Health & Counseling

The Health and Counseling Service recognizes and supports the importance of total physical, social and emotional health as a major factor influencing academic success.

The Health and Counseling Service strives to: promote and maintain those conditions which encourage each individual to realize optimum physical, emotional, intellectual, social, occupational, and spiritual wellness; identify factors which may compromise the health and fitness of the campus community; provide guidance to individuals toward active incorporation of wellness behaviors; and encourage individuals to make healthy choices and decisions concerning their lifestyles.

Health Services
Health Services is staffed by the Director of Health Services, Joanne Kurtz, licensed Registered Nurse. Two local Board Certified Family Practice Physicians also maintain health services hours.

The health office, its programs and services are open to all Chatham registered students. Emergent care can be administered to any non-student, faculty or staff member. Health Services maintains an open door policy for nursing visits but requires appointments for physician visits.

Beginning in the Fall of 2004, all full time students are required to present proof of health insurance. For students who do not have current health insurance, Chatham University Sickness and Accident insurance plan is available to all registered students (both full and part time) and will help insure that they are able to receive adequate medical treatment when necessary. This insurance policy will also offer them the flexibilty to utilize both the local health systems as well as Chatham Health Services. For more information, please contact the Student Services Center at 412-365-2797.

Policy information for the 2006-2007 academic year.

Counseling Services
The Counseling Services offers free, confidential, short term individual counseling and brief psychotherapy to full time registered students. Evaluations and external referrals are offered to part time regular undergraduate and graduate students. Theme oriented educational workshops are offered to all registered students. Counseling is viewed as aiding a student's personal growth and development so that the maximum benefit can be derived from the University experience.

Counseling Services is staffed by the Director of Counseling Services, Dr. Elsa M. Arce, and Dr. Perry Henschke, both licensed psychologists by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There are also three counseling interns who maintain counseling services hours during the academic year. You can schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor by calling x1282.

Individual Counseling
Individual Counseling is available to students experiencing personal, social, family, or academic concerns that they may not wish to share with family or friends. Brief counseling sessions provide an opportunity to freely explore any personal issues. People seek counseling for a variety of reasons, such as difficulties in personal relationships with family members or peers, emotional or social difficulties, stress and concerns about academic progress.

External Referrals
The Counseling Services assesses the nature of difficulties a student presents, and recommends specific evaluations and referrals from the medical and mental health community when long term care and/or medication are appropriately needed.

We strongly encourage students with a pervious history of involvement with mental health professionals (psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, etc.) to remain in treatment with those professionals or obtain comparable treatment within the Pittsburgh community.

Counseling Services can be reached at (412) 365-1282. In case of an emergency, during times that our offices are closed, please contact Public Safety at (412) 365-1111. In case of a psychological emergency, please contact 911 or the Emergency Room at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at (412) 624-2000.

Educational Workshops
Specific theme oriented workshops are provided by the service to help students learn how to cope with personal issues which may interfere with their academic work. Topics are as follow:

• Balancing Time Perspective in Pursuit of Optimal Functioning
• Balancing Your Needs
• Body Image/Self Awareness
• Connecting to Campus Culture
• Doing Better, Feeling Worse: The Paradox of Choice
• Effective Interventions
• Emotional Intelligence in Practice
• Encouraging Self Esteem
• Fostering the Future: Emotional Resilience in Practice
• Healthy Body; Healthy Mind
• Healthy Boundaries
• Healthy Human Internet Connections
• Improving Communications Skills
• Improving Test Taking Skills
• Managing Your Feelings
• Memory Myths
• Moving Toward Authentic Happiness: Know, Build, and Use Your Signature Strengths
• On Being Assertive
• On Speaking Your Mind Elegantly
• Promoting Domestic Balance
• Taking Care of Your Stress
• The Power of Empowerment
• Time Management
• Transition Into Adulthood