Families, Faculty, & Staff

Frequently Asked Questions from Families, Faculty, and Staff

• When should I refer a student to the Student Counseling Center?

  
  Please consider referring the student to the Student Counseling Center if you notice the following concerns and/or changes in behavior: Abrupt changes in behavior, hygiene, or appearance, anxiety about a family situation or relationship difficulty, unusual behavior or disjointed thoughts, chronic fatigue and lack of energy, inappropriate behavior which interferes with the student’s academic, occupational, and/or social functioning, irritability, aggressive, or abrasive behaviors, noticeable fearfulness, tearfulness, or nervousness, preoccupation with death, poor class attendance, self-injurious behavior (e.g., cutting, hitting, burning), sense of aimlessness, no purpose in life, or feeling like a burden to friends and family, signs of alcohol or substance misuse, suicidal thoughts such as “I want to go to sleep and never wake up,” withdrawal from friends and/or family members.

• Does the Student Counseling Center provide services to faculty and staff members?

  
  Due to liability concerns, Student Counseling Center (SCC) licensed clinicians can only engage in therapy services with currently enrolled Texas A&M University–San Antonio students. Faculty and staff can receive support through ComPsych Guidance Resources, the university’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). For additional information on this benefit, please visit the Human Resources website. Student Counseling Center staff provide consultative services to third parties (including but not limited to TAMU-SA faculty/staff, family members, friends, etc.) for individuals concerned about the well-being of a currently enrolled A&M – San Antonio student. During these interactions, Student Counseling Center (SCC) staff cannot confirm and deny whether or not a student is engaged in SCC services unless a signed Release of Information is on file.

  For more information on SCC’s consultation services, please click here.

• Are A&M – San Antonio family members eligible for SCC services?

  
  Due to liability concerns, Student Counseling Center (SCC) licensed clinicians can only engage in therapy services with currently enrolled Texas A&M University–San Antonio students. The Student Counseling Center can provide a “Community Resource Referral” packet to any family members interested in receiving community referral information by calling 210-784-1331 during regular business hours. Student Counseling Center staff provide consultative services to third parties (including but not limited to TAMU-SA faculty/staff, family members, friends, etc.) for individuals concerned about the well-being of a currently enrolled A&M – San Antonio student. During these interactions, Student Counseling Center (SCC) staff cannot confirm and deny whether or not a student is engaged in SCC services unless a signed Release of Information is on file. For more information on SCC’s consultation services, please click here.

  Information is on file. For more information on SCC’s consultation services, please click here.

• What should I say to a distressed student?

  
  It is important to talk to a student about your concerns. Asking someone if they have thoughts about suicide will not place the idea in the individual’s mind but will provide the individual with a safe space to discuss their feelings. Below is a brief step-by-step guide to speaking with a distressed student. • Directly communicate your concern to the student: “I’ve noticed you missed several classes over the past two weeks. How have you been?” • Directly ask questions: “I noticed you wrote a paper about death for last week’s assignment. Have you had thoughts about death or suicide?” • Refer to resources: o Student Counseling Center, 210-784-1331 (Available 24/7, for after-hours support, please select option “2”). o Additional 24/7/365 resources:  A&M – San Antonio Police Department: 210-784-1911  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255  National Crisis Text Line: Text “Help” to 741-741 • Encourage help-seeking: Support the student by helping them schedule an appointment or walk them to the SCC. If you are primarily concerned that a student is in imminent danger of harming him or herself or others, call UPD at 210-784-1911.

• What constitutes a crisis?

  
  The Student Counseling Center considers a situation to be a crisis when students report the following information: • Immediate danger of seriously harming or killing themselves, • Immediate danger of harming or killing someone else, • A recent physical and sexual assault, • Someone close to the student recently received a severe diagnosis or died, • Hearing and seeing things that others around them do not hear or see, • Discharged from a psychiatric hospital within the past month and • Recently experienced an act of discrimination.

• What do I do if the student is reluctant to reach out for help and the situation is not a crisis?

  
  • Remember that seeking therapy is a personal choice, • Avoid forcing the issue; simply restate your concerns and the available options, • Suggest that confronting a concern is a positive sign of growth and maturity, • Acknowledge, validate, and discuss the student’s concerns about visiting the Student Counseling Center, • Remind them that SCC licensed clinicians have years of experience working with college students, • Remind them that SCC services are free and confidential (as the law allows), • Be friendly, remain open and available to help in the future, • Suggest they take some time to think it over.