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 a.m. - noon
2 p.m. - 3 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.  Students can also utilize the My Student Support Program (My SSP) 24/7 by downloading the app or visiting https://myssp.app/ca/home

24/7 Call and Chat Service

The Wellness Center is expanding to ensure all students have access to a counselor any time of day, from anywhere in the world.

The Wellness Center Call and Chat servicet offers simple 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?

The Wellness Center has partnered with MySSP to offer this confidential service.  Students can access services through any of the following pathways:

When you first log on, 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 MySSP are connected in an intentional, ongoing way to ensure Dickinson students have streamlined and coordinated services.

 

APPOINTMENT-BASED SERVICES

If you are interested in getting started, please come into 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.

Initial Consultation

Students interested in counseling services 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 the options for treatment with students and a 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 varies for each student, but is 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, group sessions, and individual counseling sessions for students interested in identifying the role that substances are currently playing in their life 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.

Click here for more information

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 2023 Wellness Center Groups

Note: Clinical Groups Require a Clinical Screening to Determine Appropriateness 

Please call the Wellness Center to schedule a group screening if you are interested in joining a Clinical Group

ACOA Group: A Group for Students Impacted by the Substance Abuse of Others   

Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 PM  

This group is for individuals that have been negatively impacted by growing up in an alcoholic and/or drug addicted family environment. Topics often discussed include understanding the impact of these family patterns, learning how to recognize and develop healthy relationships, and addressing negative beliefs about oneself.  

Theo Nugin and Missy Taylor  

Clinical, Closed (in-person at the Wellness Center)  

Alleviating Anxiety and Panic Workshop  

This is a one-time 50-minute drop-in group workshop which 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 many different evidence-based ways to alleviate anxiety, as well as tips for overcoming Panic Attacks. This is a psychoeducational workshop. 

Mondays at 12:30-1:30 pm on Feb. 13th and April 3rd. 

Fridays at 12:30 –1:30 pm on Feb. 10th, March 31st, and April 28th. 

Nicole Lavertue ; Non-clinical workshop, open, in-person at the Wellness Center 

Building Balance: Skills for Managing Mood and Improving Well-being  

Mondays (11:30 am) and Fridays (3-4 pm), in person at the Wellness Center 

(start date anticipated as Mondays 2/27/23 and Fridays 3/3/23) 

 

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. Registration and referral from CAPS is required. Participants are invited to share within the group at a level that is comfortable to them, however, the group is psychoeducational/skills instruction format, rather than process oriented.   

Nicole Lavertue  

Clinical, Closed, Registration and screening required.  

Chronic Medical Illness Support Group

Are you living with a chronic medical illness? Feeling overwhelmed or alone? Or just wanting to connect with others who know what you are going through? This “lunch and learn” style support group meets twice a month. It is meant to bring together students dealing with chronic medical illnesses in a safe space with a counselor and nurse practitioner to offer support, guidance, and structure for success both on and off campus. This is a drop-in group, so students are welcome to attend any or all sessions.  

Tuesdays from 12-1pm on 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, and 3/21  

Carrie Bowerman and Ashley Lebo 

In-person in the HUB side room 202 

RSVP on EngageD, or just drop in!

If you are interested in learning more, or if you have any questions, please reach out to the group facilitators:

Ashley Lebo, staff nurse practitioner: 717-245-1663 or lebocat@dickinson.edu

Carrie Bowerman, staff counselor: 717-245-1663 or bowermac@dickinson.edu

DBT-Informed Skills Group:  

Mondays 3:30-4:30 PM 

Thursdays 12:00-1:00 PM  

This is a structured, time limited psychoeducational group that will teach a variety of skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). There are four main skills the group will cover: 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 coping skills.  

Todd Drazien & Missy Taylor  

Clinical, Closed (in-person at the Wellness Center)  

Deep Breathing and Relaxation Workshop with Dr. Megan Nesbitt 

Feeling anxious and struggling to focus? Has it been increasingly difficult to be present? This monthly workshop will focus on body-mind techniques for lowering anxiety, combatting stress, and interrupting worry. Each meeting will begin with deep breathing and then focus on a relaxation exercise, a guided visualization, or an awareness technique. All students, staff, faculty, and members of the Dickinson community are invited to attend. Beginners and drop-ins welcome.  
First Wednesdays of the month (2/1, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3) at 4:40pm 

In person, HUB Side Room 201 

Non-clinical, drop-in 

Destination Dickinson: International Student Support Group:

Come in and just be... together. This is designed to be a safe, comforting, and supportive space, where international students can share their experiences, challenges, and successes, as they navigate their journey at Dickinson. This drop-in group will offer support, as well as some skills or strategies, to help manage the unique experience of being an International Student. All are welcome, students can attend as their schedule allows, and are not required to attend every meeting. 

Monday's 9:30-10:20 (Starting Feb. 27) at Wellness Center 2nd Floor Conference Room. 

(No meeting on Monday 3/13 due to Spring break

Dialing Down Depression  

This is a one-time 50-min drop-in group workshop which covers the signs and symptoms of depression, as well as the impact of depression on oneself and in relationships. The majority 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. This is a psychoeducational workshop.  

Mondays at 12:30-1:30 on Feb. 27th, April 10th, and May 1st. 

Fridays 12:30 – 1:30pm Feb. 24th and April 7th. 

Nicole Lavertue; Non-clinical workshop, open, in-person at the Wellness Center 

 

Getting Through It 

Thursdays 3:30-4:30 pm 

This workshop provides participants with a basic understanding of what trauma is and focuses on a variety of topics all surrounding/focused on understanding traumatic events how we respond to them, and the path to recovery from these experiences. Examples of topics include...Safe and Inclusive spaces, healthy relationships, and The Neurobiology of trauma.  

Theo Nugin 

Non-clinical workshop; open; in-person at the Wellness Center 

Interpersonal Process Group  

Tuesdays 12-1:15 PM 

Thursdays 12-1:15 PM 

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.  

Megan Nesbitt & Rebecca Shoemaker; Carrie Bowerman & Rebecca Shoemaker 

Clinical, closed (in-person at the Wellness Center) 

 

Managing Stress Workshop  

This is a one time, 50-minute drop-in psychoeducational group workshop, discussing signs and symptoms of stress, as well as how stress impacts our lives and our bodies. Much of the session is spent learning many different skills or strategies that are proven to reduce stress and improve overall functioning. 

Mondays at 12:30-1:30 pm on Feb. 6th, March 27th, and April 24th. 

Fridays at 12:30-1:30 pm on Feb. 3rd and March 24th 

Nicole Lavertue; Non-clinical workshop, open, in-person at the Wellness Center 

Navigating Grief and Loss Workshop 

This is a 50-minute drop-in group workshop which discusses the difficult journey of grief and loss, as well as offers tools that may help along the journey of grieving.  This is workshop is psychoeducational in nature. 

Mondays 12:30 – 1:30 pm on March 6th and April 17th. 

Fridays 12:30 – 1:30 pm on March 3rd, April 14th and May 5th.  

Nicole Lavertue; Non-clinical workshop, open, in-person at the Wellness Center 

Setting Healthy Boundaries: A Brief Workshop Series 

New for the Spring 2023 semester, the Wellness Center is excited to sponsor a reoccurring, 3-week workshop series for students interested in: understanding what healthy interpersonal boundaries are (and are not); learning a step-by-step process for setting and maintaining boundaries; and practicing skills for implementing boundaries in a variety of relationships. 

All 50 min workshops will be held on Wednesdays at 1 pm (Location TBD).  As this series will be reoccurring throughout the semester, students will have multiple opportunities to attend all 3 presentations if they would like.  While reservations for this workshop are NOT required and attendance will NOT be taken, students are encouraged to RSVP through EngageD to ensure there is enough space in the room for all present to be comfortable.  Students may also directly reach out to Dr. Rebecca Shoemaker at the Wellness Center for additional information. 

Topics & Dates:  

Healthy Boundaries 101 (2/8, 3/22, 4/19); Setting, Communicating, and Respecting Boundaries with Others (2/15, 4/5, 4/26); & Practicing Skills & Self-Care (2/22, 4/12, 5/3) 

Upgrade Your Well-Being  

This is a one-time 50-minute drop-in psychoeducational workshop which focuses on improving your overall well-being. The goal of the workshop is to increase your coping strengths and add tools to your toolbox, so you can enhance your overall well-being. 

Mondays at 12:30-1:30 pm on Jan. 30th and March 20th 

Fridays at 12:30-1:30 pm on Jan. 27th, March 10th, and April 21st. 

Nicole Lavertue; Non-clinical workshop, open, in-person at the Wellness Center