Daytona Beach Counseling Center

Consultation and Referral

The Counseling Center's receptionist helps students with appointments and referrals

Student Consultation and Referral	Faculty Consultation and Referral	Approaching a Student
When to Refer	How to Refer

Student Consultation & Referral:

You may call or meet for advice if you are worried about the behavior or well-being of a friend or roommate. Counselors are also well informed about other services both on and off campus and are able to refer you to appropriate resources as needed.

Faculty Consultation and Referral:

You may call or meet for advice if you are worried about the behaviour or well-being of a student.

As someone who works with students on a daily basis, you are almost guaranteed at some point to be either an observer or a direct confidant of a student undergoing some emotional distress. Your role can be immensely important in providing support, encouragement, and help with immediate problem solving. Many times that is all that is needed.

On other occasions, you may discover that the troubled student has more lasting or severe problems which require professional help. Or you may just not be comfortable enough with either the relationship or the particular issues to get involved yourself.

Referring the student to the Counseling Center for needed services or calling for a consultation about how to best handle the situation are options available to you.
The following guide contains some suggestions about how to approach a student you are concerned about, how to recognize signs of crisis, and determining when and how to refer.

Approaching a Student:

When attempting to talk with a student about a personal or emotional situation, it is helpful to:

Provide a private setting
Avoid promising secrecy
Listen actively, with interest and concern
Respect the student's right to their own values. Avoid making judgmental or moralizing remarks.
Avoid alarm reactions. Talk in a calm, even voice, despite the student's level of emotionality.
Resist transferring the whole weight of the student's problem onto your shoulders.

When To Refer:

Generally, Refer if:

You notice a marked change in personal hygiene, weight, or alertness.
You observe uncharacteristic personality traits or behaviors such as moodiness, pessimism, low self esteem, irritability, withdrawal, or disruptiveness.
There is a loss of motivation or drop in grades.
You learn of a significant loss such as a death in the family or the breakup of a relationship.
You hear concerned comments or complaints from other students.
The problem has continued despite the student's repeated efforts to resolve it.
The student appears to be developing an unhealthy dependency on you for ongoing emotional support.

REFER IMMEDIATELY IF:

Student expresses suicidal thoughts
Student expresses homicidal thoughts
There is gross mental impairment or confusion
You observe bizarre behavior
Uncontrollable sobbing or other intense emotion prevents the student from expressing what the problem is.

NOTE: In addition to placing a call to advise the counselor of an imminent visit, it will also be necessary to accompany a student in crisis to the Counseling Center reception area.

How To Refer:

If your decision is to refer based on the criteria provided above, it will be helpful if you:

Already know exactly where the Counseling Center is located.
Use a caring, inoffensive opening such as: "Are you talking with anyone about this?"
Present counseling as a positive, legitimate, way of taking care of oneself.
Debunk the idea (if held) that only "crazy" students go for counseling.
Do not make a referral to a particular counselor. Students tend to feel let down if that counselor is unavailable.
Suggest counseling to a student and let them make their own decision about follow through. However, if a student is receptive and you want to circumvent possible postponements, you may call the Counseling Center with the student present. Advise the secretary of your name and that you are with a student wishing to set an appointment. Hand the phone to the student to finalize the time and date.
It is supportive and appropriate for you to check with the student at a later point about their follow through with your referral.
Due to confidentiality restrictions, it is not possible for the counselor to verify whether the student has entered counseling.
In the case of an emergency when an unstable student needs to be seen immediately, call and ask to speak with a counselor. Advise them of the student's name, and briefly describe the nature of the crisis. Accompany, or see that the student is accompanied to the Counseling Center, where they will be seen immediately. It is not necessary for you to remain beyond that point, unless you wish to do so.