Services to Xavier Students

Services

• Contacting the Psychological Services Center
• Who is Eligible for Services
• Intake Appointments
• Making Referrals to the PSC
• Crisis and Emergency Services
• Therapy Services for Xavier Students
• Psychological Evaluations for Xavier Students
• Other Services for Xavier Students
• Outreach Services

Contacting the Psychological Services Center

How to get to the Sycamore House

The Psychological Services Center is located on the west side of campus at Sycamore House, 3818 Winding Way, next to Schmidt Fieldhouse. Click here for directions.

Our telephone number is 745-3531. Our office hours are from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Monday through Friday, with some evening hours available during the week.

Most students requesting to see a therapist phone in advance to schedule an intake appointment.

The PSC offers a range of psychological services to students at Xavier University.

More specifically, these services include:

• Individual therapy, couples and marital therapy
• Psychological evaluations
• Consultation and referral
• Depending upon staffing, other services such as child and family therapy and group programs may be available.
• For career counseling, contact Career Services at 745-3141.
• For concerns regarding learning difficulties, contact Accessibility and Disability Resources at 745-3280.

Who is eligible for services

Therapy Services

All students, both undergraduates and graduates, who are currently enrolled at Xavier University are eligible for psychological services at no cost.

Consultation Services

If you are concerned about a Xavier student who is in crisis, you may call to consult with a PSC staff psychologist to discuss how you may refer the student for services at the PSC. Call (513) 745-4289 during regular office hours (9:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday).

You may call Campus Police at 745-1000 after hours if the student's crisis is serious and represents an immediate emergency. The Campus Police will contact the on-call therapist to respond to the crisis.

Also, you may take or direct the student to the emergency room of the closest hospital for immediate assistance.

Outreach Services

As a Xavier faculty member, staff member, or student group, you are eligible to call the PSC to request a workshop or program for your class, group, or organization.

Intake appointments

Usually, students who wish to seek services from a therapist at the PSC set up an appointment for an intake interview. You can do this by calling our main line at 513-745-3531 or Director, Dr. Salsman, at 745-4289 between 9:00AM and 5:00PM, Monday through Friday. If we are not available when you call, leave a voice mail message and we will return your call and schedule an intake session with you in a timely manner.

For your first appointment, plan to come 30 minutes early.

Come to Sycamore House on Winding Way on the west-side of campus and enter the side door.

Check in with our administrative assistant in the reception area.

You will be given some forms to read and complete. The forms will let you know what to expect and will allow you to provide some information about yourself.

The intake therapist will talk with you to achieve a better understanding of your concerns and to determine how the PSC staff may be of most help to you.

The intake session will take approximately one hour.

At the end of this first appointment, you and your intake therapist will decide how to best meet your needs.

Making referrals to the PSC

As a faculty or staff member, friend, or relative, if you feel a Xavier student would benefit from speaking with a therapist for a one-time evaluation or for on-going services, you can direct the student to call the Director of the PSC at (513) 745-4289 during regular office hours (9:00AM - 5:00PM, Monday through Friday).

If you feel it would be helpful to talk with the Director of the PSC about your concerns regarding the student, please feel free to do so.

However, due to issues of confidentiality, the Director may not be able to disclose information to you including whether or not the student has pursued evaluation or treatment.

If you are concerned about a Xavier student who is in crisis, you may call to consult with the PSC Director or a staff psychologist to discuss to whom you may refer the student for services at the PSC. Call (513) 745-4289 during regular office hours (9:00AM - 5:00PM, Monday through Friday).

You may call the Campus Police at 745-1000 after hours if the student's crisis is serious and represents an immediate emergency. The Campus Police will then page the on-call therapist to attend to the crisis.

Crisis and emergency services

What is a Crisis?

If you are experiencing any of the following thoughts or behaviors and feel like you need professional intervention, please call the PSC at 745-3531 between 9:00AM and 5:00PM, Monday through Friday or Campus Police at 745-1000 after office hours to talk with a therapist.

• Unable to stop crying
• Thoughts of hurting yourself
• Thoughts of hurting other people
• Have not eaten in a few days (not due to illness)
• Have not slept in a few days (not due to illness)
• Unable to go to classes (not due to illness)
• Unable to calm yourself down

How to help someone in crisis?

Oftentimes, as a faculty or staff member, friend, or relative, you are the first one aware of another's difficulties.

You may be concerned about your friend's suicidal or homicidal thoughts, symptoms of an eating disorder, or feelings of depression, among other things.

We recommend that you approach your friend in a gentle, caring and non-judgmental manner and share your concerns. It is common to feel as if you should manage your friend's crisis alone. In fact, you may feel you are being disloyal to your friend if you reach out for help. However, it is a sign of caring to encourage your friend to seek professional services.

Therapists are trained to handle crisis and emergency situations. At the PSC, we can offer an individual who is struggling an opportunity to discuss his/her issues in a confidential atmosphere of safety and respect.

Most of the time the student feels relieved once contact is made with a therapist.

If you want to offer additional support to your friend who is in a crisis, you can have the student call the PSC from your room or office, and/or you can accompany him/her to the PSC for the first appointment.

If your friend refuses to get help (and it is not an emergency), you should try to be open to the possibility that he or she may want help in the future. Feel free to consult with one of our therapists about any student.

If the student's crisis is serious and represents an emergency, contact the PSC at (513) 745-3531 during regular office hours (9:00AM - 5:00PM, Monday Through Friday) or call Campus Police at 745-1000 after hours to have the on-call therapist paged to assist with the emergency.

You may also take or direct the student to the emergency room of the closest hospital for immediate assistance.

How to get help if you are in crisis?

If you are in crisis, you can be seen on a walk-in basis at the PSC between the hours of 9:00AM and 5:00PM, Monday through Friday.

If you have an after-hours emergency, you may call 745-1000 to reach the Campus Police who will page the on-call therapist to assist with the emergency.

If you are an ongoing client at the Psychological Services Center and you experience a clinical emergency, contact your therapist at his/her office number. If you are unable to reach your therapist, follow the instructions on his/her voice mail or contact Campus Police at 745-1000 and the Campus Police will page the on-call therapist at the PSC to assist you.

You may also go to the emergency room of the closest hospital for immediate assistance.

After Hours Help:

If your crisis is serious and represents an immediate psychological emergency, and it is after regular office hours (after 5:00PM during the week or anytime during the weekend), you can call 745-1000 to reach Campus Police. The Campus Police will page the on-call therapist to assist you with the emergency.

If you are an ongoing client at the Psychological Services Center, and you experience a clinical emergency, contact your therapist at his/her office number. If you are unable to reach your therapist, follow the instructions on his/her voice mail or contact the Campus Police at 745-1000 and Campus Police will page the on-call therapist at the PSC to assist you.

You may also go to the emergency room of the closest hospital for immediate assistance.

Therapy services for students

How much does it cost?

All students currently enrolled at Xavier University are eligible for psychological services at no cost. Non-student spouses or partners of enrolled students who wish to engage in couples/marital therapy with their spouse or partner are eligible for services at no cost at this time. Xavier staff interested in couples/marital therapy where neither member of the couple are enrolled students are eligible for services for a minimal fee.

Who would be my therapist?

If individual or couple/marital therapy is indicated based upon the results of the intake interview, the intake therapist will refer you to a therapist who is a doctoral trainee, completing his/her doctoral degree in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychology. The doctoral trainee works under the direct supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist at the PSC.

How long until I can see a therapist?

The PSC Director makes every attempt to schedule you to see a therapist as soon as possible. Typically, an appointment can be obtained within a few days. In the case of an emergency, every effort is made to see you the same day of your call or you will be referred, as appropriate, for the necessary assistance.

Individual Therapy

What is individual therapy?

In individual therapy an individual meets with one of our therapists who provides treatment in an atmosphere of warmth and understanding.

Therapy allows you the chance to talk over what is on your mind with an objective person who is trained to help you with your concerns.

You will likely learn new ways of looking at situations and new skills so that you will be more capable of solving problems on your own in the future.

Some common reasons individuals come to therapy include:

• academic problems
• relationship problems
• inability to concentrate
• depressed feelings
• family problems
• suicidal thoughts
• sexual concerns
• grief
• eating disorders
• concerns adjusting to college.

Will therapy be confidential?

We are ethically committed to confidentiality and federal/state laws require it.

You are encouraged to discuss any fears/concerns you might have regarding confidentiality with your therapist.

You may request (by means of a signed release) that your therapist reveal information to other individuals or agencies of your choice;

According to the law there are three exceptions to confidentiality that are based on the issue of protection. If someone appears to be planning harm to self (suicide), if someone is planning harm to others (homicide), or if an individual is part of child or elderly abuse, the therapist is legally bound to break confidentiality and to provide the necessary assistance.

What can I expect therapy to be like?

Our therapists have different personal styles; however, we all share an interest in and a compassion for your personal story.

Although we understand that you may feel nervous about therapy, we have seen the therapeutic experience make a significant difference in the lives of our clients.

Therapy sessions usually last 45-50 minutes and are scheduled on a weekly basis.

For many problems, short-term treatment (between 5 and 20 sessions) is appropriate. However, when there are multiple problems or problems which have persisted over a long period of time, longer term treatment may be necessary.

On-going therapy is a negotiated process between you and your therapist. The two of you will evaluate your progress and periodically discuss the need for further appointments.

If, during the therapy, you have any questions about your therapy, please ask.

The information you share with your therapist is kept confidential, except in rare instances where your therapist is required by law or by court order to reveal information.

Couples/Marital Therapy

Eligibility for couples therapy:

Be together for a minimum of 6 months in a romantic relationship.

Sessions are held in person at Sycamore House, 3818 Winding Way, Cincinnati, OH  45229 or virtually through telehealth (as long as you are located in the state of Ohio).

Will couples/marital therapy be confidential?

The PSC staff is ethically committed to confidentiality and federal/state laws require it.

The issue of confidentiality is an important one to be addressed in order to make therapy a safe place for the couple to do the necessary work. Each partner is asked to make a commitment to protect information shared in the room.

While we at the PSC cannot provide an absolute guarantee of confidentiality since we cannot control each partner, our experience shows that couples agree to abide by the ground rules of confidentiality as part of the commitment to therapy.

Several issues do not remain confidential and are based on the issue of protection.

If someone appears to be planning harm to self (suicide), harm to others (homicide) OR is part of child or elderly abuse, the therapist is legally bound to break confidentiality in order to provide individuals the assistance they need.

Other services for Xavier students

Depending on the staffing at the PSC, other services such as child and family therapy, as well as group programs, may be available throughout the year to Xavier students.

Group programs will be announced in What's New at PSC.

If you are seeking psychological services and would like information as to whether these services are available on campus, please feel free to call the Director of the PSC at 745-4289. He will be happy to talk with you and to help with a referral.

Psychological evaluations for Xavier students

What is a psychological evaluation?

A psychological evaluation can provide useful information about an individual's personality and cognitive functioning through the use of standardized testing.

The PSC often conducts psychological evaluations as part of initial assessment and treatment planning.

In addition, individuals are periodically referred to us from a variety of campus departments, including the Health and Wellness Center and the Learning Assistance Center, for evaluation of a specific psychological concern, e.g., does this student have a learning disability? or What are the psychological issues related to this student's experience of depression?

How will it help?

Psychological testing provides clarity regarding important aspects of your personality and it more fully describes your symptoms and concerns to be addressed in treatment.

Once the evaluation is completed, the results and recommendations will be discussed with you.

How much will it cost?

As a Xavier student, there is no cost to you for a psychological evaluation.

Outreach services

Xavier faculty, staff members and student groups are eligible to call the PSC to request a workshop or program for a class, group, or organization. Every effort will be made to respond to such a request.

Possible Topics:

• Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders
• Managing Anxiety
• Stress Management
• Anger Control

Women's Issues Including:

• Body Image Concerns
• Self-esteem
• Challenges at Work and at Home

Sports-Related Issues Including:

• Use of Visual Imagery
• Relaxation Techniques
• Performance Enhancing Psychological Techniques