The Wellness Center offers counseling and psychiatric services to all current Dickinson students, regardless of insurance. Services include, but are not limited to, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, alcohol and drug counseling, psychiatric medication management, consultation, prevention programming, and educational workshops.
Crisis Walk-In Hours (For urgent and emergent needs)
Monday - Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (No appointment needed)
Our same-day crisis services are designed to assist students who are confronting life-threatening circumstances, current or recent traumatic crises, and serious mental illness. A counselor is available to meet with students in crisis when not being seen immediately could lead to serious consequences or seriously aggravate their existing condition. The reason it is limited to these circumstances is that another student’s counseling visit may need to be interrupted to provide you with crisis services.
TELUS HEALTH STUDENT SUPPORT - 24/7 Call and Chat Service
The Wellness Center has expanded telehealth services to ensure that all students have access to a counselor at any time of day, from anywhere in the world.
The Wellness Center Call and Chat services offer easy access to connect with a mental health clinician about anything. All services are confidential and free of charge for Dickinson students.
What languages are available?
- Call and chat services are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, and Spanish.
- The app is ADA-compliant and TTY accessible.
How do I get started with TELUS Health Student Support?
The Wellness Center has partnered with TELUS Health Student Support to offer this confidential service. Students can access services through any of the following pathways:
- Call 1-866-743-7732 or 001-678-799-7451 (outside North America).
- Download the free TELUS Health Student Support App, available on the App Store or Google Play, and connect through the app.
When you first log onto the TELUS app, look for Dickinson College under “search for your school.” You’ll be asked to fill in your name, preferred language, and basic informed consent for this service. Once complete, your home screen will offer Call and Chat, scheduling functions for a telehealth appointment, mental health articles, and mental health screening tools.
Counseling Services and TELUS Health Student Support are connected in an intentional, ongoing way to ensure Dickinson students have streamlined and coordinated services.
Any student who needs urgent mental health care has 24/7 access to TELUS Health Student Support.
APPOINTMENT-BASED SERVICES
If you are interested in getting started, please come to the Wellness Center (1st floor) during our business hours to schedule an appointment.
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Counseling Process
Initial Consultation for Treatment: 20-minute appointment
Students interested in meeting with a counselor should start by calling us at 717-245-1663 during the first week of classes or thereafter to schedule an Initial Consultation for Treatment Appointment.
- What happens during this appointment? Students will discuss symptoms with the provider and subsequently be referred to individual therapy, group therapy, TELUS, a combination of therapy modalities, or a higher level of care.
Intake: 50-minute appointment
If a student is recommended for individual therapy or a closed therapy group, an Intake appointment is required. This is a 50-minute appointment during which the clinician will talk to the student about their treatment history, family history, and current and past symptoms.
Counseling: 50-minute appointment
Counseling appointments are typically 50-minute appointments scheduled every other week.
Initial Consultation
Students interested in counseling services will first meet with a counselor for an individualized consultation appointment. During the consultation, counselors ask students questions about their reasons for seeking assistance, their history, and their goals for counseling. Counselors then discuss options for treatment, and a treatment plan is formed. Treatment options may include services at the Wellness Center, referrals to other campus resources, or referrals to providers in the community (if the kind of services needed by the student are not offered on campus).
Individual Therapy
The Wellness Center offers short-term, individual psychotherapy to Dickinson students. Students often seek assistance for a variety of concerns, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, relationship problems, disordered eating, adjustment to college, and sexual assault. The frequency of sessions and length of treatment vary for each student, but are closely tied to the goals for treatment. Most students receiving individual counseling are seen every other week; however, arrangements to be seen more or less frequently can sometimes be made.
Psychiatric Services
The Wellness Center offers psychiatric services to all Dickinson students during the fall and spring semesters for those currently on or considering starting psychiatric medications. To schedule an appointment with the psychiatrist, students must first see a counselor for an initial screening and be in regular therapy or case management sessions with a counselor at the Wellness Center. The counselor will refer the student for psychiatric services.
Substance Use Services
The Wellness Center offers substance use evaluations and individual counseling sessions for students interested in identifying the role that substances are currently playing in their lives or why their use of a particular substance has recently increased. Additionally, students are also seen for mandated substance use assessments as part of conduct sanctions received through the College or following hospitalizations for alcohol intoxication. Learn more.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
AAT is an alternative to traditional therapy and is available to students via individual or group therapy with therapists who are part of the AAT program. The Wellness Center is home to 4 therapy bunnies: Otto, Dixie, Bun-Bun, and Moxie. Students can also take advantage of drop-in "Bunny Breaks" offered to students to relax and de-stress.
Group Counseling Options
The Wellness Center offers a variety of group counseling options. These include wellness workshops, support groups, structured treatment groups, and process-oriented treatment groups. Groups change each semester in response to student needs and expressed interests. Current offerings are listed below.
Spring Wellness Center Groups
Clinical Groups
Building Balance: Skills for Managing Mood and Improving Well-being
This is a 4-week skills-based group for students who want to improve their ability to manage their mood, increase their ability to tolerate distress, learn ways to cope with stressors, improve their self-care, and learn skills to improve interpersonal relationships. Each session builds on the skills learned the week before, so attendance at all 4 sessions is requested. The 4-week course is packed with empirically supported ways to improve one’s overall well-being and manage distress. Participants are invited to share within the group at a level that is comfortable to them; however, the group is a psychoeducational/skills instruction format, rather than process-oriented. Referral from CAPS is required.
Bunny Connections Group
This 8-week group is a 60-minute closed group (5 students per group) focused on the following: helping students strengthen basic interpersonal connections with other group members; learning how to set and respond to healthy boundaries with other group members and therapy bunnies; and engaging in playful activities alongside, and with, therapy bunnies. While this group is designed to be primarily experiential in nature, group members are provided opportunities for some personal sharing as they build connections with each other.
Students do not need to be in any additional forms of mental health treatment, but they will need to complete an Initial Consultation appointment and Group Screening appointment.
Interpersonal Process Group
This group provides students with a safe environment where they can increase their understanding of themselves, explore how they relate to others, and try new ways to interact with peers. Students will need to have had an Initial Consultation and an Intake for Counseling prior to scheduling a Group Screening with the co-leaders of the group.
Social Interactive Support Group
This is a 60-minute clinical support group that aims to help students struggling with social anxiety as well as with making friends, maintaining friendships, or struggling with their friend group. This support group is open to all enrolled students. This group will encourage students to share their social challenges and will rely on support from the group, psychoeducation, interactive activities, and role-playing exercises. Interested students will need to have an Initial Consultation and Group Screening before participation. Please contact the Wellness Center to schedule an Initial Consultation.
Skills Workshops
Coping Skills Chat and Visit with the Bunnies Series: Alleviating Anxiety & Panic, Dialing Down Depression, Navigating Grief and Loss, & Upgrade Your Well-Being
Students are welcome to attend one or more of these chats. Each chat is psychoeducational, so students are welcome to come and just listen; sharing is also welcome. The chats will be held in the Bunny room, so consent to participate must be completed before the meeting begins. Space is limited to 5 students. Please sign up on EngageD. Additional dates may be added later in the semester. If you would like to attend one of the chats but prefer not to meet with the bunnies, please let Nicole know.
-Alleviating Anxiety & Panic
This is a 50-minute gathering that covers the signs and symptoms of anxiety, the difference between worry and anxiety, and the impact of anxiety and panic. The session is full of different evidence-based ways to alleviate anxiety, as well as tips for overcoming Panic Attacks. Come spend time with the therapy bunnies, strengthen your skills or learn some new ones, and leave with a fidget-type toy.
-Dialing Down Depression
This 50-min gathering covers the signs and symptoms of depression and its impact on oneself and in relationships. Much of the time in session is devoted to learning evidence-based skills to help reduce depression, as well as improve mood, interpersonal connection, and promote healthier thinking. Come spend time with the therapy bunnies and strengthen your coping toolbox.
-Navigating Grief and Loss
This is a 50-minute gathering that discusses the difficult journey of grief and loss, as well as offers tools that may help along the journey of grieving. Come spend time with the therapy bunnies, learn some ways to help move in your journey, and make a memorial keepsake.
-Upgrade Your Well-Being
This 50-minute gathering discusses Well-Being, barriers to well-being, and ways to improve your overall well-being. Ways to quickly boost your mood are also discussed, all while hanging out with the therapy bunnies.
De-Stress Bunny Break
Need a break? Need to de-stress? Sign up for the stress management bunny break. There is no specific agenda for this time other than to relax, unwind, and lower stress, while spending time with the bunnies. Students must RSVP through Engaged, limit 5 students per break. Please only sign up if you plan to attend.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
This is a structured, time-limited psychoeducational group that will teach a variety of DBT skills. There are four main skills the group will focus on: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT skills were developed to help people who feel overwhelmed by their emotions and/ or have a history of difficult relationships. The goal of this group is to improve quality of relationships and to replace destructive behaviors with more effective skills.
Support Groups
Destination Dickinson Bunnies
This group offers students a safe, welcoming, and supportive space to talk about experiences adjusting to college life, as they navigate their journey to and at Dickinson College. Support is provided by other attendees, the center’s therapy Bunnies, and the facilitator. Students are invited to share experiences (highs and lows), such as moving to a new location, being away from friends and family, adjusting to the area and new schedules, and navigating college culture. Students are invited to share as they feel comfortable or just relax and listen. As the group meets with the center’s Bunnies, an informed consent form to participate is required. Interested students, please see EngageD to sign up; The consent form will be sent to you after signing up. Attending more than one date is welcome. There is a limit of 6 students per meeting. Please email Nicole at Lavertun@dickinson.edu with questions.