Scope of Practices & Policies
The Counseling Center provides short-term individual therapy free of charge to all degree-seeking students taking classes on campus.
Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis?
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to speak to someone immediately, please call the on-call counselor at (802) 865-5745 or Campus Public Safety at (802) 865-6465. Counselors are available for same-day and walk-in appointments during regular business hours.
Get in touch with an on-call counselorWhat to Expect
The type, duration, and frequency of services that the Counseling Center provides for each student will be determined by numerous intersecting factors, including but not limited to:
- Students’ presenting concerns/problems
- Students’ mental health, psychosocial, and treatment history
- Students’ sociocultural backgrounds and identities
- Students’ ability to access off campus services in the context of their health insurance coverage, financial resources, familial support, geographic location, etc.
- The Counseling Center’s clinical capacity at the time a student is seeking services
Examples of some commonly addressed issues are:
- Adjustment to college/loneliness
- Anxiety/depression/grief
- Identity development
- Academic stress
- Relationship concerns
- Body image and/or eating behaviors
- Family stress
Confidentiality Statement
Champlain College Counseling Center staff are ethically and legally required to ensure all counseling interactions are kept confidential. No record of counseling is included in a student’s academic file.
Exceptions to confidentiality may occur in the case of court ordered requests for records, mandated counseling, if a student is a danger to themselves or someone else, or where staff are required by law to report current child abuse or elder abuse.
Care Beyond Champlain & Out-of-State Providers
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Not all types of counseling problems are best dealt with at the Counseling Center. Students with mental health issues or conditions rising above the level of those addressed by short-term therapy, treatment for severe psychological disorders, court-mandated treatment, or highly-specialized treatment may be best treated by off-campus resources.
We also encourage students to continue working with their current psychiatrist, physician, or a mental health provider at home for continuity of care and for access to support when not at Champlain College.
Often students can benefit from continuity of care during their transition to college. If you have a mental health provider in another state, Vermont law allows that provider to continue providing care by registering and applying for a Telehealth License.
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How We Approach Community Referrals
If a student requires longer-term or more-intensive psychotherapy or specialized care the Counseling Center cannot provide, we will make a referral to a clinician in the community who can provide that care. If you are referred to a clinician in the community, you will need to use your health insurance or pay out of pocket for that care. We work with local providers to find ones that have openings and that work with the student’s insurance. There are several resources in the community that lower fees for students who cannot afford counseling or that see students regardless of ability to pay. Students are also informed about the best ways to get transportation to off-campus appointments. We will make every effort to make sure that referral fits your clinical and practical needs. If the referral is not working for you, for any reason, you are encouraged to contact the clinician at the Counseling Center that you initially saw to discuss your options.
- Local Resources We May Refer Students To
Need to Miss a Session?
As counseling services are in high-demand at Champlain, students who miss 3 or more individual counseling appointments in a semester will be placed on a waitlist for additional appointments.
Students are always eligible for crisis services. If notification of a missed appointment is received at least 24 hours prior to the appointment, it will not be counted toward the session limit.
Counseling Center
Location
Skiff Hall, Room 100
163 South Willard Street
Burlington, VT 05402
163 South Willard Street
Burlington, VT 05402
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Contact Us
Useful Links
Student Health Center
The Student Health Center is available to all degree-seeking students taking classes on campus. Get in contact with a health provider today!
Care Team
The Care Team is a multidisciplinary group that meets regularly to discuss referrals from Champlain community members who have observed students in distress who may need wellbeing support.
Office of Diversity & Inclusion
The ODI is a resource for all Champlain students looking to take an active role in creating a safe and inclusive campus.