Students can receive individual counseling to assist them through the process of making decisions, accessing support, working through feelings, and exploring the impact and meaning of their experiences.

 The decision to receive counseling services is often made while dealing with challenging circumstances.  So our hope is to make getting started easier.  Reading this orientation first will help to clarify how you might use us to assist you with your current challenges. 

Services.  
CARE provides personal and psychological counseling, advocacy services and education to UCI students who have been impacted by sexual assault or intimate partner violence.  CARE provides session-limited counseling for individuals, couples, and families. Generally, a counseling session for an individual lasts fifty minutes and is scheduled once each week, although these parameters may change by mutual agreement by you and your counselor.  Group therapy and support groups are also available.  Group therapy is more appropriate for many students and there is no session-limit for group therapy.  On occasion, students elect to be in family therapy or couple’s counseling. 

If for any reason you are not able to attend a scheduled appointment, we ask that you call your counselor and provide at least 24 hours notice so that other students may be served during your appointment time.

Reaching us. 
We are open between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday.  Counselors are available by appointment and may be available for walk-in appointments.  If no counselors are available during working hours due to other campus engagements, students may receive immediate service at the Counseling Center next door in 202 Student Services I or students may call UCI Campus Police at 301-824-5223.  After business hours, students may call UCI Campus Police or Community Service Programs, Inc. (24 hours) at 949-831-9110.  We can be reached by phone at (949) 824-7273 or in person at 202 Student Services I, Room 208.  As a general rule we discourage personal counseling on the Internet because this communication is not secure and we are concerned that third parties, not affiliated with UCI CARE, might view and store your confidential communication.  Furthermore, we can not ensure that your e-mail message will be received or responded to promptly. Therefore, do not send information you consider confidential by e-mail.  Please phone or walk in during open hours.

Fees. 
There are no fees collected for our services.  Services are paid through fees collected from students when they enroll.

Staff. 
Our staff members are very aware of the stresses unique to a university setting.  Most teach academic classes and facilitate workshops throughout the campus community as well.  Our counseling psychologists have doctoral degrees in psychology and are licensed or in the process to be licensed by the State of California. 

Conflict of interest. 
Because our staff are involved in multiple roles at the University it is possible that you might discover that your assigned counselor is or has been in another professional role with you such as teacher or supervisor.  We avoid dual relationships with students so as not to harm the success of the counseling relationships.  If you find that you are or have been in a non-counselor relationship with your assigned counselor, please immediately bring the issue up with him or her so that it can be resolved.

Getting started.   
There are two ways in which you may enter our services; you walk in or call to make an appointment for the initial meeting. Ifr you need help more urgently, you may be helped immediately after reaching CARE.  In both situations you will likely be asked to complete information and consent forms prior to speaking to a counselor.   The goal of the initial meeting is for the counselor to discuss your concerns and decide upon a course of action that would best meet your needs.  The outcome of this discussion is likely to be one or more of the following.

• You may resolve your concern satisfactorily during the intake and require no further action.
• You may be better assisted by another resource person on or off-campus.  Your counselor will help you to identify other resources and assist you by making a referral.  CARE reserves the right to refuse treatment to anyone if we determine that our services are inappropriate.
• You may benefit from, and be eligible for, further counseling here at CARE. 

Counselor assignment. 
If you are offered and agree to counseling, your counselor will either make an appointment to see you again or will assist in the assignment of another counselor outside of CARE.  If you have strong preferences to see a counselor of a particular gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, we will try to accommodate your request. 

Feedback.  
We encourage you to ask questions about counseling methods and procedures, qualifications of your counselor, or services at CARE.  You should discuss any dissatisfaction regarding services with your counselor. 

Confidentiality. 
Counseling is confidential.  All information you share with us, whether it is information in our records about you or even the fact that you have come to see us, can not be shared with others outside CARE.  In some circumstances your counselor may consult with a supervisor in order to provide you with the best help available.  However, no one outside CARE may have access to counseling information without your prior written permission or as required by law.  The law in the State of California mandates that information may be appropriately shared if you are in imminent harm to yourself or to others, when there is an indication of child or elder abuse or if you are gravely disabled.  If you are referred for counseling as a condition of an agreement, for example with the Dean of Students or with your academic department, and want information communicated to them, you will have to sign a release form to have any information provided to the person who referred you.

Forms. 
When you arrange an appointmetnt with a counselor, you will be asked to complete a set of forms. If you prefer, you may print these out and complete them at home before coming in for your appointment.

1. The Informed Consent for Counseling Services should be read and discussed with your counselor if you have any questions before you sign it.  Your signature indicates that you understand the nature of the services offered, and the limits of confidentiality and the fact that you are voluntarily requesting counseling services.  You will never be taped without your knowledge and consent.
   
2. The Student Information Form provides us with your schedule and information to aid us if we need to reach you, as well as information regarding your status with Student Health and the reasons for which you are requesting to be seen.
   
   
3. The Information Sheet is collected for our statistics and utilization data so that we can keep track of the general characteristics of the students who we are serving.

Your counselor will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have about the forms.  We thank you for coming in and for helping us help you.