Referring Someone to Counseling
Department of Counseling Services
Referral Guide
The purpose of this guide is to provide a list of common concerns where counseling may be helpful, inform you how to make a referral with a student, and provide you with ways to receive some advice on referrals.
cOMMON Situations FOR Referral
PERSONAL CONCERNS
- Adjustment to college
- Conflicting relationship with parents
- Concerns about interpersonal relationships
- Concerns about intimate relationships
- Sexual identity concerns
- Loss and grieving
- Life transitions
- Stress Management
- Test Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
Career Concerns
- Dissatisfaction with current major
- Failure in current major
- Undecided about major
- Unrealistic career aspirations
- Lack of knowledge about a career area
- Interest in transferring to another school
- Interest in graduate education
Situations indicating concerns of a serious nature
- Frequent absences from class
- Loss of appetite or excessive eating
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Inability to concentrate
- Unexplained crying or emotional outbursts
- Social withdrawal
- Acute restlessness or irritability
- Significant changes in behavior or academic performance
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Lying or antisocial acts
- Significant confusion or thinking disturbance
- References to suicide (comments and threats should always be taken seriously and action should be taken immediately)
How to Refer a Student for Counseling
- If the student is an immediate risk to themselves or others, do not leave them alone. Please see below for crisis and emergencies.
- The best way to refer a student who is not in immediate crisis to counseling services is to have the student call us at 814 393 2255 to schedule an appointment.
- If you notice a student who you are concerned about, but you are having a difficult time having a conversation with them, contact the Student Support Assistant, use this resource, or call (814) 393 2031 to consult about the best way to talk to them.
Emergencies/Acute Crisis
-
An acute crisis situation is defined when an individual is experiencing any of the following circumstances/situations:
- Immediate danger of harming self to the point that life is at risk
- Immediate danger of hurting someone else
- Victim of a recent (within the past week) sexual and or physical assault
- A close family/friend death within the past week
- Hearing or seeing things that others do not hear or see
When any of these situations occur, please use the following procedures:
- If someone is in an immediate medical emergency or cannot communicate, call 911 immediately
- If you are not with the student and they express immediate danger to self or others call 911 immediately
Clarion Campus:
- During business hours walk with the student to the Center for Wellness in 256 Becht
- After Business Hours or if you are off campus with a student call Clarion County Crisis at 814 226 7223
- Students may also access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800 273 8255, or the Crisis Textline by texting “HOME” to 741 741
Venango Campus
- After Business Hours or if you are off campus with a student call Venango County Crisis at 814 432 9111
- Students may also access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800 273 8255, or the Crisis Textline by texting “HOME” to 741 741
Follow up procedures for Clarion and Venango Campus
- File a BART report as soon as possible; BART can be accessed at: www.clarion.edu/bart
For more information, please refer to the Faculty/Staff Crisis Guide (folder)
For more information
Clarion Campus
Counseling Services
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
256 Becht Hall
Clarion, PA 16214
814-393-2255
or visit:
https://clarion.edu/student-life/health-fitness-and-wellness/counseling-services/index.html
Venango Campus
Department of Counseling Services
234 Montgomery Hall
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Oil City, PA 16301
814-676-6591, ext. 1281
(From Clarion Campus, dial ext. 1281)