Mental health at UNCG means prioritizing the well-being of Spartans. The Counseling & Psychological Services offer various online and in-person services for currently enrolled students that support and encourage their personal growth and academic success, housed on the second floor of Gove Student Health Services.
Help us, help you
At Counseling & Psychological Services, licensed mental health providers hold an initial screening with students to best direct and connect them with the services they seek. Students experiencing a crisis can call to schedule or drop in during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Same-day services are also available during Rapid Access Hours, Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., all at no cost.
Counseling & Psychological Services is committed to creating an inclusive, safe environment for all students, and can be reached after hours with on-call 24-hour services at 336-334-5874. Students can reach UNCG police at 336-334-4444.
Jennifer M. Whitney, Ph.D., director of Mental Health and Well-Being at Student Health Services, says, “I might be the expert in mental health, I might be the expert at therapy, but you are the expert in you. It is a journey we walk together and that we as mental health professionals are privileged to walk alongside [the students].”
Students should see a mental health professional for counseling services to collaboratively unpack experiences, reduce distress, and work toward goals to ensure safety and emotional well-being. You can expect to tap into mindfulness, meditation, ecotherapy, and other exercises that drive you to engage your senses, thoughts, and behaviors. Services are confidential between students and their direct service providers.
You set the tone
Engage in the “Let’s Talk” program! Students can meet with service providers across campus for brief, one-on-one consultations. They are available at the Smith Center on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and via the Spartan Recovery Program on Wednesdays, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Need a support group? Counseling & Psychological Services holds group therapy and workshops to decrease isolation, find community, and build interactive skills. These shared spaces focus on a wide range of mental health concerns and challenges and are demonstrated to be highly effective for college students.
Having a tough time connecting with a counselor? If so, it’s no problem. Students can complete the “Request to Change Provider” form to hear from a staff member about practical solutions.
“Connecting with peers is crucial, and often the primary component of helping someone through their journey. When we come together in a group, it is so validating,” Whitney explains.
A Spartan may face many challenges in their day-to-day life – be it economic inequality, discrimination, racism, violence, or stereotyping – which can compound the stress of deadlines and grades. UNCG wants all students to thrive and take advantage of the resources at their fingertips. Click here to contact some on-and off-campus resources.
“Addressing mental health is just like that children’s book, ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. ‘ You can’t go over it, you can’t go under it, you’ve got to go through it,” Whitney says.
Story by Lauren Segers, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
