Current Students

Counseling Services FAQ

Are counselors committed to serving a diverse population of students?

Our counselors are required to maintain their state of Ohio license by completing at least 30 hours of continuing education biannually. In order to better meet our student’s needs, our counselors are committed to continue learning about the needs of our students and dedicated to ensuring that a student’s mental health needs are being met. They treat all students, staff and faculty with courteous and respectful communication.

Who is eligible for counseling?

Counseling services are free to currently enrolled students at The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College. College Credit Plus Students are not eligible for this service and should refer to their sponsoring high school for assistance.

What are some of the common reasons students request counseling?

  • Academic stressors
  • Adjusting to college
  • Anxiety and stress management
  • Family conflicts or turmoil
  • Feeling down or depressed
  • Feeling stressed out or overwhelmed
  • Focusing or inattention concerns
  • Grief and Loss
  • Organizational issues
  • Perfectionism
  • Relationship concerns
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Resource referrals
  • Sexual orientation/identification
  • Sleep problems
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Time management issues

What can I expect from counseling?

Counseling Services is interested in your personal, academic and intellectual growth. Some students meet with their counselor on a weekly basis, biweekly basis or other varying intervals. In these 45-minute to one-hour counseling appointments, you and your counselor talk about what is causing you distress currently and explore ways to understand and alleviate these concerns. If you are 15 minutes or more late for your appointment, you will be asked to reschedule. 

Initially you will attend a one-hour appointment with a counselor; this appointment can be held in person or virtually through Zoom. You may or may not receive a mental health diagnosis at that time. If you receive a diagnosis, the counselor will further explain your diagnosis and answer any questions you may have. Then, should you wish, your counselor will schedule a follow-up appointment to complete the intake, which might include additional mental health screening. Together, you will decide on strategies to address your concerns and frequency of visits. You may also be referred to other on-campus resources, or you may receive a referral to a clinician outside of Counseling Services. 

Need help now?

While Counseling Services does not offer crisis management services, we can assist you to get the help you need to ensure your safety.

If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For local resources, call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211. To speak to someone outside of normal office hours, Ohio State Newark students can reach the Ohio State after-hours line at 614.292.5766.

Other national resources include:

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800.273.8255
  • Crisis Text Line – Text “START” to 741-741
  • BIPOC Resources/The Steve Fund – Text “STEVE” to 741-741
  • Ohio CareLine – Call 1.800.720.9616
  • Trans Lifeline – Call 877.565.8860
  • Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQI Individuals) – Call 866.488.7386
  • Veterans Crisis Hotline: Call 800.273.8255, press 1

What if I don’t know if counseling is right for me?

It is very common for students to be apprehensive about starting counseling services. You might wonder what happens in counseling, whether the counselor will understand your cultural beliefs, whether the counselor will look like you, and whether the counselor will provide a safe space to explore identity-related issues. If you are uncertain whether you will benefit from our services, you can call the Office of Student Life at 740.364.9578 and ask to consult with a counselor about your questions or drop in the office in Warner 226 for a brief consultation meeting with a counselor. Our counselors will gladly discuss if counseling is the best fit for you and can direct you to alternate referrals when you feel the campus counselors would not be a good fit for you.

What if I am a parent or loved one of a student I am concerned about?

Being a college student can be both an exciting and stressful time. There can be a lot of obstacles to navigate as students learn to balance academic priorities and other responsibilities. It is understandable to be concerned about your student and wondering how they will adjust to college life. While our counselors are unable to share information specific to your student, they can consult with you and offer additional information and clarification about mental health resources available to your student.

If you have concerns and would like to discuss available and helpful options for your student, you can call the Office of Student Life at 740.364.9578 and request to speak with an available counselor.

Please be aware that students must contact our office on their own in order to schedule with a counselor. Faculty, staff, families, friends or loved ones are not able to schedule on the behalf of students.

By law, we are not allowed to disclose any health-protected information about any of our clients without a client’s written consent except if a client is an immediate threat to themselves or the community. Please talk to your student regarding whether you have permission to their health information before asking us about their treatment with us.

What if I am a faculty or staff member, and I am concerned about a student?

As a faculty or staff member, some students may feel comfortable sharing more personal information about themselves with you. Your response can be a critical factor in determining whether the student accesses available mental health resources. It is important to know what to look for and how to reach out for consultation if you are concerned about a student.

Here are some possible signs of distress:

Academic

  • Excessive procrastination
  • Change in performance
  • Repeated requests for special consideration or accommodations
  • Excessive absence or tardiness
  • Excessively anxious when called upon in class
  • Unusual or change interaction patterns
  • Inability to stay awake in class
  • Disruptive or threatening behavior
  • Written work with reference to self-harm or content that appears bizarre
     

Behavioral Concerns

  • Change in appearance and hygiene
  • Dramatic weight gain or loss
  • Swollen or red eyes
  • Uncharacteristic changes in mood
  • Impaired speech
  • Inappropriate or exaggerated emotional reactions
  • Smell of alcohol/marijuana, or evidence of excessive alcohol/drug use
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Disrupted sleep or appetite

If you have concerns about a student, call the Office of Student Life at 740.364.9578 to consult with a counselor or to discuss how to make a referral. When our representative answers, please say that you are a faculty or staff member and would like a call back from a counselor. As always, if you are aware of immediate risk of harm to a student or anyone else, call 911.

  • Please be aware that students must contact our office on their own in order to schedule with a counselor. Faculty, staff, families, friends or loved ones are not able to schedule on the behalf of students. You may contact us while the student is present, however we will need to speak directly to the student.

What should I do after referring a student?

Follow up: It can be helpful to arrange a time to speak with the student again after making a referral. This helps to communicate your concern and interest.

Maintain: Continue to provide clear and consistent boundaries and expectation with the student in your staff or faculty role.

Can I receive a letter for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) from Counseling Services?

No. Our counselors do not write letters for Emotional Support Animals. Students who are seeking this service are asked to consult a physician or a mental health provider who has additional training and specializes in this area. 

What are some additional community-based resources?

The listed community resources are provided for informational purposes only and are not approved or endorsed by The Ohio State University.

Career resources:

Food resources:

Housing/shelter resources:

Legal resources:

Local Department of Job & Family Services:

Medical support:

Sexual assault/rape crisis/domestic violence resources:

Transportation services:

Veterans services:

Are there any exceptions to your services?

Disclaimers: While our office does our best to try to serve every student, we do have certain exceptions to students we are unable to serve. We cannot see students who are court-ordered to treatment. If a student has any legal problems, court disputes, charges or lawsuits that may require our staff to get involved, we do not offer opinions for court or provider letters for attorneys. We do not offer any psychological testing as we do not have psychologists on staff. We can provide diagnostic evaluations that are within our department’s scope of practice and based on our competencies.