-provided by Appalachian State University Counseling Center
-take place outside the Counseling Center
-free of charge
-confidential
-offered on a first-come, first-served basis
-brief and informal (not a clinical service and not a substitute for ongoing counseling)
"Let’s Talk" was developed at Cornell University and has been implemented on a variety of college campuses. At Appalachian State, this program is available to enrolled students and provides easy access to informal and confidential support and consultation with counselors from Counseling & Psychological Services Center (Counseling Center). Any student is welcome to visit any of our locations. There is no appointment or fee necessary. Students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, and usually there is not much of a wait.
What are the Let’s Talk locations?
Right now, Let’s Talk is at two locations on campus: *
-Plemmons Student Union, New River Room (#100), Wednesdays 1pm-3pm
-Plemmons Student Union, Elk Knob Room (#165), Thursdays 1pm-3pm (please note that on 9/12/19, 12/5/19, and 1/23/19, Elk Knob will not be available and Let’s Talk visits, if available, will be held in the Snake Mountain Room [#136] across the hall instead).
*If you arrive to a location and it looks as though the counselor consultant is not there, check the door sign to see if they have indicated when they will return. If a door sign is not present, Let’s Talk will not be available at that location that day (e.g. due to inclement weather, counselor consultant illness or unavailability); please try another location or return the following week.
What are common concerns that people bring up at Let’s Talk?
Students come in with a variety of concerns. Please note that Let’s Talk is not the best fit to address psychological emergencies, such as recent traumatic events (e.g. a sexual assault), seeing/hearing things others do not, and concerns for immediate safety (including suicidality or homicidality). In these cases, students should seek help by walking in to the Counseling Center (first floor, Miles Annas Building). Some common concerns students talk about include:
Stress
Worry/Anxiety
Cultural barriers
Building friendships
Roommate struggles
Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
Financial struggles
Sadness
Adjustment/Culture shock
Problems in relationships with romantic partners, friends, family, roommates, faculty, etc.
Relationship break-ups
Homesickness
Academic performance
Sleep difficulties
Sexual orientation/Gender identity
What happens at a visit to Let’s Talk?
When you come to a Let’s Talk location, look to see if the office door is open. If it is, please come on in. If the door is closed, knock on the door and have a seat in a nearby chair and wait a few minutes until the counselor consultant comes to greet you. When you two meet, the counselor consultant will listen closely to your concerns, possibly ask questions and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources. Appointments are brief in nature (around 20 minutes), as the counselor consultant may need to make time for other students who are waiting.
What should I do if the Let’s Talk counselor consultant is already meeting with someone?
If the counselor consultant is already meeting with someone, the office door will be closed with a sign indicating that the office is occupied. In this case, knock on the door and please have a seat in a nearby chair and wait for the counselor consultant to come out and greet you. The wait is usually not long.
Who are the Lets Talk counselor consultants?
The counselor consultants are mental health professionals who are employed by the Counseling & Psychological Services Center and work in that setting as well as working at Lets Talk locations. Check out the bios of the Fall 2019 semester Lets Talk counselor consultants:
Heidi has worked at the ASU Counseling Center in varying capacities since 2005 and comes from a background in community and school-based services. She works with a wide range of issues, including depression and suicide, trauma, anxiety, womens issues, eating concerns, and relationship and attachment problems, and is particularly interested in the connection between mental health and nature. Heidi has a strong passion for working with underserved and marginalized populations and has served as the co-facilitator for the Gender Spectrum Group and the primary Counseling Center liaison to the Athletics Department and Office of International Education and Development. Heidi has a holistic, collaborative approach to counseling. She has a strong belief in every person's capacity for growth and healing and views her role as creating an affirming, inclusive space to foster change and potential.
Let's Talk visits are never reported on a student's official university record.
We don't want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let's Talk counselor consultant.
When counselors at the Counseling & Psychological Services Center provide ongoing individual counseling, this usually consists of weekly or bi-weekly 45 minute appointments. Let’s Talk is not formal counseling; it is a drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a counselor consultant from time to time.
Let’s Talk is open to all currently enrolled Appalachian graduate and undergraduate students. Let’s Talk is the best fit for the following people:
Students who are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor.
Students who are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor.
Students who have a specific problem and would like someone with whom to talk it through.
Students who have a concern about a friend/family member and want some ideas about what to do.
Absolutely. The counselor consultant will help you talk through your issues and help you determine the best way to get help.
If you believe you need to be seen sooner and you no longer can wait for services, it’s best to call the Counseling Center directly and explain your situation. A Counseling Center counselor will help you get into appropriate services as soon as possible that may include getting connected to an outside provider in your area.
Since regular counseling appointments are not available at Let’s Talk, following up with the referral is a good idea. If you have questions about your referral please contact the Counseling Center.
If your next appointment is not soon enough, it is best to contact your counselor directly to see if he or she can see you sooner.
The best thing to do in your situation is to talk directly with your counselor or call the Counseling Center to request a counselor change. Counselors are eager to get your feedback, positive or negative. Often, an open conversation about your concern helps smooth out any wrinkles and helps get things back on track.
Although Let’s Talk counselor consultants are professionals, Let’s Talk is not a substitute for psychotherapy or formal counseling and doesn't constitute mental health treatment. Let’s Talk counselor consultants provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it’s like to speak with a counselor. Your Let’s Talk counselor consultant can help you determine whether formal counseling at the Counseling & Psychological Services Center would be useful to you and, if appropriate, assist you in getting connected at the Counseling Center.
Let’s Talk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?
Conversations with Let's Talk counselor consultants are confidential. However, one exception is that counselors may need to share information in a situation in which safety for yourself or others is a concern.
Let's Talk counselor consultants keep brief notes of their contacts with students. Counseling Center counseling staff may see these notes. Information is also collected about attendance, so that we can keep track of the students we are serving and those we need to continue serving.
Let's Talk visits are never reported on a student's official university record.
We don't want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let's Talk counselor consultant.
The Counseling Center offers after-hours emergency coverage for urgent mental health concerns such as suicidal thoughts, sexual assault, and other trauma. Call the Counseling Center at (828)262-3180 and select the option to speak with the counselor on-call.
For additional resources see our Emergency Services page.
