Feeling overwhelmed
trying to balance the demands of

School
Job
Relationships
Family
Friends

FREE professional counseling is available on campus to AASU students.

Setting up an appointment is easy. You can call us at 344-2529 or visit our office at Universtity Counseling Center, Student Affairs at Compass Point Monday-Friday 8:15AM-5:00PM to make your appointment. We also have group therapy sessions and seminars scheduled throughout the year. Time and dates of sessions vary. Some examples of our groups and seminars are:

• Non-traditional Student Group—Ms. Julianna Williams
• Smoking Cessation Group, 4 sessions—Mr. John Mitchell
• Stress Busters Group—Ms. Julianna Williams
• Stress Management Seminar—Ms. Julianna Williams
• Stress Reduction Seminar—Mr. John Mitchell
• Test Anxiety Seminar—Ms. Julianna Williams
• Time Management Seminar—Ms. Julianna Williams

(Other seminars and groups may be formed by request. E-mail all questions and requests regarding groups and seminars to counseling@armstrong.edu)

Notice of Confidentiality
All of the records maintained solely for Counseling Services are confidential and are kept in a secured location. Information shall be disclosed to third parties only with the written consent of the student. Exceptions to confidentiality exist when the counselor perceives the client to be acutely suicidal or homicidal, and when lead to believe that a child or elderly person who is unable to fend for themselves is being neglected or abused. Students who are under 18 may also have their records accessed by their parents if they make a written request.

Georgia Crisis and Access Line 1-800-715-4225

The Georgia Crisis and Access Line is a free service sponsored by the Ga. Dept. of Human Resources. They are available 24/7 to provide access to mental health, addictive disease, and crisis services. They will assess crisis situations over the phone and have a mobile team that can go out and do a face to face assessment as needed. They can get someone into an inpatient setting quickly and also have vacant appointment times at their disposal to fast track someone into the community mental health system as needed.

Identifying and Referring the Distressed Student: a Faculty/Staff Guide

The college years can be stressful for many. In the contemporary climate of competition and pressure, some students adequately cope with these stresses, but others find the stress becomes unmanageable and interferes with learning. In some cases, these students may even disrupt the learning of others.

Many students initially seek assistance from faculty or staff members. Below are guidelines for identifying students in distress:

• Excessive procrastination and very poorly prepared work, especially if inconsistent with previous work.
• Infrequent class attendance with little or no work completed.
• Dependency (e.g. the student who hangs around or makes excessive appointments during office hours).
• Listlessness, a lack of energy, or frequently falling asleep in class.
• Marked changes in personal hygiene.
• Impaired speech and disjointed thoughts.
• Repeated requests for special consideration (e.g. deadline extensions).
• Threats to others.
• Expressed suicidal thoughts (e.g. referring to suicide as an option).
• Excessive weight gain or loss.
• Behavior which regularly interferes with effective class management.
• Frequent or high levels of irritable, unruly, abrasive, or aggressive behavior.
• Unable to make decisions despite your repeated efforts to clarify or encourage.
• Bizarre behavior that is obviously inappropriate for the situation (e.g. talking to something/someone that is not present).
• Students who appear overly nervous, tense, or tearful.

• Talk to the student in private.
• Express concern. Be as specific as possible in stating your observations and reasons for concern.
• Listen carefully to everything the student says.
• Repeat the essence of what the student has told you so your attempts to understand are communicated.
• Avoid criticizing or sounding judgmental.
• Consider the AASU University Counseling Center as a resource and discuss referral with the student.
• If the student resists referral and you remain uncomfortable with the situation, contact Counseling Services to discuss your concern.

• Suggest that students call or come in to make an appointment. Give them the Counseling Center phone number and location at that time. However, it is usually more effective to assist the student by calling for an appointment with the student present. When you reach the Counseling Services receptionist, identify yourself as a faculty or staff member and ask for an appointment for the student. The student’s name and ID number are required for the appointment. You may request a specific staff member, or the receptionist can assign one. Write down the appointment time, date, and counselor for the student.
• If you feel the situation is an emergency or urgent enough to require immediate attention, after identifying yourself as faculty or staff, tell the receptionist that the student needs to see a counselor immediately. Give the receptionist the student’s name and ID number then ask to speak with an available staff member.
• If it is an emergency, it may be necessary for you to walk the student to the Counseling Services Office.
• If you are concerned about a student but unsure about the appropriateness of a referral, feel free to contact us for a consultation.

• Individual and Group Counseling
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment (Referrals as Needed)
• Couples Therapy
• Crisis Intervention
• Stress Management Skills

Counselors
John S. Mitchell, DCSW, LCSW
Julianna Williams, M.Ed., NCC, LPC

Location
AASU University Counseling Center
Student Affairs Annex @ Compass Point
7000 Building (The one with a balcony next to the student health clinic)

Phone Number
(912) 344-2529

Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:15AM-5:00PM
Appointments begin at 9:00AM.
The office is usually closed between 12PM and 1 PM. Leave a message, and someone will contact you as soon as possible.

After Hours Service
AASU Counseling Center staff can be reached for emergencies outside of regular office hours by calling Campus Police at (912) 344-3333.