USF 1996-97 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 25

Counseling Center for Human Development

The Counseling Center is a comprehensive, student-oriented facility providing services in educational skill enhancement, career development, and mental health to the USF community. The Center offers individual treatment on a time-limited basis and makes referrals to in-house therapy groups or to community settings for appropriate management of problems requiring longer-term care. All services preserve the confidentiality of students.

The Career Counseling Service is designed to assist students in career and life planning. Major emphasis is given to the development of realistic educational and career goals through greater self understanding, reality-based decision-making, and effective problem-solving. Services include intake evaluation; assessment of abilities, interests, and other relevant characteristics; individual and group counseling; informational services; and consultation. In addition, SIGI PLUS, FOCUS, and CAREER FINDER, computerized career information and guidance support systems, are available to assist students in the process of self-assessment and career exploration. A Career Information Library containing current occupational resources is available for student use.

The Personal Counseling Service is designed to enhance the social-emotional adjustment of students who are experiencing stresses that interfere with personal growth and adjustment to university life. Professional counselors seek to enable the student to develop a clear sense of identity, establish autonomy, discover strengths and potential, and become a more insightful, self-directing person. Services, aimed at early detection of potential mental health problems, are as follows: Intake evaluation and disposition, crisis intervention, psychological assessment, time-limited individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, personal growth groups, and both time-limited and ongoing psychotherapy groups. Adjunctive services include psychiatric consultation, anxiety management, and skill-enhancement workshops.

The Reading and Learning Program seeks to provide students with reading skills and learning strategies necessary for academic success in higher education. Diagnostic services include determining an individual's functioning in reading comprehension and study skills. Additionally, two courses are offered for credit-Advanced Reading and Learning Strategies within Academic Disciplines. Students may request individual sessions focused on the application of learning strategies to academic course work. Each semester a variety of workshops focus on reading and study skill topics, as well as CLAST reading workshops for those students preparing for the CLAST test.

Testing and Assessment Services enhance the effectiveness of counseling by providing objective information about students. Tests of ablities, aptitudes, career interests, personality, reading comprehension, study skills, and other complex psychological attributes are maintained in the Center. Additionally, the Learning Disabilities Testing Program receives referrals from the Office of Disabled Student Services and identifies students with specific learning disabilities.

The Outreach Program aims at understanding the needs of the University community and developing programs to meet those needs. Structured groups and workshops are provided for students and staff as methods of primary prevention and education. Through a montly newsletter, columns in the student newspaper, posters, advertisements, and presentations to student organizations and other groups, Center staff provide information about a wide range of mental health and psychosocial issues that concern students.

Specialized programs include the Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse (CASA) and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. CASA focuses on research, prevention, and treatment with regard to alcohol and other drug use/abuse. Vocational Rehabilitation services are available for qualifying students and include vocational evaluation, vocational and personal counseling and guidance, coordination of services, training assistance, provision of books and supplies, and treatment.

For more information, call 974-2831 or stop by SVC (Student Services) 2124. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except University holidays).

Veterans Services provides specialized services and programs to veterans, eligible dependents, active duty personnel, and members of the Selected Reserve. The staff assists students with their use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Educational Benefits, and serve as information and referral resources. Veterans Services was established to act as a liaison, whenever possible, between the VA students and the VA or various USF offices in order to help resolve problems. Veterans Services is the point where students submit all paperwork concerning VA Educational Benefits. Programs to help students financially include VA Work-Study Program, VA Deferment of Fees, Advance Payment Program and VA Tutorial Assistance. Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except University holidays). Under special circumstances, it is possible to call to arrange for an after-hours appointment.

For further information, contact the staff in SVC 2127, or call 974-2291.

Counseling Center Home Page - for more information regarding USF's Counseling Center

Send comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 1996