Resources for Faculty & Staff

We are happy to offer college forum presentations to discuss our services with your students.

We also collaborate with offices and departments who are looking for a more focused presentation related to mental health or wellness.

Sometimes, faculty and staff question when a referral for personal or psychological counseling is warranted. Certainly, the clearest case for making a referral would be when a student specifically indicates the need for personal or psychological counseling. Another reason for making a referral is when a student shares a personal problem that is beyond your range of knowledge or you feel uncomfortable handling. Other times, you may observe a student who is exhibiting emotional or behavioral signs that suggest he/she is in distress. In such cases, a referral for personal or psychological counseling is often indicated. See the list below for some examples.

Signs of Distress

• sudden changes in academic performance
• interpersonal problems with classmates
• poor class attendance
• marked change in personal hygiene
• aggressive, dangerous or disruptive behaviors
• excessive worry, nervousness or agitation
• social withdrawal or isolation
• mental confusion, bizarre behavior and/or inappropriate affect
• overly dependent, passive or fearful
• appearance of alcohol or other drug impairment (e.g., smell of alcohol or marijuana, slurred speech, unsteady gait, bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, defensive/negative attitude)
• symptoms of depression (e.g., persistent sadness and hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness, irrational guilt, sudden weight loss or gain, sleep impairments, fatigue/listlessness, frequent crying, irritability, thoughts/talk of suicide)

Keep in mind that it is not your role or responsibility to diagnose the exact nature of a student’s problem. We are only suggesting that if a student exhibits any of the signs noted above, he/she may benefit from counseling. If you are in doubt as to whether a referral for personal/psychological counseling is indicated, you may contact Counseling Services staff for assistance. Our counseling staff will provide consultation in such cases, to help determine if a referral to our office would be beneficial.

Once you have determined a need for counseling, you may be uncertain how best to proceed with the student in making a referral to our office. Depending on the student’s attitude and willingness to accept help, this process may be more or less challenging. Regardless of the circumstances, there are certain guidelines you can follow to be most effective. These are included below.

Guidelines for Making a Referral

• Request to meet with the student privately. An individual is more likely to be receptive to your recommendation for counseling when the suggestion is not made in the presence of others.
• Note the specific behaviors you have observed and express your concern. For example, you might say: “I’ve noticed that you haven’t been attending class regularly, your grades are dropping, and lately you have appeared tired. I am concerned about you, and wanted you to know that there are many support services available on our campus. Counselors who are trained to help you with any personal problems you may be experiencing are available. I would be glad to assist you in scheduling an appointment with a counselor.”
• Express confidence in our services by emphasizing the potential benefits of counseling. The more familiar you are with our services and our staff, the more confidence you will convey. This helps the student trust in our capacity to be of help.
• Assure the student that counseling is private, confidential, and does not become part of his/her academic record.
• Encourage the student to contact our office directly to schedule an appointment. It is usually helpful to have the student call while they are in your office.
• Provide additional reassurances for the reluctant student by indicating or suggesting the following:
  • Many students take advantage of counseling
  • Asking for help is courageous and a sign of strength
  • Counseling is voluntary (students can try it once, and choose whether or not to continue)
  • Offer to accompany the student over to our office

Faculty and staff are advised to call 911 for any emergency situation including suicide attempt, alcohol or other drug overdose, or imminent threat of violence. If you call 911 from any campus telephone, your call will automatically be connected simultaneously to the 911 dispatch center and to our campus Public Safety and Health Services departments.

For situations involving a psychological crisis with no imminent threat of danger, contact Counseling Services staff during normal business hours. A counselor will assess the level of risk for harm, assist the individual in achieving stability, and make appropriate treatment recommendations, as needed.

24-Hour Emergency/Crisis Contacts

In cases of psychological crisis during non-business hours, employees are advised to utilize any of the community services noted below:

• Samaritan Hospital Crisis/Suicide Prevention Hotline: (518) 274-4345
• Capital District Psychiatric Center Walk-In Crisis Unit: (518) 447-9650
• Rensselaer County Sexual Assault Care Center Hotline: (518) 271-3257
• Unity House Domestic Violence Hotline: (518) 272-2370

After making a referral for counseling, it is not uncommon to be interested in finding out how a student is doing. However, the confidential nature of the counseling relationship often precludes us from sharing information about a student. We maintain confidentiality according to the standards set by our professional code of ethics, federal guidelines, and state laws. This means that we cannot disclose any information about a student without his/her written consent to do so (even whether or not a student showed up for an appointment).

Please note, however, that if we determine a student is an imminent risk to self or others, our duty to protect will take precedence over maintaining confidentiality.

Personal and psychological counseling services are restricted to registered students. However, employees who have concerns about their own or a loved one’s personal/psychological well-being may utilize our office for consultation and/or referral information. Our staff will also respond to any employee who is in psychological crisis. Although we are not able to provide ongoing personal counseling, our staff will refer employees to other resources in the community, as needed.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize the college’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential counseling and referral assistance. The program is run by Capital EAP, and their contact information is included below for your convenience.

Capital EAP
650 Warren Street
Albany, NY 12208
(518) 465-3813

For more information about the college's EAP, contact the Office of Human Resources at (518) 629-4552.