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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

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)

Last Updated 1/14/22