I can't wait for an appointment?

If you are on campus and feel you cannot wait, come to the Counseling Services Office and staff will work to meet with you immediately if you are in crisis or there is an emergency. If it is after hours or the office is closed, call 911, 988, or the Stark County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline at 330-452-6000.

I attend Kent State Stark, but my partner doesn't. We are interested in couples counseling. Can we come here for an appointment?

Unfortunately, right now Counseling Services is not offering couples or marriage counseling. However, please still contact us and we will assist you with finding another therapist that is able to provide this type of counseling for you and your partner.