Counseling Services

The HSU Counseling Department provides consultation, evaluation, support, and short-term counseling for students who are facing issues impacting their well-being. Our focus involves crisis intervention and stabilization, as well as traditional psychotherapy within a wide range of therapeutic approaches.

All full and part-time students are eligible to receive free, confidential, and voluntary counseling services at HSU, though not all students will qualify to see one of our University Counselors. Eligibility is determined by severity of need. Complete an intake form online to begin the process with our counseling services. If you do not qualify to receive counseling with the campus counselor, you will be referred to HSU Psychology and Counseling Center or other appropriate community resources.

If you have further questions, please email the Office of Counseling Services at counseling@hsutx.edu or visit our FAQ page.

The OCS offers group therapy and workshops throughout the semester as need arises. If you are interested in a particular group and/or workshop, please let us know and we will do our best to help meet your needs.

• Suggestions for new groups or workshops are always welcome!
• Mindfulness
• Pre-Marital
• Faculty and Staff Wellness
• Soar: Sexual Abuse and Assault
• Support for specific populations: freshmen, veterans, LGBTQ, athletes, anxiety/depression, substance abuse, international students, etc.
• Grief
• Relationship Wellness

Counseling is a way to help people as they face difficult life transitions and circumstances or painful emotions.

There are countless benefits to seeing a counselor. They can provide you with the support to significantly boost your mental health, cope with stress and difficult life situations, and refer you to additional resources.

Some of the benefits of going to see a counselor include:

• Helping you get through a distressing situation faster and in a healthier way.
• Coping skills to heal through current & future life situations.
• Learning to manage stress, anxiety, etc.
• Confidentiality: you can talk about a struggle or difficulty you’re experiencing with a professional, third-party outsider, with the security and privacy of a strict confidentiality agreement.
• Determine whether you’re experiencing a situational stressor or a mental health issue – get a diagnosis, treatment, resources, and recommendations either way.
• Prevent potential mental health issues from becoming a crisis.
• Support for confusion on gender identity and sexuality issues… and much more!
• We’re here to help.

If you feel that you may not be functioning well either emotionally, socially or academically, we encourage you to make an appointment. We to conduct an assessment and then offer a professional opinion on what route would be best.

Current HSU students are eligible to use the counseling center.

No. Anyone needing to talk about an issue causing concern or distress is welcome to see a counselor.

Counseling is available at no cost for HSU students.

Cowden-Paxton Building

Students who wish to receive services can fill out this intake:  https://hsucounseling.clientsecure.me/ can email counseling@hsutx.edu or call 325-671-2272 and leave your information.

No, your academic record is strictly a record of your academic history. Counseling Center files are confidential and kept separate from your academic record.

In order to balance the demands for services, scheduling, and presenting concerns, some students may see the University Counselor while some others may be referred to the Family Psychology Center to see a counselor in training. Your initial phone or in-person assessment will help us determine the level of services that are most appropriate for you.

Counseling Services offers short-term, flexible counseling with the aim of satisfying with different concerns and needs. Some students feel better after one session, while additional appointments are more helpful for other students. Counseling Services collaborates with students during the first session to determine what will work best for each individual given his or her current concerns. When it appears that a student’s needs would be best met by an off-campus agency, counselors also provide referrals.

The confidentiality of what you tell your counselor is protected by Texas health law, and no record of your counseling is made on academic records or job placement files. HSU Counseling Services will not share information (including if students have visited Counseling Services) with faculty, staff, parents, or other students on campus without your written permission. In rare circumstances (involving physical safety) there are a few limits to confidentiality. The details are provided to students in writing during their first visit to Counseling Services.

In case of crisis, contact the University Counselor, the Residence Director (RD) on call, or campus police.

If a student is experiencing a psychological crisis that requires medical attention, or is experiencing a psychological crisis of a medical nature (i.e. self- injury, overdose, medically unresponsive), call EMS and/or HSU Police immediately. If a student is experiencing a psychological crisis that does not require medical attention, contact the University Counselor at 325-671-2272 for an assessment.