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Personal Counseling
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need counseling?
Questions, choices, concerns and changes are all a normal part of life. Sometimes we can work through them on our own or with the help of friends and family. Sometimes, they can feel too private, overwhelming or complicated to share with someone we know. The people who provide us support can also be part of what’s bothering you. When this is case, talking to a professional can provide a safe, neutral, confidential setting to explore your concerns and move toward making changes to improve your situation.
Is counseling confidential? Is it part of my academic record?
University Counseling Center records are confidential and not part of or connected in any way to your academic records. There are, however, some exceptions to confidentiality. Counselors are required by law to release certain information in situations that involveharm to yourself or others, in instances of child or elder abuse, or as a result of a court order.
What are some of the reasons students seek counseling?
Students come to the UCC for many different reasons. Counseling may be of help to you if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Concerns about relationships
- Problems with school or studying
- Questions about your future
- Adjusting to GWU and being away from home
- Questions about your sexuality
- Wanting to improve your family relationships
- Wanting to be more assertive or improve your self-confidence
- Not feeling like your “old” self
- Eating too much or too little
- Consuming alcohol or other drugs more than you’d like
- Difficulty balancing all the demands of college student life
- Thinking about ending your life
- Grieving over the death of someone close to you
- Difficulty taking care of your normal ‘day to day’ life
- Concerned about someone close to you
- Recovering from unwanted sexual contact or violence
- Carrying a secret that you’ve never told anyone, but wish you could
It is also okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to address, we can help you figure that out as well.
How do I know if I need individual or group counseling?
When you speak with a counselor during your initial assessment, the counselor will discuss with you the different services available and his/her recommendations given your particular situation. Please visit our Group Counseling web page to read more about group counseling.
What does it mean that you offer short-term counseling? Why do you only offer short-term counseling?
Offering short-term counseling means that we provide a limited number of sessions for each student within an academic year. Our experience and research shows that most students who seek services at counseling centers get the assistance they need within one to four sessions. Some students need a bit more and receive up to 10 sessions, which is the limit. For students who want or need to be in ongoing treatment throughout the time they are at GW, we have an extensive list of providers in the community who have experience working with college students.
The reason we offer short-term counseling is because it is the best method of reaching the greatest number of students. We have the entire GW community to serve, and we want to make sure everyone has a chance to get what they need.
Will my insurance cover counseling at the UCC?
Some insurance carriers do not cover our services, so we cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you. The UCC will provide you with a statement that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, but we do not submit anything directly to your insurance company. If you have questions about this, we encourage you to contact your insurance carrier and/or speak to your counselor about these questions during your initial appointment
What are the qualifications of the UCC staff?
Our staff represents a variety of professionals: psychologists, all of whom are licensed or license-eligible in Washington DC; and postdoctoral clinical fellows who are under the supervision of licensed staff.
Is there a charge for services?
There is no charge for your initial consultation, except for special assessments. The charge for individual sessions is $50. We want to make sure everyone who needs care receives it, so if you have financial concerns about paying for services, please let your counselor know during your initial visit and they can have you complete a sliding-scale fee application or can refer you to several low-fee clinics in the area.
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