Policies

Consultation solution-focused appointments are available Monday - Friday from 1 - 4 PM. For students already established at the counseling center and looking to continue with their clinician, appointments are needed. Students experiencing a crisis must let the receptionist know this in order to be seen as soon as possible. Counseling appointments are available Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Call (518) 388-6161 or stop by the front desk to schedule an appointment.

*Please be aware that there is typically a 1-2 week wait to schedule a follow-up appointment at the Counseling Center after the initial consultation appointment.

• Late arrivals: Students who arrive ten minutes (or more) late for an appointment will be asked to reschedule.
• Students only: Only currently enrolled undergraduate students are eligible to make appointments. Faculty and staff are welcome to contact their insurance company or human resources to learn about their mental health treatment options.

Counseling services are confidential by law. Students who wish to have confidential records communicated to a third party (parents, other providers, etc.) must sign a Release of Records consent form.

**Rare exceptions to this policy include: life threatening situations, when we are served with a court order to release information, or when we are required to release information by law (e.g. to report child or elder abuse).**

In case of a life-threatening emergency contact Campus Safety at (518) 388-6911.

If you have a mental-health related concern about a member of the community, contact the Counseling Center at (518) 388-6161 or the Dean of Students Office at (518) 388-6116 or (518) 388-5555.

Due to increased demand for counseling services over the past few years, and to be able to accommodate all students seeking services. All undergraduate students of Union College are offered solution-focused therapy unless otherwise clinically determined. Scheduling will depend on clinical need and availability with your individual clinician.

Most issues that arise during the college years are conducive to a short-term therapeutic model. At Union College, over 80 percent of individuals seeking services from the Counseling Center have been seen for less than 15 sessions per year. For those who may need services above and beyond this, we will happily work with you to arrange for appropriate care.

The Eppler-Wolff Counseling Center does not provide notes for absences from class, as students are expected to schedule counseling sessions around their academic schedules. If a student is unable to attend class or complete work due to an emergency, that student should communicate with the professor to discuss the policy for missed work/class. Due to strict adherence to our Privacy Policy, the Counseling Center cannot release any specific health information to faculty or staff. As such, Eppler-Wolff Counseling Center has adopted a strict policy of not writing notes, particularly retroactive excuse notes for missed classes, assignments, or tests. Faculty members are encouraged to take this policy into consideration when setting standards or requirements for class attendance.