Counseling Services

Greetings from the Director of Counseling Services

Elsa Arce, Ph.D.
Director for Counseling Services
arce@chatham.edu
412-365-1282

Mission Statement

Our mission at Counseling Services is to provide Chatham University students with professional treatment in a secure and private manner that will promote healthy change in their overall development.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services is committed to aid your personal growth and development in order to help you gain the maximum benefit from your educational experience. We provide a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space to work through issues that many students face. The most common issues that students come to the Counseling Services for include: depression, anxiety, self-esteem, academic concerns, and relationship issues. If you are a full-time registered student, there is no charge for our services. Free evaluations and external referrals are offered to part-time regular undergraduate and graduate students. Our goal is always to help and to guide you towards clarity, authentic happiness and maximum success in your educational journey.

To schedule an appointment please call (412) 365-1282. Fall and spring term office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Facts about Counseling Services:

• Approximately 12-15% of the student population requests services every year
• Nearly 1200+ counseling appointments are provided annually
• About 4% of students receive crisis intervention services every year
• Students requesting services represent all levels of education and cultural backgrounds

Meet the Staff

• Elsa M. Arce, PhD
  Licensed Psychologist, Director
• Perry Henschke, PhD
  Licensed Psychologist
• Nicole Marinacci, MSW, LSW
  Licensed Social Worker
• Jenny Knight, AAS
  Administrative Assistant

Graduate Intern Counselors for 2011/2012:

• Leah Boisen, MA
• Michelle DeSantis, BA
• Heather Jack, BA
• Jessica Payton, MA
• Monica Reese, MA
• Catherine Swiderski, MA

Hotlines & Resources

Drugs and Alcohol

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
(212)870-3400
www.aa.org

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1-888-425-2666
www.Al-Anon-Alateen.org

National Drug Information Treatment & Referral Hotline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)

National Association for Children of Alcoholics
1-888-554-2627
www.health.org/nacoa

Domestic Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
www.ndvh.org

Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
(412) 687-8005
www.wcspittsburgh.org

Youth Crisis Hotline
1-800-442-4673
www.cra-us.org

Eating Disorders

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.
(412) 765-3004
www.oa.org

Compulsive Eaters Anonymous (CEA)
(724) 942-5132
www.ceahow.org

Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention
1-800-931-2237
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Grief

The Compassionate Friends, Inc.
1-877-969-0010
www.thecompassionatefriends.org

The Good Grief Center
1-888-GRIEF88 or (412) 461-1776
www.goodgriefcenter.com

Rape

Nationwide RAINN
1-800-656-4673
www.rainn.org

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR)
www.paar.net

National Rape Crisis Hotline
1-866-END-RAPE (363-7273)

Suicide

National Suicide Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
www.hopeline.com

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
www.nationalsuicidepreventionlifeline.org

Support Blogs

CONTACT Pittsburgh
(412) 820-HELP (4357)
www.contactpgh.org

hiv/aidstribe
www.hivaidstribe.com

anxietytribe
www.anxietytribe.com

ocdtribe
www.ocdtribe.com

addictiontribe
www.addictiontribe.com

www.halfofus.com

www.apahelpcenter.org

www.campusblues.com

www.alcoholscreening.org

Types of Mental Health Professionals

• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor usually has a degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or psychiatry. Proper certification should be displayed. This type of counselor typically works in a drug treatment center or family services agency.

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) has a master or doctoral degree in counseling, and a professional license as a counselor by the State in which they work.

• Marriage Counselor or Family Therapist (MFT) has a masters or doctoral degree in marital and family therapy.  Proper certification by the State should be demonstrated.

• Pastoral Counselor  a priest, rabbi, or minister with a Bachelors or Masters degree in Divinity with training in psychology or counseling to enable them to identify mental health problems and make appropriate referrals.  A Certified Pastoral Counselor (NCPC) has a masters or doctoral degree in a mental health discipline and may provide counseling.

• Psychiatric Nurse or Clinical Nurse Specialist is degreed in nursing either as a registered nurse (RN) or has a bachelors or masters in nursing (BSN/MSN) who has specialized training in caring for and treating psychiatric patients. Certification should be demonstrated.

• Psychiatrist can be a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathy (DO) who has completed a residency in a psychiatric facility and is board certified.  A psychiatrist is the only mental health professional who can prescribe medication and medical treatments.

• Psychologist has a doctoral degree in psychology (PhD/PsyD), education (EdD), or Counseling (PhD/PsyD). A psychologist requires a license from the State Board where they work, in the majority of States, only doctoral level professionals can be licensed, and may be named psychologists.

• Social Worker has a bachelors (BSW), masters (MSW), or doctoral (DSW/PhD) degree in social work. To practice therapy, social workers need be licensed by their State Boards.

Choosing a Mental Health Professional

When choosing a mental health professional in the community, you might experience to be a challenging task.  Here are some questions you can ask yourself about a professional to determine if that individual is the right one for you:

• Does he/she have the education, certification, and license to treat you?
• Does he/she accept your health insurance?
• How much will you have to pay out-of-pocket?
• How soon can you have an initial appointment?
• Does he/she have office hours that fit your schedule?
• What type of treatment approach does he/she use?
• What kind of experience does he/she have with your type of problem?
• What is his/her cancellation and rescheduling policy?
• Can he/she be reached between appointments if necessary?  If so, how?
• Does he/she limit the practice to a specific type of client or problem/disorder?  (For example:  couples, children, grief, eating disorders)
• Do people you trust recommend him/her?
• What type of client does he/she feel they work best with?
• What is expected of you during treatment?
• What can you expect of him/her during treatment?
• Is the location of the office convenient?

Are You Satisfied With Your Treatment?

When in counseling it is important that for you to be satisfied with the treatment you are receiving.  It may be difficult for you to determine if you are satisfied with the level of care you are getting if you are new to counseling.  To help you to objectively evaluate your treatment ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I comfortable with my counselor?
• Do I trust my counselor?
• Does my counselor understand me?
• Does my counselor respect me and my opinions?
• Have my counselor and I discussed and agreed on specific treatment goals?
• Can I change my treatment goals at any time?
• Am I making progress toward my treatment goals?
• Is the treatment helpful?
• Does my counselor behave in a professional manner?
  
  

I am not satisfied with my treatment, what can I do?

• Openly discuss your concerns with your counselor, if you feel comfortable doing so.  If not, ask to speak with his or her supervisor about the problem.  Work towards a resolution of the problem.

• Ask to change counselors or for help to find another counselor.

• If the counselor’s conduct has been unethical or illegal, please report this information to the Director of Counseling Services immediately.