Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions

When should I go to Counseling Services?

We encourage you to come to Counseling Services when you are having a difficult time with your transition to Emerson, can’t calm yourself when you are feeling anxious, are feeling depressed, or are having trouble managing your day-to-day life. You can also come to Counseling Services to talk about issues regarding relationships and identity, feeling lonely or isolated, or family problems. Counseling Services can help you deal with low self-esteem and self-criticism. If you have concerns about your use of drugs or alcohol, a therapist can help you assess and make decisions about your substance use. Every person is unique and you may not see your problem listed above. If you are not feeling like yourself or you are trying to sort out a problem that is difficult to handle alone, we invite you to come talk to one of our therapists.

What is brief treatment?

Brief treatment is typically focused on one or more specific issues and is focused on problem solving. When you come to Counseling Services, you and your therapist will discuss the most pressing issues and set goals for helping you. Many people find that once they have developed strategies to deal with the difficulty that brought them to therapy, they feel ready to stop treatment. In other cases, students realize how helpful therapy is and decide they would like to be in therapy for a longer time. In this case, your therapist at Counseling Services can help you find a therapist in the area for long-term work.

Is there a session limit?

While we are a short-term therapy center, Counseling Services does NOT have a specific session limit. We typically see students every other week and check in throughout the process to see how treatment is going and decide together about when to end. We are not able to see students weekly for their entire time at Emerson, so we may discuss a long-term referral when it feels appropriate to do so.

How do I make an appointment?

There are several ways to get started at Counseling Services. You can call our front desk at 617-824-8666 x2 or come into our office on the second floor of 216 Tremont to set up your first appointment. Someone will be available to help find a time that works best for you. Often, appointments are made several days in advance, but please let the person you speak to know if you need to be seen more urgently.

What can I expect from a first appointment?

Your first appointment with Counseling Services will usually be a phone-based Triage appointment. Before your appointment, please complete all required paperwork in the Student Health Portal so your clinician has time to review it. At the time of your appointment, a clinician will call the phone number you provided. Please note that the phone number may come up as “No Caller ID” or Priave” when you receive the call. The first conversation is a chance for you to talk about what’s been going on, what support you’re looking for, and how Counseling Services may be able to help. At the end of the appointment, you and your clinician will discuss next steps, which may include brief individual counseling, group therapy, a referral to an off-campus therapist, or help connecting with other campus resources. If a referral is recommended, your clinician will help you find a therapist who is a good fit and accepts your insurance. 

What if I'm worried I'm going to hurt myself?

If you are thinking about hurting yourself or you feel suicidal, call or come to Counseling Services as soon as possible. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Every weekday, students can come in for Urgent Care hours between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.. If it is an emergency, come talk to our clinical coordinator and she will arrange for you to meet with one of our staff psychotherapists.

Students can also talk to a licensed therapist after hours by calling 833-434-1217. Another option is to call the Good Samaritan hope-line at 1-877-870-4673.

If you feel like you are not able to be safe, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. We suggest the Massachusetts General Hospital emergency department.

What if I'm worried about a friend?

If you are worried about a friend, you can make an appointment at Counseling Services to discuss your concerns and next steps. Therapists are able to help you navigate difficult situations such as a friend who is depressed, hurting themselves, talking about suicide, or may have a substance use issue or an eating disorder. We will listen to your concerns and help you develop a plan of how to help your friend and also take care of yourself. You may also consider submitting a Share A Concern form or consulting with the office of Student Care & Support. 

What if I've experienced a sexual assault or other violence/emotional abuse?

First, know that you are not alone or at fault. You may have a variety of reactions, including shock, depression, numbness, and anger. Healing from this type of experience takes time and support. At Counseling Services, we can talk confidentially through options for getting medical assistance and support at Emerson, such as with the Healing and Advocacy Center.

If you want to report the sexual assault to the police or to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), your therapist can help you through the process.

Counseling Services is a confidential service. We can be with you as you start the healing process. This can involve individual therapy at Counseling Services or helping you find other resources, such as support groups both at Emerson and in the Boston community and therapists in the community who specialize in helping people who have experienced trauma. Other wonderful resources include BARCC (the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center), and RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network).

What is an urgent care appointment?

Urgent care hours are Monday through Friday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. We encourage you to call Counseling Services if you are having thoughts or urges to hurt yourself or somebody else. If you are experiencing these thoughts and Counseling Services is not available, please call 911 or go to your closest emergency room. You should also call for an urgent care appointment if you are experiencing such a high level of distress that you are unable to continue your daily activities. Some examples include: having panic attacks, being unable to get out of bed, not keeping up with hygiene, being unable to control obsessions/compulsions, seeing or hearing things that other people don’t see or hear, sleeping way too much or not at all, or not eating.

An urgent care appointment is a briefer, more structured appointment than a regular therapy appointment. During your appointment, the therapist will assess for safety, provide tips for taking care of yourself, and help you plan supportive and safe activities for the next few days and set up a follow-up appointment or referral for you.

How much does Counseling Services cost?

Counseling Services services are absolutely free for full-time enrolled undergraduate students. Services are also free for part-time undergraduate and graduate students who have paid the Student Health Fee. Assistance with referrals for Emerson community members who are not eligible for services is also provided free of charge.

How long are appointments?

The length of a regular appointment is 45 minutes long. Urgent care and triage appointments are shorter, usually 20 to 30 minutes.

Will I get along with my therapist?

The therapeutic relationship is a very special one and is unlike relationships you have with your friends or other providers. Feeling accepted by your therapist is crucial to getting better. Your therapist will try to create a helpful and supportive environment. You will be encouraged to talk about how your relationship is going with your therapist, and your therapist will be open to any feedback about what they can do to make you more comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable with your therapist, we recommend that you discuss this with them explicitly and work together to improve your relationship. You are free to request a transfer to another therapist at any time.

What do I do if my appointment is canceled?

If you are notified by Counseling Services that your appointment has been canceled, such as in cases of therapist illness or if Counseling Services is closed due to inclement weather, please contact the front desk at 617-824-8666 to reschedule your appointment.

Who has access to my records?

YOU have access to your records and a right to confidentiality. Your records (and even the fact that you have come to counseling) cannot be accessed by any other department at Emerson (Conduct, Housing, Student Success…any of them) or your parents, without your explicit written permission.

There are very few exceptions to confidentiality. Because we work as part of a team, your records and information may be shared with other clinicians at Counseling Services. We will also have to break confidentiality if you have indicated that you may seriously harm yourself or another person. By law, we also must report if we learn that a child, an elderly person, or a person with a disability is being abused. There are also very rare cases when records are requested by court order. In any of these cases, we will only reveal the minimum amount of information necessary and inform you of any break of confidentiality.

At times, you may want to release information about your treatment to other providers. In order to do so, you can sign a release of information form. This release can be taken back at any time you wish. Choosing not to sign a release will in no way affect the quality or amount of care you receive at Counseling Services. Releases are valid for one year from signing. After that, you'll be asked to update the release.

Can I get medication?

We offer limited psychiatric services, largely through a telehealth partner to Emerson College students. Counseling Services can also help students get connected with providers in the area that can discuss and prescribe psychiatric medication. For more information, please call us and let us know you are looking for referrals for medication. We will obtain information and make a plan to get you connected.

Can Counseling Services help me with excused absences?

As a policy, Counseling Services staff does not provide letters to professors for missed classes. However, we support you in taking care of yourself in times of distress and understand that sometimes this involves taking a break from school. We are happy to help you connect with the departments and people on campus who can help you with this process.

Is there private space on campus I can use to hold a telehealth appointment with my therapist?

Yes! Students can go to https://spacebook.emerson.edu/ to search for and reserve a private space on campus to use for their telehealth therapy appointments.

Can I interview an Counseling Services clinician for a class assignment?

As a policy, Counseling Services is unable to provide interviews for class projects. However, Psychology Today (click "Find a therapist" at the top of the page) is a good resource for finding a therapist who may be able to answer any of your questions. 

What platform does Counseling Services use for telehealth sessions?

For your first appointment, an Counseling Services therapist will call you at the number you provided for a brief phone triage. This call may appear on Caller ID as a blocked number. If you are continuing with appointments, Counseling Services utilizes Zoom for Healthcare, which is a HIPAA-compliant web and video conferencing platform that is suitable for use in healthcare.

What if either my Counseling Services therapist or I get disconnected from my Zoom session?

If Zoom is disconnected for any reason, the therapist will attempt to reconnect. If unable to reconnect, the therapist will call you at the number you have provided to either attempt to get back on a video call or continue the session via phone.

Is there private space on campus I can use to hold a telehealth appointment with my therapist?

Yes! Students can go to spacebook.emerson.edu to search for and reserve a private space on campus to use for their telehealth therapy appointments.