Why seek Counseling?     
     Counseling can simply be sharing your thoughts and feelings in confidence with a trained counselor who is objective and a good listener. This is often helpful when you have decisions to make. Sometimes counseling may help you to change your behavior in order to deal more effectively with a problem. You may become aware of strengths and resources you can use to your benefit.    
     At other times, counseling may help by giving you certain types of information, or by teaching you new skills. Counseling may help you see yourself and others in a different light. This is not to say that counseling is always easy. Successful counseling may mean you will become aware of feelings and behaviors that are not particularly comfortable or effective for you. With the help and support of a trained counselor, you can learn to confront such feelings and behaviors so you can make changes that will lead to a more satisfying life. 
     Generally, people come for counseling because they want to feel better about themselves or about their relationships. Some specific reasons include: 

• Adjustment to college concerns
• Depression or anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Family of origin issues
• Study skills
• Sexuality
• Low self-esteem
• Military life issues
• Deployment stress
• Significant other difficulties

     The Counseling Center offers brief individual counseling; students may receive a maximum of 12 counseling sessions each academic year (six sessions per semester). University students come with concerns about their academic progress, daily living, adjustment to the university, or relationships with others. Support and referral services are also available for students with chronic and complex issues.
 
Who can use the Center? 
     The Counseling Center offers a variety of services to APSU enrolled students.

When is the Center open? 
     Our regular hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Do I need an appointment to see a counselor?  
     Counseling sessions are scheduled by appointment. You can call 931-221-6162 or come by the Center to set up a time. However, if there is an emergency or crisis, a counselor is available 24 hours a day through our on-call system. See "Appointments & Emergency Services" for more information.  

Will the information I tell the counselor be held confidential? 
     All communications between you and your counselor will be held confidential and will not be disclosed to any outside agency unless you give written authorization to release the information. However, there are exceptions to confidentiality. See "Confidentiality" for more information.

When should someone be referred to the University Counseling Center?  
     Don't wait until it's too late for anyone to help -- See Counseling Referral for more information on seeking help for someone.