»Student Psychological Counseling Services (SPCS)

All full-time Chapman undergraduates pay a Health and Counseling Services fee each semester, which allows them to use the Health Services and the Student Psychological Counseling Services at no additional charge. Part-time students and all graduate students must choose the option to pay the Health and Counseling fee if they wish to use these services.

This fee is NOT the same as the Health Insurance, which is a separate requirement for all undergraduates, either through private insurance or by purchasing Chapman Health Insurance. Regardless of what insurance coverage you may have, you are still eligible for basic health services at the Health Center, and for counseling services at the Student Psychological Counseling Services if you have paid the Health and Counseling Services fee.

Psychiatric services are not currently available at Chapman, although referrals can be made to local psychiatrists. Students who have prescription medications should have a psychiatrist or physician who can refill these medications when needed.  Psychiatric evaluations in the local area usually have a waiting period of from 4 - 8 weeks before an appointment can be made.

Why Seek Counseling?

You need someone to listen to your problems and give you an objective point of view
You're depressed some days, but don't know why
You can't concentrate
You miss your family, the neighborhood, and familiar foods, sights and sounds
You have concerns about drugs and/or alcohol
Your family is putting too much pressure on you to do well in college
Your relationship has fallen apart
Your parents are having marital problems
Sometimes you wonder whether life is worth living. You were victimized, and you need to talk about it

What is Counseling?

Students come to Student Psychological Counseling Services (SPCS) to seek help from a counselor for a variety of reasons. After filling out an intake form, an appointment is made to assess the student's needs. The initial session is used to gather information and discuss the student's concerns. They are then assigned to one of the counselors at SPCS or given a referral off-campus if additional resources are more appropriate.

Students can participate in either individual or group therapy depending on their situation. In either case, you and your counselor will set goals so that you know what you are working toward.

Psychotherapy offers you the opportunity to look at yourself and your environment and to change the way you think, feel and behave so that you can make the most of your time at Chapman.

What Can I Expect from Counseling?

You can expect to find someone who is interested in listening to your concerns, helping you understand them better and guiding you to resolving them in a healthy manner. Your counselor will take you seriously, and be willing to discuss anything you wish to talk about. Counselors have no "magic wand" and cannot read your mind, and are not there to solve your problems for you. They are there to help you look at your concerns in a new way, and assist you in deciding how to change what you want to change.

Counselors differ in their approaches, but you will find that a positive relationship and partnership is essential in all counseling for it to be effective. As you develop trust in your counselor, you may be expected to participate in trying new ways of approaching your problems, and be willing to try thinking in new ways or experimenting with new behaviors.

Your responsibility in counseling includes a commitment to attending sessions regularly, talk as honestly as you can about what is bothering you, and be willing to look at your life in a different way. You are also responsible for letting your counselor know if something isn't working for you, or if you feel that you are not benefiting from your experience at SPCS.

Confidentiality

Individuals over the age of 18 have a legal right to privacy. The fact that you are seeking counseling and all of your psychological records are kept strictly confidential. This means that what you discuss with your therapist is private information that cannot be revealed to anyone without your written authorization. This includes all information documents you fill out, any testing results, and basic information kept by our staff. Our records are separate from academic records and only you have access to them.

Exceptions to this rule are made in rare situations where a therapist feels you, or someone else is in danger. When this situation arises, the therapist will take the appropriate steps necessary to ensure your protection and physical well being.

Making the First Appointment

In order to schedule an appointment with a counselor, you must come to Student Psychological Counseling Services located at 410 N. Glassell. You will be given paperwork and forms to fill out which are then turned in to the department assistant, who will then make an appointment for you to speak with a counselor. After the first session, you and your counselor will discuss your options and decide together what will be helpful for you, or you may be referred to another agency or practitioner in the area if it appears that this would be more helpful and/or appropriate. Students often find this process comforting despite their initial stress and anxiety, and leave feeling a sense of relief. If you wish more information about the process before you come in, please call (714)997-6778 and talk to the department assistant.  All registered full-time students are entitled to our services.

Students who seek counseling usually are experiencing discomfort or dissatisfaction in some aspect of their personal lives. Problems with relationships with others, concerns about personal adequacy, feeling overwhelmed, or feeling sad or anxious without knowing why are common reasons why a student might access counseling services. The following are some warning signs that may indicate the need for counseling assistance:

• Problems in academic performance
  Dramatic drop in grades, incapacitating test anxiety, sporadic class attendance, excessive procrastination and poor academic performance, dissatisfaction or confusion about your major or your career plans.
• Difficult changes in personal relationships
  Death of a family member or close friend; difficulties in marriage or intimate relationships; problems at home with family members; problems with roommates.
• Feelings of sadness for no apparent reason
  Prolonged feelings of despair and unhappiness, withdrawal, loss of interest in usual activities, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
• Excessive anxiety or fear
  Unexplained nervousness, panic, inability to sleep, avoidance of certain activities or situations, profound shyness or constant worrying.
• Personality changes
  Unexplained and sudden shifts in mood or behavior, being overly argumentative, angry or aggressive, excessive alcohol consumption, or habitual use of legal or illegal drugs.
• Physical complaints when no medical reasons can be found
  Frequent stomach aches, headaches, back or joint pain after a physical exam shows nothing.

Students experiencing any one or combination of the above may benefit from counseling, where a collaborative effort to determine what is wrong and finding a solution can happen.