Solution-focused Counseling
Student Counseling Services (SCS) offers confidential support services to UNA students through a Solution Focused, Stepped Care Model to help students develop coping skills to manage problems impacting their health, well-being, and academic performance.
The Stepped Care Model is a multi-tier system of interventions and resources that seeks to meet students where they are at in their current level of need for treatment, while promoting autonomy and empowerment. Level of care is assessed by licensed counselors, and may be adapted as necessary for presenting clinical or non-clinical concerns.
A mental health screening is conducted at the first appointment to identify concerns and provide a recommendation for how to best utilize SCS services to address the presenting problem(s).
Referral to other departments on campus is often recommended to provide comprehensive support for a student's academic, emotional, and social needs.
- Popular recommendations include, but are not limited to, Zen Den appointments, self-care activities, and relaxation/mindfulness techniques.
- Check out Campus Groups and SCS Instagram for postings.
- NOTE: SCS provides training, supervision, and consultation to all PSAs for best support practices.
- NOTE: A Lion Chat is a form of nonclinical, positive support. Training, supervision, and consultation is provided to all professionals conducting this type of service.
- Available groups are posted here. Follow SCS on Instagram for real-time updates.
- NOTE: Single session therapy (SST) is not a stand-alone therapeutic approach. It is a framework for maximizing the effectiveness of every session and is often paired with group therapy and psychoeducation.
Individual therapy is a personalized and ongoing process used to explore deeper issues that address emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. This type of therapy is often considered the "traditional approach" to counseling and involves collaborative therapeutic work over multiple sessions.
- Adjustment/transition
- Anxiety & Stress
- Alcohol & other drug use
- Anger management
- Depression & Mood
- Eating & body-image
- Self-esteem
- Grief & loss
- Gender identity & expression
- Relationship conflicts
- Sexual & affectional orientation
- Spirituality
- Suicidality & safety
SCS Informed Consent
- If you are determined to be an immediate danger to yourself or to others;
- If you disclose that someone is harming children, the elderly, disabled persons, or others whom cannot care for themselves;
- If we receive a court order.
Appointments can be made by telephone at 256-765-5215 or in person at the office (726 North Pine St - 1st Floor of Rice Hall) during regular business hours. We cannot make an appointment via email or on behalf of another person. We must speak directly to the student.
NOTE: Cancellations should be made at least 24 hours in advance. You may be charged for an appointment not kept or canceled within the appropriate time frame.