Counseling Services

CHW counselors are here to help.  We provide free services for all Suffolk undergraduate, graduate, and law students.  CHW counseling staff provide an inclusive, collaborative, and confidential space to receive support and take steps to address your unique needs.

About Counseling

Reaching out for help isn’t always easy. Counseling staff work collaboratively with students to identify your needs in a supportive and identity-affirming environment. Many students come to CHW with questions about what to expect in counseling, whether counseling can help, or with concerns about whether counseling staff will respond positively and supportively. These are normal and important questions that we seek to answer during a first appointment so that we can better understand your needs and determine how CHW can help. Here is more information on CHW’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion which is central to our counseling practice. We look forward to meeting you.

Eligibility for Counseling Services

Currently enrolled students are eligible for CHW services, including during school breaks/summer when students remain enrolled for the next semester. CHW counseling providers are licensed to provide telehealth services only to students located in Massachusetts at the time of service. Faculty and staff seeking counseling assistance for themselves should utilize employee benefit resources through Human Resources.

Confidentiality

CHW maintains strict confidentiality policies in compliance with professional standards and with local, state and federal statutes for both in-person and telehealth services. Students may request and sign a Release of Information allowing CHW counseling staff to provide information to individuals or departments specifically identified by the student. No information may be released until students have discussed the information they want released and a Release of Information has been signed by the student. Students may choose, when necessary, to complete Release of Information forms to allow CHW staff to talk with members of the Dean of Students/CARE Team, other campus departments, family members, and/or external providers for the purpose of consultation and support. The only exceptions to confidentiality occur when disclosure is necessary to protect the client or an identifiable third party from imminent physical or psychological danger, in cases of apparent abuse of a vulnerable person, or in extremely rare cases when records are subpoenaed by a Court.

Reasons Students Seek Counseling

There is no reason too big or too small to seek counseling. By talking about your concerns with a counselor, students increase their ability to understand themselves and, if needed, take action to improve situations or emotional experiences for themselves. If counseling isn’t the right fit, our staff will help students connect with other resources such as community or cultural groups, religious or spiritual communities, or other identified spaces or resources as needed.

Common concerns leading students to seek counseling include:

  • Feeling lonely, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do about your feelings
  • Feeling depressed or sad, including possible thoughts of death or suicide
  • Stress, feeling anxious, or having panic attacks
  • Relationships (family, friends, romantic)
  • Concerns about recent or past traumatic experiences
  • Seeking support related to sociocultural identity or experiences of bias
  • Self-esteem or not feeling good about yourself
  • Worrying about your appearance or your weight
  • Unwanted sexual experiences
  • Concerns about use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs