Services for Students

SERVICES FOR KENT STATE STARK STUDENTS

• Individual counseling
• Educational workshops and events
• Referrals to community resources
• Coordination with other student support offices as needed
• Interviews or class presentation information and materials by request
• Drop in and scheduled sessions available
• Evening appointments available by request
• Students may be seen up to one appointment per week, unless there is an emergency or on-going crisis that necessitates more frequent contact
• Sessions are safe, private and confidential
• All sessions are free for students

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 available by appointment. In order to utilize summer counseling services, students must be registered for summer courses at the Stark Campus or have been enrolled in the previous spring semester with plans to return for fall semester classes. This does not apply to crisis support. Incoming first-year or new students that will start during the fall semester will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

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.

APPOINTMENTS

 
Setting Up Your First Appointment 

It is up to you to make initial contact with Counseling Services to request a first appointment. To do this, you have multiple options:

• Schedule Counseling Appointment online.
• Email starkcounseling@kent.edu – Make sure to include your name, a phone number, and why you would like to set up a first appointment.
• Call the office at 330-244-5048 – Make sure to leave your contact information.
• Stop by the office – Make sure to leave your contact information.

Upon receiving your contact information, a counselor will contact you directly by phone to set up the first appointment. The counselor will work with your class schedule to set up services.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment 

The first appointment at Counseling Services is also called the "intake." This first appointment will be scheduled for 90 minutes. Prior to your first appointment, you will be asked to complete some paperwork. The paperwork includes demographic information, general medical information, and consents for treatment. Once you have completed the paperwork, staff will briefly review the paperwork to ensure that everything has been signed appropriately and to note any information they may want to ask you about, such as medical diagnosis or previous counseling services you have received. Counseling Services staff will provide clients information regarding policies and procedures within the office, privacy and the consumer bill of rights. All of these documents are also included below under ‘Policies.’ 

You will then meet with a counselor. During this meeting, the counselor will gather more detailed information including personal history, reasons you are interested in counseling, goals that you have in mind for counseling, and other information about what is going on currently that may be impacting you. You and the counselor will discuss any questions or concerns you have, and also discuss a plan and direction for your counseling sessions. If any additional services may be helpful, such as seeing an academic advisor or a resource that is off-campus, these will also be discussed. Before you leave, your next appointment will be scheduled. All regular appointments are 50 minutes long.

Teletherapy

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Counseling Services is offering teletherapy services for students. These services are held in a remote format and can take the form of a video session via Microsoft Teams and/or phone calls with their assigned counselor. Teletherapy requires the student to complete a separate consent form as well as a disruption of services form prior to beginning this type of service. These documents will be included in the intake paperwork required before services can begin. 

Teletherapy is a great resource for students when they are not able to or are not comfortable working with a counselor in person at this time. Students need to consider their access to technology and if they feel more comfortable talking with a counselor via video session or phone calls. Your counselor will talk with you to discuss your access to technology and determine the most appropriate format for sessions. 

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?

f 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 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.