Mission Statement

The Houghton College Counseling Center's mission is four-fold. The fundamental components of this mission are: (1) counseling (2) education (3) consultation and (4) crisis intervention.

Counseling
Our first and foremost goal is to provide individual and group counseling for the students of Houghton College. Our counselors are approachable and will take an interest in your concerns. Each year, about 17 to 19% (about 205 students) of the student body is involved in some form of individual or group counseling.

In addition, we place an emphasis on continued training for our staff to assure that each student in counseling receives competent care.

Education
Education is also an important function for us, which we provide in a number of ways. In fact, counseling itself is in part educational. This is especially true when working with young adults. Many of the concerns college students bring to counseling are developmental in nature and education helps them resolve many of these issues.

We are involved in the training of the residence life staff each year. The RA's participate in workshops to enhance listening skills, confronting skills, and crisis intervention. We have also been an internship site for graduate students from Alfred and Saint Bonaventure Universities. We also provide in-class presentations on a variety of topics as requested by faculty.

The Center also has a resource library for student use. Come in and check out some of the titles on relationships, family issues, sexual harassment, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, etc. Books, videotapes and cassettes may be borrowed for personal use or classroom research.

Consultation
You may not want or need a counseling experience, but you may have a question about how to handle a difficult roommate, a situation at home, or a sticky relationship. You can simply request to meet with a counselor for a "one-time consult."

We also offer consultations for faculty and staff who may be concerned about a student they come in contact with frequently; perhaps in a class or the residence hall.

Our counseling staff is limited and we cannot offer long term counseling for faculty or staff, but we can assist with personal consultation and referrals.

Crisis Intervention
At times throughout the year a student may find themselves in a crisis. Perhaps a family member has been taken seriously ill or has died, or a student feels suicidal and takes an overdose of medication. Whatever the situation, having someone to help manage this crisis is important.

Faculty is briefed on intervention and introductory counseling procedures to help manage the situation until a health professional arrives to assess the student. Our counselors are available at any hour to help students and staff with these situations.

You can reach us by calling 567-9622 from off campus or extension 6220 on campus for instructions to reach a counselor immediately.


 

 Contact Us
Location: Reinhold Campus Center
Phone: 585.567.9622
E-mail: counselingservices

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Emergency: Call for instructions 24 hour/day