About Counseling Services

Welcome to Student Counseling Services

Training for the next step in your career is exciting – and it can be stressful. Balancing work and studying, dealing with changes in relationships, and adjusting to life in a new place can be tough. Whether experiencing problems such as homesickness, school-related stress, trouble regulating sleeping or eating habits, conflicts with peers or family, or more severe mental health issues, many students find they benefit from a visit to the Student Counseling Center.

SCS Team Photo
SCS team from left to right: Donna Boone, Dr. Jason Yu, Trischelle George,
Dr. Nicholas Skefos, Dr. Jennifer Bahrman, and Dr. Marion Zahn.

We provide mental health services as part of the Student Health Clinic. Our staff includes a psychiatrist and a psychologist, both of whom have extensive experience in working with both common every day psychological problems and severe mental health issues. Counseling is provided in a private and comfortable setting.

  • Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are specialized in the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders. They assess causes of physical and mental disorders and provide different forms of treatment including medications and counseling.
  • Clinical psychologists are experts in the assessment and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, and they provide psychotherapy or counseling services.

Problems we work with range from the everyday stresses of juggling school, work, and relationships to more chronic issues, such as dealing with health-related conditions or disabilities. We see students struggling with difficult feelings or situations, making important life decisions, living away from home, or adjusting to a new country or culture. Whatever a student’s past experiences, values, or beliefs, we enjoy helping students find the help they need.

Common symptoms and signs of mental illnesses

Consider seeking professional help if these symptoms are persistent or become severe:

  •  Frequent crying spells/distress
  • Change in personal hygiene
  • Dramatic weight gain or loss
  • Agitation/aggressiveness
  • Unruly behavior
  • Impaired speech and disjointed thoughts
  • Physically harming self (cutting)
  • Substance abuse
  • Panic attacks
  • Hopelessness
  • Agitation, Irritability and unrelenting sadness or anxiety
  • Social isolation
  • Thoughts and ideas of suicide
  • Paranoia, delusions and hallucinations
  • Euphoria, excessive energy and poor sleep

Additional Resources

TAO

TAO (Therapy Assistance Online), is an interactive, self-guided, web-based program that consists of tools and educational materials to help you learn about and change how you think and feel.

Learn About TAO
Thrive, a free iphone app to the enhance well-bing of UT-Austin students

UTHealth Student Counseling is happy to announce our new wellness blog #UTHealthWellnessConnection as well as a series of short Wellness Presentations that can be found here.

STATEMENT ON RACIAL INJUSTICE FROM STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES

During psychiatric emergencies, the following options are available

UTHealth Houston Student Counseling 713-500-5171 (8am - 5pm)

  • Mental health services are available to registered students throughout the school year.
  • Services are strictly confidential – no information is shared with your family, friends, or school without your permission. Unless a student has provided written permission, no information about a student’s interactions with our providers is released to anyone outside the Counseling Center unless required by law, or in the rare instance of an emergency situation.

During psychiatric emergencies, the following options are available

  • Student Counseling

    UTHealth Houston Student Counseling 713-500-5171 (8am - 5pm)

    • Mental health services are available to registered students throughout the school year.
    • Services are strictly confidential – no information is shared with your family, friends, or school without your permission. Unless a student has provided written permission, no information about a student’s interactions with our providers is released to anyone outside the Counseling Center unless required by law, or in the rare instance of an emergency situation.
  • Crisis Hotline

    Crisis Line for student and someone needs help call 713-500-4688 (IMUT)

    If the individual is in immediate danger or is endangering others, call 911 or UT police department (713-792-7867 or 713-792-STOP).

    POLICY ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN STUDENT HEALTHCARE AND STUDENT EVALUATION 

    A person who voluntarily seeks treatment may call or go to either of these facilities, located in the Texas Medical Center: 

    NeuroPsychiatric Center (The Harris Center, or MHMRA)
    1502 Taub Loop
    Houston, TX
    713-970-7070

    Methodist Hospital ER
    6565 Fannin Street
    Houston, TX
    713-790-3311

    Or you can access any other local psychiatric hospitals and emergency rooms. https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Location

UT Professional Building
6410 Fannin St. Suite 130
Houston, TX 77030

Appointments: 713-500-5171
Fax: 713-500-0605

Hours: M-F 8:30 – 5:00 PM (Appointments preferred)

Acute illness walk-ins can be seen from 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM

After Hours Help

For non-life threatening emergencies please contact our after-hours nurse triage line at 713-500-5171.

For Psychiatry on call please call 713-500-5173.

Emergency Crisis Hotline

IMUT Crisis Hotline Graphic

Crisis Line for student and someone needs help call 713-500-4688 (available 24 hours a day).

Local Mental Health Authority

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD 24-hour Crisis Line: 713-970-7000, press 1
https://www.theharriscenter.org/