Questions and Answers
Why should I come to Monsour?
Each year approximately 14% of all Claremont
College students come to the Counseling Center for help. The reasons they
seek help vary but students do come for help with the day to day issues
they (and people in general) face. Additionally, some students come for
help with concerns that involve depression, eating disorders, substance
use/misuse, and anxiety among other reasons. We strive to provide individualized
treatment that will meet your needs. We are here to help you.
Below is a list of more specific concerns that students often come to
us with:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating Disorders
• Test anxiety
• Relationship difficulty
• Substance abuse
• Previous psychiatric treatment
• Body-image
• Learning Disorders
• Poor concentration
• Difficulty sleeping
• Low energy
• Suicidal thoughts or feelings
• Difficult transition to college
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Procrastination
What is an Intake Appointment?
Your first visit to the Center is an Intake Appointment. The purpose of this visit is to evaluate your needs and to decide together on the best treatment. You are an important part of this process, so any information or feedback you have is very important. After this visit the Center’s Treatment Team will meet and a treatment plan will be finalized. All of your preferences will be discussed. Someone will contact you within a week in order to take the next step in your treatment. MCAPS is a brief therapy center and so, if long-term therapy is best for you, you will receive names of therapists in the Claremont area.
What is a regular appointment?
After the initial Intake Appointment, all other appointments with a therapist are made during the session between the client and the therapist. These appointments are generally an hour long.
What is brief therapy?
Brief therapy is short-term and focused on helping a person to resolve or effectively manage a specific problem or challenge, or to make a desired change. The sessions are more geared towards here-and-now aspects of the problem than on exploration of historical material. Goal setting is the hallmark of this approach, and the therapist is more active in sessions than is typically the case in traditional psychotherapy.
Confidentiality
All client information is strictly confidential. No information is ever release regarding our clients, except at the clients request and only when the client has completed a release of information form. This form names to whom and what information can be released, signed and dated by the client and kept in the client’s folder.
What if I want a certain therapist or a male or female therapist?
Our intake appointments are usually made on the first available basis. This insures you are able to see a therapist as soon as possible. We are happy to accommodate your requests. In some instances, though, a requested therapist may result in a longer waiting period before your first appointment.
What happens if I am not comfortable with a therapist?
Our desire is to provide our clients with the best individual counseling available. If a client would like to change therapists, we follow an established policy to make the change. All you have to do is contact the receptionist or your therapist of records to request a change. Multiple changes cannot be accommodated in a brief therapy model.
What happens if I can’t make my appointment?
With busy schedules, new commitments or illness, it is understandable that some students are unable to attend their appointment. You can call MCAPS and cancel your appointment at any time, even the day of the appointment. You can reschedule your appointment, leave a message for your therapist, or cancel all together. We greatly appreciate it if you can notify us if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, this allows us to free the hour for use by other students.
What are your walk-in hours?
Most appointments are made through the intake process. Intake Appointments can usually be scheduled within 1 week. We have an on-call therapist available for emergency consultations at all times. An emergency is a matter that cannot wait until the next available Intake Appointment. Weekdays from 8:30-5:00, the on-call therapist can be reached by dialing 1-8202. Weekends and nights, call campus safety at 7-2000 and ask to speak with the on-call therapist.
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