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Counseling Center

Counseling Services – Welcome!

The Counseling Center serves all enrolled PC&TC students. Costs are covered through student fees, so there are no “out-of-pocket” expenses.

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To better serve our students, we are having office hours at our Advance Technology Center (ATC) once a week.

ATC Tuesdays

Room 121   To Make an Appointment call 304-534-7878  or  email  access@pierpont.edu

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Our mission is to provide high quality, culturally competent, and evidence-based mental health services tailored to the needs of each individual student, in a supportive environment to help them achieve their educational objectives and well-being. We provide this to all students, including students of diverse racial, ethnic, sexual/gender, physical and mental abilities, ages, religious/spiritual beliefs, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to assist them in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to become effective students, responsible citizens, productive workers, and lifelong learners. We accomplish part of the mission by providing professional outreach and educational services and by fostering collaborative relationships across the university, enhancing wellness and wellbeing.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis,
please contact our office at (304) 534-7878 (8:00-4:00,M-F)
or dial 911 for immediate help.

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Click on the topics below to access more information. 

Counseling Appointment Request

Three easy ways to schedule 

You can call us directly at (304) 534-7878

or

Stop by Suite 231-A Hardway Hall

or

CLICK HERE; Complete and submit the online appointment request.

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis, please contact our office at (304) 534-7878 (8-4, M-F), or campus security at (304) 367-4357, or dial 911 for immediate help

Crisis Information

Mental Health Crises are Temporary – But Can Be Dangerous
 
Anyone can experience a mental health crisis.
 
Defining a Crisis:   A mental health crisis is a state of mind in which a person feels overwhelmed with life-stressors or with a recurrence of a mental illness and is unable to cope with their resulting feelings and thoughts.  When the feelings reach a level of being a harm for the person or others, this is a crisis state.  
 
When to immediately call for help:  Situations that involve imminent danger and that warrant immediate emergency care, such as transport to the nearest emergency room, include but are not limited to:
  • A suicide attempt
  • When another person’s life is threatened
  • Intense, uncontrollable anger or inability to regain a calm state
  • Experiencing disturbing physical sensations that are not real 
  • Beliefs that cannot possibly be true and are disturbing, possibly with uncontrollable racing thoughts
  • Making choices that result in serious danger for self and others
  • Becoming unable to care for her/himself, resulting in risk of serious harm
  • Experiencing medication problems like serious side effects
  • Experiencing an alcohol or any other drug overdose
  • Drinking until passing out and unable to be roused or experiences seizures
  • Sexual assault 
 
Who to call for help:  Call Fairmont State Campus Safety at 304-367-HELP (4157) or 911 when:
  • Any of the items listed above are occurring (see When to immediately call for help)
  • You need someone to arrive on the scene immediately
  • You are in any situation that is potentially violent or dangerous (ex., someone is threatening to harm themselves or others; someone is acting in bizarre, aggressive or unusual ways)
  • You feel unsafe for any reason
 
The closest Emergency Room to the Fairmont Campus is:
         Fairmont Regional Medical Center Emergency Room adjacent to the main campus. 
 
In case of sexual assault:  

Please go directly to United Hospital Center (UHC) for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.  327 Medical Park Drive, Bridgeport, WV (Exit 124 on I79).  Call (681) 342-1000 for more information.

 
For an after-hours mental health crisis that does not involve imminent danger:  Please utilize a local or national crisis line for assistance.
  • On Fairmont Campus – For assistance during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4 pm) please come see us in 231-A Hardway Hall
  • Local - Valley HealthCare  1-800-232-0020
  • National - 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) Use that same number and press “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line 
  • National – SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline  1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727)
  • National -  1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
  • National - 1-877-YOUTHLINE (1-877-968-8491) or text teen2teen to 839863 
  • National - Trevor Project (LBGTQ)  1-866-488-7386
  • National - Live Online Chat  click here  
  • Online Crisis Network - IMALIVE.org
  • Young Persons of Color - Text STEVE to 741741
 

Faculty Mentor

The Faculty Mentor Committee, an ad hoc committee, came into being during the fall semester of 2015.  The Mentors and our Office are partners in helping each other, other faculty and staff, and Pierpont students.  Counseling & Disability Services Resource Mentors are in a unique situation of being able to educate colleagues and students about mental health concerns and disabilities. Mentors are often visible and active campus community members who have the power to influence what and how colleagues and students think about others. They have a broad view of the services and supports available within our campus community and provide colleagues, as well as students, with information, resources, and referral information when necessary. Mentors play a vital role in being the link among their own departments and the Office of Counseling & Disability Services on campus by developing connections between faculty and staff, and by providing colleagues and students with accurate information. Counseling & Disability Services Resource Mentors serve as role models by accepting, including, and accommodating students who have disabilities or mental health concerns.

Faculty Mentor Link

Faculty/Staff Resources

Mental Health Advocacy - Student Group

Student group is in the process of being created.  See Raven Thomas, Student Services. 

Our Philosophy

We are committed to a philosophy of acceptance, compassion, and support for those we serve, and we strive to provide an emotionally safe and respectful environment. We support students of all identities including age, culture, race, sexual orientation, language, mental and physical ability, spirituality, size, socio-economic status, political perspective, and worldview.

Our Services

Our office provides several individual, group, and prevention services. These services are provided by licensed or supervised professionals in person or using telehealth delivery (using telecommunication technologies such as computers and cell phones).

Class/group presentations, trainings, and workshops are available by request, and they can be requested by clicking here. If you need a presentation or workshop that is not included on our list, please contact our office at 304-534-7878 or access@pierpont.edu to discuss your request.

Please check out our LibGuides through the Library. They contain additional information and resources for faculty, staff, and students on the topics of mental health and disability services.

  • Educational and specialized therapeutic assistance (individual/group psycho-education and brief counseling services/referrals) to students who are encountering adjustment problems or who are experiencing psychological and emotional distress.
  • Crisis intervention, including threat assessment, directly or through cooperative arrangements with other resources on campus or in the surrounding area.
  • Consultative services to college community members to enhance the educational environment to the benefit of the intellectual, emotional, and interpersonal development of the students.
  • Offering early intervention for retention in circumstances that might lead to dropping out, academic failure, or suspension.
  • Continued research and evaluation of our services with the goal of improving their effectiveness and strategic planning.
  • Provision of training and professional development experiences for faculty, staff, and others in the college community.

 

Registration for Alcohol & Other Drug (AoD) Seminar

The AoD seminar is open to all students.

This seminar is a requirement for students who have been sanctioned to attend following disciplinary action.  Completion of the required series of seminars includes:

  • Scheduling an intake appointment for AoD in the counseling services office click here to schedule an intake appointment or call 304-534-7878, or stop by our office at 231-A Hardway Hall
  • Attending and remaining through the entire session for 4 consecutive seminar sessions

Failure to meet all requirements will result in our office being unable to issue a certificate of completion for a sanctioned student.

Self-Assessment and Wellness Apps

College life is stressful! Juggling class time, homework, jobs, tests, family, lack of sleep, fast food, and more can result in undesirable mental and physical stress reactions. Most everyone has days when they just feel “off” or out of sorts, and the pressure of being in college can increase those feelings. When this continues for a week or more and you just cannot shake it off, then it might be time to assess what is happening to you and explore ways to help yourself feel better.
 
Below are links to sites that have self-assessments to determine the level of your distress, in addition to information and wellness sites and apps that can help you find things to do to help yourself.
 
For more information or to talk to a counselor about what is happening to you,
contact our office at 304-333-3661 or stop by 316 Turley Center.
Click here to see a list of local mental health providers.
 

Overall Wellness

Assessments:
Information:
Wellness:

Alcohol & Drugs

Assessments:
  • Substance and drug use frequently occur with other problems (ex., depression, anxiety). Check out the other sections.
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
Information:
Wellness:

Anxiety & Stress

Assessments:
Information:
Wellness:

Attention Problems

Assessments:
  • Assessments for attention problems must be done by a qualified professional. For a referral, please contact our office.
Information:
Wellness:

Depression

Assessments:
Information:
Wellness:

Eating Problems

Assessments:
Information:
Wellness:
  • Pierpont’s Office of Counseling: to speak to a professional – Contact our office
     

Substance Use

Assessments:
Information:
Wellness:
  • Pierpont’s Office of Counseling: to speak to a professional – Contact our office
  • Marion County Health Department (300 2nd Street, Fairmont) - needle exchange program: 3rd Thursday of each month, 1:00 to 3:00
     

Suicidal Thoughts

Assessments:

  • If you are thinking of suicide or are feeling hopeless, contact someone right away. For immediate help, s ee the red box at the bottom of the page for contact information or call one of the resources show under Wellness below.
  • If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or are feeling hopeless, contact our office now to speak to a professional to get an assessment or a referral.
Information:
Wellness:
The links below are to find help, to find a person to talk to.

 

Student Resources

The CARE Team

If you have a concern about yourself or others and you do not know who to turn to, contact the CARE Team.

The CARE Team is committed to improving individual and community safety. To contact the CARE Team you can email CARE@pierpont.edu or fill out and submit the form that is found HERE.

Who We Counsel

Our counseling services are for students only.  Employees and faculty, please contact Human Resources for information about free and confidential counseling through Pierpont’s Employee Assistance Program.   For information about this program, consult the employee handbook (page 24).

For more information, visit the the Office of Counseling & Disability Services in person, or contact us using the information below.
Contact Information
 
231-A Hardway Hall
Phone: (304) 534-7878
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - Monday through Friday
 
Suzan Walsh Clemens, PhD, Director
Support Services
Licensed Psychologist/Disability Services Coordinator
231-A Hardway Hall
Phone: (304) 367-4073
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