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Due to recommendations from the CDC, State of North Carolina, and UNC System related to COVID-19, the ASU Counseling & Psychological Services Center (the Counseling Center) is not offering in-person Let’s Talk consultations until further notice. However, we are excited to offer a virtual version of this service, Let’s TeleTalk. Let’s TeleTalk is a program that provides easy access to informal, brief, confidential one-on-one consultations with Counseling Center counselors. Let’s TeleTalk provides informal consultations to help students address specific problems and to familiarize them with the process of talking to a counselor. Let’s TeleTalk consultants can share helpful resources, offer their perspective on a student’s concerns, and assist in learning how to help a friend; additionally, they can help students determine whether formal counseling at the Counseling & Psychological Services Center would be useful and, if appropriate, assist students in scheduling an appointment. Although Let’s TeleTalk counselor consultants are mental health professionals, this service is not intended to be a substitute for psychotherapy or emergency services and does not constitute mental health treatment.
Disclaimer: While we strive to ensure the confidentiality of Let’s TeleTalk sessions, there are privacy risks associated with any online platforms.
Let’s TeleTalk is available at the times listed below. If you are interested, please use the link at the designated time to join a Zoom meeting with a Let’s TeleTalk counselor consultant via Engage. Students will be seen individually for a 15-20 minute consultation on a first-come, first-served basis. There may be a wait in the virtual waiting room if the counselor consultant is seeing another student. Please wait and we’ll be with you as soon as we can.
All Let’s TeleTalk sessions through the Fall 2020 semester will be held virtually via Zoom. To find the Zoom links and more information, please log in to Engage and visit the links below. Let’s TeleTalk sessions are offered weekly at the following times, starting August 25th:
Let's TeleTalk! Tuesdays 2-4 pm (https://engage.appstate.edu/event/6175408)
Let's TeleTalk! Wednesdays 1-3 pm (https://engage.appstate.edu/event/6175456 )
Let's TeleTalk! Thursday (11/5/2020 only) 3-5pm (https://engage.appstate.edu/event/6590823)
-provided by Appalachian State University Counseling Center
-take place online with a counselor consultant from 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 the 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.
Who should visit Let’s TeleTalk?
Students come to discuss a variety of topics, including:
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
Whether formal counseling may be a good fit for them
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 is not the best fit to address to 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) or, if outside of business hours, calling 828-262-3180.
Students should also contact the Counseling Center (or other psychological services provider to whom they have been referred) instead of going to Let's Talk in the following situations:
Waiting to start services with the Counseling Center or another provider but wanting to be seen sooner
Already receiving services at the Counseling Center or with another provider but desiring an earlier appointment
Feeling dissatisfied with current services at the Counseling Center or with another provider
What happens at a visit to Let’s TeleTalk?
The counselor consultant will listen closely to your concerns, possibly ask questions, and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources. When you join the zoom meeting, you will be placed in a virtual waiting room and be seen on a first come, first serve basis. You may have a short wait if the counselor consultant is meeting with another student.
Let’s TeleTalk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?
Let's Talk provides space for a brief conversation or informal consultation and it should not be confused with or substituted for counseling or therapy services. This is a confidential service; however, we may need to share information with others in the event of:
Any immediate risk of you ending your life or seriously harming someone else's life
The abuse/neglect of minors, elders, or those who are dependent on someones care
Court ordered requests for information
Information shared at Let's Talk is maintained by the Counseling Center and not included within educational records.
Who are the Let's TeleTalk 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 Let's Talk locations. Check out the bios of the Spring 2020 semester Let's Talk counselor consultants:
Staff Counselor, Coordinator of Multicultural Services
(Pronouns: she, her, hers)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in North Carolina
Doctorate Program: Marriage and Family Therapy, Texas Tech University
Doctoral Internship: Family Therapy Clinic, Texas Tech University; Department of Family Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Post-doctoral Fellowship: Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Primary Care, Department of Family Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Gayatri has training as a marriage and family therapist and also in the field of medical family therapy working with people from different cultural contexts and countries. Some of the areas of interest include multicultural sensitivity, mindfulness and meditation, dealing with health related issues, coping with stress, life transitions, cultural adjustment, grief and loss, self-care, emotional well-being, self-esteem, communication, relational issues and helping people achieve a better balance in life.
Gayatri is collaborative in her therapeutic approach and is interested in helping people discover and celebrate their uniqueness, gifts, and strengths so as to create more happiness and joy in their lives and relationships. She enjoys helping people figure out what their dreams are and how they can achieve them.
Post Masters Fellow
(Pronouns: he, him, his)
Graduate Program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling with certificate in Systemic Multicultural Counseling, Appalachian State University
Graduate Internship: Counseling & Psychological Services Center, Appalachian State University
Although Blake enjoys working with a variety of presenting concerns, he has particular interest in supporting students that identify as LGBTQ+, first-generation, and/or other marginalized groups. Blake, as a first generation student and member of the LGBTQ+ community himself, hopes to maintain an inclusive practice that considers the impact of systemic oppression of marginalized groups.
At heart, Blake works from a person-centered perspective by viewing each student as capable of growth when guided with empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness. He believes that clients are the experts of their experiences and views the stories they share as being true and valid. Blake also holds interest in using self-compassion, post-modern, emotion-focused, and acceptance and commitment techniques when supporting students.
Let's TeleTalk 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.
If you have further questions about Let’s TeleTalk, please contact: Dr. Emily Lazar
The Counseling & Psychological Services Center at Appalachian State University is deeply indebted to the counselors at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Cornell University who pioneered and modeled "Let's Talk" and made it such a successful service at Cornell. Appalachian's Let's Talk program is based on Cornell's concept. With permission, some of the material from this website has been adapted or reproduced from the Let's Talk websites of Cornell University, Northwestern University, Southern Utah University, University of Minnesota, and the University of Notre Dame.
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.
