HSC Student Counseling Services

When pursuing a career in the health sciences, there are times that the pressures, personal conflict, and other stressful situations can seem overwhelming. The goal of Student Counseling Services is to improve the quality of students' lives.

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Schedule a Counseling Appointment
Schedule and prepare for your appointment in three easy steps.

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TAO Connect
TAO includes over 150 brief, effective, educational sessions covering over 50 common topics and skills related to mental health, wellness, and substance use issues. TAO Includes interactive sessions, mindfulness exercises and practice tools all aimed at helping you achieve your goals.

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Group Counseling
There is empirical evidence supporting the benefits of group therapy with a wide range of issues, including adjustment, depression, anxiety, body-image, and interpersonal concerns.

Article | December 1, 2020

My Student Support Program (My SSP)
My SSP offers 24/7, confidential multilingual mental health care support through content focused on your wellbeing and success. You can text or talk with a My SSP counselor right from the app anytime, day or night. Connect24/7 for wellbeing support in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, French and English (with additional languages available by...

In-Person and Telehealth Sessions are Available

HSC Student Counseling Services offers both in-person and telehealth video-conferencing appointments to OUHSC students and residents in Oklahoma. 

Masking is not currently required within our clinic in Suite 301 of the HSC Student Union. We encourage students interested in in-person counseling to be fully vaccinated prior to the appointment for their safety and the safety of the counseling staff. If you are exhibiting symptoms of illness, such as a cough, runny nose, fever, etc., we encourage you to either reschedule your appointment or you may be asked to wear a mask during your time with your counselor.You may call or email us in advance to reschedule your appointment more quickly.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What can Student Counseling Services help me with?

HSC Student Counseling Services can help with a wide range of common concerns.

  • ADHD/Learning Disabilities
  • Improving relationships
  • Adjustment Issues
  • Improving Study and Test Taking Skills
  • Anxiety
  • Internet Addiction
  • Changing behavior patterns
  • Making transitions
  • Clarifying values
  • Perfectionism
  • Coping Skills
  • Personal growth
  • Depression
  • Problems with drugs/alcohol
  • Difficulties adjusting to new culture
  • Sexual difficulties
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Stress Management
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Adapting to academic programs
  • Grief and Loss
  • Adapting to life situations
  • Identity, sexual identity and gender identity issues
  • Test Anxiety

How do I schedule an appointment?

Schedule and prepare for your appointment in three easy steps! Visit the "Schedule an Appointment" page to get started.

Am I eligible? How much does an appointment cost?

Anyone who is a student at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center may utilize Counseling Services and the cost is part of your student fees. Medical residents are also eligible to utilize our services confidentially and free of cost due to an arrangement with the medical college.

There is a fee for certain psychological assessments.

What types of services do you provide?

Individual Counseling

In individual counseling, a student usually meets weekly with a counselor for fifty minutes to discuss academic, emotional, social, or other concerns. In the first appointment, students will complete some paperwork and then meet with their counselor. Students usually complete counseling in one to fifteen sessions. Many students struggle with long-standing emotional difficulties which require longer term counseling. In these instances, we will help the student get connected with a counselor in the community.


Couples Counseling

Couples counseling is offered for free if one member of the couple is a student.Couples counseling can be helpful for couples who may or may not be struggling in their relationship. It can help improve communication between partners, facilitate conflict resolution, improve problem-solving skills and help partners navigate developmental challenges and transitions.


Group Counseling

Group therapy has been shown to be highly effective for professional student populations. Group sessions can be as small as three or four people, but they are typically closer to six or eight. Groups are typically held once per week and may request or be recommended one during your intake at the student counseling center. Some of the empirical benefits of group therapy include: seeing other students coping and adapting; discussing your experiences with fellow students who are going through similar concerns; mutual sharing of strengths and insights; practicing new behaviors in a safe and conducive environment; gaining belonging, acceptance, and support; and finding strength to persevere and thrive in the face of stress.

For more information about Group Counseling, click here. 
 


Psychological Assessment

OUHSC Student Counseling Services provides comprehensive psycho-educational assessment for students who suspect that they may have a learning disability or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. There is a fee for this service. The process is designed to not only diagnose a disability if it is present, but also to determine the nature of what is interfering with the student's success and to offer recommendations that would benefit the student. Frequently, students who are diagnosed with a disability are eligible for reasonable accommodations through Disability Resource Center.


Consulting and Guest Lecturing

Student Counseling Services staff periodically offer workshops focusing on topics such as stress and time management, test preparation & test anxiety, culture shock and adjustment issues, gambling, and alcohol and other drug abuse prevention. Staff members are available for consultation with student groups and organizations, residents, faculty, staff and academic departments. If you would like to consult or schedule a presentation, please contact us at counselors@ouhsc.edu or call us at 271-7336.

Are my appointments private and confidential?

By law we cannot let anyone know that you have utilized our services unless under very specific circumstances detailed below & even in those situations, only the relevant information to the relevant individuals will be released. Circumstances in which we must release information include any of the following:

  • If you are a danger to yourself or others
  • If you talk about the abuse or neglect of a child or older adult
  • If we get a Court Order, or
  • If you give us written permission to release your records to a specified source.

Where is Student Counseling Services located?

HSC Student Counseling Services is located at:

HSC Student Union, Suite 301
1106 North Stonewall Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73117

When can I have an appointment?

Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. We also offer extended hours upon request if you need to meet earlier than 8am or after 5pm. This is generally no earlier than 7:30am and no later than 7pm. Please let us know your need when you request an intake and we will do our best to accommodate. We are closed on public holidays.

Please note, if the campus is closed due to inclement weather, Student Counseling Services is also closed. Please call the campus when operating hours resume to reschedule your appointment. We appreciate your patience.

What if I have an appointment outside of scheduled hours?

If you are experiencing severe emotional distress during non-business hours, please use the following resources to get the help you need:

  • Heartline, Inc. (405) 848-2273
  • National Suicide Hotline (800) 273-8255
  • Reach-Out Hotline (800) 522-9054
  • YWCA Rape Crisis Helpline: (405) 943-7273

If you are experiencing distress due to interpersonal violence, sexual assault, sexual misconduct or stalking, please call OU Advocates at 405-615-0013, 24/7.

If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or another person, you should immediately call:

  • 911
  • Campus police (405) 271-4911

If possible, go to the nearest emergency room and ask for the psychologist or psychiatrist on call:

  • St. Anthony’s Hospital (405) 272-6055
  • Deaconess Hospital (405) 604-6138

I’d like to be involved in student wellness outside of counseling. Is there a way to volunteer or assist?

Join our Student Advisory Board!

The Student Advisory Board (SAB) is comprised of staff from Student Counseling Services (SCS) and students from the various colleges of OUHSC in OKC. The goal of the SAB is to provide an avenue for SCS to find out the needs of the students and for the students in turn, to be informed of services available to them. By having students represented from the various colleges, SCS can get a sense of what concerns are most pressing for the different colleges and how we can be most helpful.

The SAB is also expected to facilitate Student Counseling Services outreach efforts that are designed to increase awareness of a variety of issues such as Sexual Assault Awareness Week and De-Stress Fest.

The SAB meets each month on the noon hour and lunch is provided. Meetings last for one hour and at the end of the academic year, students are eligible for a small scholarship in return for their involvement and contribution to the organization.

To find out more about the SAB please email: counselors@ouhsc.edu or call us at 271-7336.