Treatment Options
The first step to receiving any of the clinical services listed on this page is to schedule an initial evaluation, or intake appointment, by calling the Counseling Center at (301) 314-7651 or stopping by the main floor reception desk in the Shoemaker Building.
Individual counseling is available for any registered UMD student. Individual sessions are offered on a short-term basis that usually is sufficient to address the common concerns faced by college students. Counseling can address a wide range of issues, including loneliness, anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, relationship problems, eating concerns, traumatic events, academic challenges, and indecision about majors and careers.
In short-term counseling, issues are addressed over a few sessions in a focused manner. The average number of sessions used by clients is 6.
When a student’s concerns require more specialized or longer-term counseling, a referral to an off-campus community provider for counseling is recommended. This referral can be coordinated by our care manager.
Group counseling is a highly effective form of therapeutic treatment. The small and intimate nature of a group (typically no more than eight members) provides a safe and supportive space for students to explore a range of issues as they interact with others. Getting feedback from peers, learning that others are dealing with similar issues, and feeling that you can help someone else are only a few of the benefits of group counseling. Although many new group members express uncertainty about talking about their problems with others, cohesion and comfort among participants increases with each session.
Some groups are referred to as “general therapy groups” and address a range of interpersonal issues. Other groups are more focused on specific challenges, such as anxiety, depression, stress, men’s issues, eating disorders, and procrastination. Unlike individual counseling, there is no limit to the number of group therapy sessions available to students.
View the list of our current group offerings.
Counseling can improve relationships by helping couples – married or not married – recognize and resolve conflicts. In couples counseling, counselors help partners build healthier relationships by exploring their needs and improving how they communicate. In some cases, the goal of counseling may be to decide whether to continue as a couple or separate.
At this time, the Counseling Center has limited availability to provide short-term couples counseling. One person in the relationship must be a registered UMD student. Couples counseling begins with an initial evaluation or intake appointment.
A normal part of college student development involves exploring options for a future career. Students can get help with this process in individual career counseling at the Counseling Center. This exploration might include taking career interest tests and interpreting the results with a counselor. Career counseling can help students begin to understand how their personality, values, and interests relate to their professional lives in order to assist in choosing a major or establishing career goals.
Non-university affiliated persons and former UMD students are also eligible for individual career counseling for a fee. These sessions are limited to an intake appointment plus up to 4 career-focused sessions.
The “Workshops that Work” series provides attendees with information, coping strategies, and resources to address common concerns faced by college students in a 3-session format. We know that UMD students are incredibly busy, and this series allows students to begin developing skills and tools for managing common concerns quickly and efficiently. The Counseling Service currently offers two unique types of workshops, which are described below. The workshops are didactic, which means you can expect a classroom-style learning environment, rather than a traditional psychotherapy group. All workshops come with a workbook that will allow you to practice the skills you have learned between sessions. When scheduled for a workshop, you must attend each of the 3 sessions, as sessions build upon one another.
Current Workshops
Anxiety Toolbox
In three 1-hour sessions, Anxiety Toolbox will focus on helping you understand anxiety and learn strategies to manage anxiety and stress. The three sessions are divided into content that builds on itself, with the first session focusing on understanding what anxiety is and the next two sessions learning to slow down, recognize the experience of anxiety, and develop ways of managing it.
Getting Unstuck
In three 1-hour sessions, Getting Unstuck will focus on helping you understand depression and its symptoms as well as learn strategies to manage these symptoms. The three sessions are divided into content that builds on itself, with the first session focusing on understanding depression, the second session focusing on how thoughts and behaviors impact depression, and the third session focusing on making changes to thoughts and behaviors to better manage depression.
Wellness Workshops
In addition to the "Workshops that Work" series, which provides an in-depth focus on specific concerns, the Counseling Center is hosting Wellness Workshops on a wide range of mental health topics relevant to most students. The Wellness Workshops are drop-in and do not require an intake appointment in order to attend. View the Wellness Workshops page for more information.
Safe and Inclusive Support
(Fall and Spring Semesters)
The Counseling Center is a safe and inclusive space where counselors provide support to students from underrepresented populations. Recognizing that stigma about seeking counseling and unfamiliarity about the counseling process prevent some students from getting the help they need, the Counseling Service makes requesting time with a counselor easier to specific student populations.
Free unscheduled time with a counselor is available to students of color, LGBTQ+ students, international students, and veteran students during the times listed below. Please note that students will be asked to complete several brief surveys prior to meeting with a counselor within an hour of arrival. Please note that our therapists are knowledgeable about working with students who have multiple-marginalized identities. If you hold more than one marginalized identity, please choose the space that feels most relevant to your concerns at the time of the appointment.
| Population | Time | Days | Therapist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Students | Foreign-born Students | 3 - 4 p.m. | Mon - Fri | International Ally |
| Rainbow Drop-In | LGBTQ+ students | 3 - 4 p.m. | Mon - Fri | LGBTQ+ Therapist or Ally* |
| Students of Color | Racial and ethnic minorities | 3 - 4 p.m. | Mon - Fri | Therapist of Color |
| Veteran Students | US military (active duty and veterans) | 3 - 4 p.m. | Mon - Fri | Veterans' Ally |
* Therapists who identify as LGBTQ+ are available to meet with students on Mondays and Fridays. Therapists who identify as LGBTQ+ allies are available to meet with students on Tuesdays through Thursdays.
The Counseling Center maintains an extensive list of off-campus mental health resources that includes psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health agencies. Students who might seek referrals include those who are not comfortable seeking counseling on campus, who have been recommended by a Counseling Center counselor for longer term or specialized treatment, or who have completed short-term services at the Counseling Center and desire additional treatment.
If you are already in counseling at the Counseling Center, or have an intake appointment scheduled, your counselor could help you schedule an appointment with our Care Manager. If you are not already receiving our services and desire an off-campus referral, you can request a triage appointment by calling the Counseling Center at (301) 314-7651. Our triage counselor and Care Manager will work together to help you identify the best fit related to your healthcare needs, location, and financial situation such as insurance coverage.
If you wish to find an off-campus provider on your own, and feel comfortable doing so, here are a few helpful tips & tools (pdf) from our Care Manager that may assist you as you navigate this process.
Psychiatric Referrals
If it is determined that you might benefit from prescription medication, your Counseling Center counselor may refer you to a psychiatrist at the Mental Health Service in the Health Center. In such cases, you would be asked to provide written permission for the Counseling Center and Mental Health Service to share information about your case to ensure that you receive the best possible care.
Alternatively, you can receive a referral to an off-campus psychiatrist from the Counseling Center’s care manager. Your Counseling Center counselor can assist you with making that appointment.
Community Providers
We value our community provider partners and are always looking for referral sources. If you wish to be listed as a referral resource for the Counseling Center of the University of Maryland, please contact the Care Manager at mrock12@umd.edu
In the email to the Care Manager please write “Community Provider Database Addition Request” in the subject line. Questions about this process can be addressed by contacting (301) 314-7674.
If you are current UMD student and seeking referrals, please contact the counseling center at 301-314-7651 to schedule a referral intake.