The Counseling Center at Otterbein University

What services does the Counseling Center offer? 

The Counseling Center is open Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last appointment at 4 pm) We are closed over the summer months. The Counseling Center operates using a short-term therapy model, and tailors the number of individual sessions to the individual students’ specific clinical needs. Typically, students report improvement within 3-6 meetings.  We have professional relationships with mental health providers in the local community and can help students with the referral process to adjunctive therapy, medication evaluation, specialized care, or longer-term therapy, when needed.

We offer one-time consultation appointments for student groups or individual students who do not need on-going counseling but would benefit from the guidance of a counselor in response to an event or particular situation.

We offer student workshops and the opportunity to partner with student organizations on campus to share information on wellness topics.
Monday through Friday, we offer an urgent, walk-in appointment time at 11 am to students on a first come, first served basis. You do not need an appointment for this.

Are the counselors credentialed and licensed? 

All our counselors are either licensed as independent clinical social workers or professional clinical counselors in the state of Ohio.

How do I make an appointment with a counselor?

You can call 614-823-1333 and schedule a screening appointment or you can click on the “Request an Appointment” link at the top right of this webpage. We are located at 146 W. Home Street in a little white house at the corner of W. Home and Center Streets. We are on the same street as, and close to, the football field and the Campus Center. During your first screening appointment, a counselor will meet with you online to go over our services, what brings you to counseling, and how we can best support you. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us at 614-823-1333 or at counseling@otterbein.edu

Can I see a counselor without an appointment?

Counselors normally see students by appointment but we do have an urgent, walk-in time at 11 am, M-F, that you do not need an appointment to attend. We have one counselor, on a rotating basis, who holds that time open for student walk-ins. Students are served on a first come, first served basis.

Am I assigned a particular counselor? 

Students normally see one counselor. Unless you have a specific request, we will pair you with the counselor that best fits your unique needs and schedule. If that counselor does not feel like a good fit for you, you may ask your current counselor or our administrative assistant to schedule you with a different counselor. It’s important to us that you feel comfortable!

How much does it cost? 

Counseling services are free for currently enrolled students.

Will a record of my counseling services be kept confidential? 

Any information shared between you and your counselor will be kept confidential.  The right to release any information regarding your case belongs to you and information can only be released at your request and with written consent.  The Counseling Center does not disclose counseling records, attendance, progress, or otherwise to any person, including academic records.  There are exceptions to confidentiality which your counselor will discuss with you at your first appointment. These pertain to safety concerns and mandatory reporting requirements that the state of Ohio requires for all Social Workers and Counselors.

What should I do in case of emergency or imminent mental health crisis? 

In case of emergency, you can call 911, go to your local Emergency Department, or call Cardinal 24/7 Connect at (833) 434-1217 anytime, anywhere, to speak with a licensed mental health professional.  If you are on campus, you may also call Otterbein Police Department at (614) 823-1222

What should I expect from counseling? 

The counselor will talk to you about the issues and help you to identify your own personal goals for counseling. For example, this could be improving how you manage feelings, or dealing more effectively with relationships.

Counseling works best as a collaboration between you and the counselor. The counselor may ask questions to help understand your feelings and thoughts and how they affect your life. The counselor may make direct suggestions or may refer you to a more appropriate professional.

What should I expect during my first appointment? 

Your first visit will generally be a 45-minute Initial Screening in which you will meet online with a counselor via a confidential telehealth counseling platform. You will be emailed a private, individual link prior to your appointment, along with a few forms to complete. The day of the first appointment, you will be emailed and asked to complete a brief mental health screening tool that will provide our counselor with information about how you are feeling and functioning. At the appointment, your counselor will share information about what to expect out of counseling and will also ask you some background information questions to help us formulate treatment goals and assess what type of counseling would be most helpful to you. At the conclusion of your initial screening, our counselor may decide that your schedule and treatment needs are a better fit with one of our other staff counselors or with a community-based counselor. Our counselor will discuss all your options with you and help you with any suggested referrals.

*If you would prefer an in-person Initial Screening at the Counseling Center, you may request this by calling us at 614-823-1333 or emailing us at counseling@otterbein.edu

What should I expect during my first “in-person” visit? 

Upon entering the front door, you will be greeted by our administrative assistant who will make sure that we have your picture and any missing forms on file. You will be shown where the bathroom is and offered water and snacks. You will then have a seat in our waiting area until your counselor comes to connect with you and take you to their office.

How many counseling sessions are provided per student?

Although every case is different, our counselors are trained to use a Brief Solution Focused Therapy model that will allow a student to participate in 6-10 counseling sessions in order to achieve their counseling goal.

Who is eligible for counseling services? 

All currently enrolled Otterbein students.

Do you provide in-person or virtual appointments? 

We offer both in-person and virtual appointments, depending on a student’s needs and availability. Our license allows us to provide counseling in the state of Ohio only. Therefore, for us to conduct telehealth visits, the student must be physically present in Ohio at the time of the appointment.

I am a parent of a student, how can I help my student connect with a counselor? 

You may encourage your student to reach out to schedule an appointment by contacting the Counseling Center (see top of page for phone number, email, or link to online appointment form.) Students must schedule appointments for themselves, but you can help them fill out the online form or craft an email to us. Because of confidentiality and unless we have a signed Authorization for Release of Information, we will not be able to disclose and confirm or deny whether the student has scheduled an appointment or is meeting with one of our counselors. We encourage you to have an open conversation with your student about this by talking about your concerns and any changes you notice in your student’s mood and behavior.

I am a staff/faculty member; how can I help my student connect with a counselor? 

You may encourage your student to reach out to schedule an appointment by contacting the Counseling Center (see top of page for phone number, email, or link to online appointment form.) You can also ask for support from Student Success and Career Development. You may also offer to walk the student over to the Counseling Center to set-up an appointment. However, students, ultimately, must schedule appointments for themselves. Because of confidentiality and unless we have a signed Authorization for Release of Information, we will not be able to disclose and confirm or deny whether the student has scheduled an appointment or is meeting with one of our counselors. We encourage you to have an open conversation with your students about your concerns and any changes you notice in their mood, behavior and/or academic performance.

Where can I find information about current Counseling Center events and workshops? 

You can check our website, Otterbein News, Res Life’s Stall Stories, or follow our Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/otterbeincounseling/

What type of documentations and forms can the Counseling Center staff fill out?

At this time, our counselors are not able to complete any of the following documents for students: ESA forms, Disability forms, Housing Accommodation Forms, diagnosis forms. Some students have been successful at getting these forms filled out by their primary care provider or community mental health provider such as counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist they are already established with.