Counseling Services FAQ
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of counseling does the staff provide?
Are services available for currently enrolled, college students only?
What is the difference between "personal" and "career" counseling?
I recently set up an appointment for personal counseling. What can I expect on my first visit?
What will happen if I do not want to sign the Information and Consent document?
What types of degrees and credentials does the counseling staff hold?
What are the office hours?
Does the staff provide on-line (email, internet) counseling?
Do I need to make an appointment to see a counselor?
Are there any fees for counseling services?
What types of services are available for OTC faculty and staff?
Will the staff give me a diagnosis for a mental disorder if I come in for personal reasons?
What types of career tests are available?
What kinds of community referral resources are available?
What does it mean that services are "confidential?"
My instructor referred me for counseling. Will the counselor talk to my instructor after I complete my counseling session?
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1. What types of counseling does the staff provide?
The Counseling Services staff provides both personal counseling and career counseling services for the OTC community. Our services are primarily provided in a private office setting, meeting one-on-one with a counselor, although some services may also be provided in a small-group setting. Staff also works closely with our academic advising staff to provide advising/educational planning services.
2. Are services available for currently enrolled, college students only?
Personal and career counseling services are available to currently enrolled post-secondary students and OTC staff. Career counseling services are also made available on a limited basis to prospective (not currently enrolled) OTC students. (NOTE: For information about counseling and career assessment services available to our OTC's Career Center students, please visit the Career Center website at www.otc.edu/students/highschool/career_center.php).
3. What is the difference between "personal" and "career" counseling?
"Personal counseling" (sometimes referred to as mental-health counseling) is sought by individuals (or small groups) who have issues in their lives, which are interfering with their life satisfaction. Common examples of "personal counseling" issues may include (but are not limited to) struggles with anxiety (test, performance and/or generalized anxiety), depression, stress, relationship communication, abuse, grief, or post traumatic stress disorder. Counselors are available to work with minors (under the age of 18) for personal counseling issues. However, a minor will need to obtain parent or guardian permission if he/she wishes to participate in more than one personal counseling session.
"Career counseling" is sought by individuals who would like assistance in career or college major decision-making. Career counseling may involve researching careers, learning about the process of career decision-making, taking career assessments, and studying related college major opportunities.
"Academic Advising" services are designed to assist new and returning students in developing educational and career plans, selecting appropriate majors and courses and accessing campus resources.
4. I recently set up an appointment for personal counseling. What can I expect on my first visit?
When you arrive for your appointment, you will be greeted by a member of our department staff and your counselor will be informed of your arrival. A new counseling client will be asked (in the privacy of your counselor's office) to read and sign the Counseling Services Information and Consent document prior to the start of the session. You will also be asked to inform the counselor how you prefer to be contacted (if at all) in the event the counselor must reschedule a future appointment. Once these necessary housekeeping tasks are accomplished, you can begin visiting with your counselor about the reasons you are seeking counseling services.
At the end of your first visit, you and your counselor will determine whether a follow-up session(s) is recommended.
5. What will happen if I do not want to sign the Information and Consent document?
We will be happy to work with an individual for the one scheduled session in which the document is presented. However, without a signed and dated Information and Consent form on file, we will not be able to schedule any further counseling appointments.
6. What types of degrees and credentials does the counseling staff hold?
Counseling Services counselors hold Masters' degrees in Counseling from accredited Counseling programs, are supervised by a Licensed Professional Counselor, and/or retain the required certification and/or licensure in their particular area of expertise.
Joyce Thomas, Director of Counseling and Advising
M.S.Ed. Counseling; National Board Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor
James Carpenter, Counselor
M.S. Counseling; National Board Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor
Ramona George, Counselor (part-time)
M.S. Counseling; National Board Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor
Steve Fritts, Counselor (part-time)
M.S. Counseling; Board Eligible National Certified Counselor, Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor
Heather Lewellen, Counselor (part-time)
M.S. Counseling, Board Eligible National Certified Counselor, Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor
Judy Darst, Counselor (part-time)
M.S. Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor
7. What are the office hours?
Monday-Thursday, 7:30am-6:00pm Fridays, 8:00am-4:30pm
8. Does the staff provide on-line (email, internet) counseling?
Staff have access to email through OTC and are happy to respond to student/client inquiries that are general in nature. Because email is not a secure medium and confidentiality of content cannot be guaranteed, counselors encourage individuals to come in and visit in person to discuss private issues. We are currently offering web-based counseling, which is confidential and secure, at our Lebanon and Waynesville Education Centers and will be expanding to the Branson Education Center soon.
9. Do I need to make an appointment to see a counselor?
Occasionally, individuals can walk in and see a counselor on-the-spot. However, to ensure an uninterrupted, private meeting with a counselor, our staff asks individuals to come by or call in advance to schedule an appointment.
10. Are there any fees for counseling services?
There are no fees for our individual or group counseling services. This includes both personal and career counseling (even those which involve career testing).
11. What types of services are available for OTC faculty and staff?
The same personal and career counseling services offered to students are also available (free-of-charge) to OTC's faculty and staff. Faculty and staff can also utilize the section of the department's website devoted specifically to them. This section includes information on how to make a student referral, what to do in a crisis, off-campus referrals and on how to request a presentation for the classroom.
12. Will the staff give me a diagnosis for a mental disorder if I come in for personal reasons?
Counseling staff may provide screenings for mental disorders (including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, eating disorders and manic-depression) but we do not make mental-health diagnoses. We do work closely with an individual's referring physician, mental health or social service provider and are well-versed in the wide variety of diagnoses that may have been made by one of these referring agents.
13. What types of career tests are available?
A variety of career tests (also called assessments) are available. Counselors do not pre-determine which of our career assessments an individual is going to take. Rather, we view each client's needs individually and select the most helpful assessments based on the unique needs of each client. Tests available include those which assess academic strengths, aptitudes, personality style, work values and interests.
14. What kinds of community referral resources are available?
Because our counseling services are intended to be short-term, referral to an outside agency may be helpful. Our department has an extensive network of mental-health, social service, and physical health referrals. Many of our referrals provide services at a reduced or no cost to the client. To receive a referral suggestion, individuals can call our department, come in for an individual meeting or visit our website link for community referral resources (pdf).
15. What does it mean that services are "confidential?"
Our individual personal and career counseling services are provided in a private setting. Clients can be assured that information they share with their counselor in this setting remains confidential. Information about our clients and their issues is released only in specific circumstances. Examples may include: if a client threatens harm to him or herself or to a third party; in cases of child or elder abuse/neglect; if a client gives the counselor written permission to disclose information outside the confines of the counseling office.
16. My instructor referred me for counseling. Will the counselor talk to my instructor after I complete my counseling session?
Without written permission from a client, counselors may not disclose any information about a client to anyone outside of the counseling department. This includes disclosing information to concerned instructors, OTC administrators, or loved ones. Occasionally, students who are referred by an instructor may give the counselor permission to confirm with the instructor that the student did come in for a counseling session. Again, this information can only be disclosed with the client's expressed written consent to do so.
Please refer to question #15 for more detail in regard to privacy and confidentiality.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
417-447-6974 or email counseling@otc.edu