COUNSELING SERVICES
Donovan Hall C310
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m
WELLNESS CENTER
Tower Hall S213
Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Use our Mother’s Room in the Wellness Center at any time. If door is locked, call Safety & Security at 815-740-3200 for access.
For confidential, FREE assistance, call 800-236-3231 or email eap@aah.org. Appointments are available by phone, video or in-person. After-hour appointments available upon request.
To contact the Wellness Center, call 815-740-3864 or听visit the office, where a registered nurse provides basic medical services for students and makes referrals to other health care providers/agencies when necessary.
In USF’s Wellness Center, a registered nurse provides basic medical services for students and makes referrals to other health care providers/agencies when necessary. Visit the center in Tower Hall to see the nurse.听When the Wellness Center is closed, you can go to a local quick care facility:
Click here to download the Student Health History/Physical Exam form.
Both commuters and residents must complete ALL of the following, per student health services requirements:
We make it easy to submit your medical health records! You can either use your phone鈥檚 camera scanner application or your own scanner. Here are the steps to submit your records:
Please allow two business days for a copy of your health records. In compliance with privacy regulations, health records can only be given to students. Contact Phyllis Peterson at ppeterson@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-3864 regarding Health Records
The University of St. 蘑菇影视 encourages the establishment of lifestyle behaviors that promote healthy living patterns consistent with our 蘑菇影视can values of respect, service, integrity and compassion.听College students experience major transitional challenges in their lives upon enrolling into university. These issues may include, but are not limited to:听adjustment to college life, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, difficulty in family and social relationships, life challenges and transitions, stress/time management, grief and loss, and more.
Counseling services are provided free of charge to currently enrolled USF students. These services may be provided in person or via telehealth, as well as in an individual or group format depending on need and/or preference.
Counseling Center staff members are also available to provide consultation services, psycho-educational classroom presentations, and crisis management training workshops upon request throughout the academic year.听All services offered by USF Mental Health Counselors are confidential, and release of confidential information may only be made with the written consent of the student.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of what to expect and what not to expect when you decide to make the courageous decision to give counseling a try.听
It only works if you want to be here!听 At times, students referred to our office feel as if they have been forced to come to counseling by parents or other concerned parties and are 鈥渦nwilling participants.鈥� Although we believe counseling can help anyone, you cannot grow or heal if you do not come in on your own accord. If you feel coerced into attending counseling, express your discomfort to your counselor and we can talk about it鈥攑lease do not hold in your reluctance!
Counseling will not fix you.听 YOU will fix you.听Our job is to help you help yourself.听The goal of counseling is to empower you with ways to deal with life issues, learn about triggers, unhelpful patterns, and build resiliency, so you can thrive rather than survive鈥攁nd become your best you.
It鈥檚 not always rainbows and sunshine.听 It鈥檚 likely you will feel much better after meeting with a counselor, but the journey requires you to be brave and fearless. Depending on what brought you in to counseling, it may be important to recall memories and experiences or change a behavioral style which can be trying, upsetting, even overwhelming. Being in counseling helps you feel better, but it鈥檚 beneficial to know that the journey can sometimes be bumpy. If you stick with and embrace the process, it鈥檚 likely you will be amazed with the end results!
Unrealistic expectations are unrealistic!听 Change does not happen overnight. Nor does the development of insight or replacing old behaviors with new ones. It takes time and collaboration with your counselor to develop and work towards practical and realistic goals that are specific to your needs. As time progresses, you can review these targeted goals and redefine them if necessary.
It is (and is not) like talking to a friend.听听Like a friend or family member, a counselor is a friendly, caring, interested person to talk to when you are experiencing life鈥檚 difficulties. Unlike a friend or family member, your counselor has been extensively trained to listen not only with the intent to understand and provide empathic support, but also with the goal to identify, explore, and clarify the experiences that negatively affect your wellbeing. Active listening and follow up questions assist your counselor in applying appropriate theory and techniques specific to your needs and goals. In addition, your counselor鈥檚 clinical objectivity, allows you to receive a balanced, unbiased frame of reference鈥� something听that often is blurred in other relationships.
Being comfortable with your counselor is REALLY important.听 It takes time to get to know and trust your counselor, but sometimes personality differences, lack of connection, or other factors may be an indication of a 鈥渕ismatch.鈥� If this happens, it may be difficult for you to feel comfortable talking about personal issues and to feel safe letting go of fears or trying out new behaviors. If you don鈥檛 feel comfortable, it鈥檚 perfectly fine to request a different counselor. You will NOT be hurting your counselor鈥檚 feelings鈥攚e want the best for you and realize we cannot be everyone鈥檚 “cup of java.鈥� We have a variety of counselors with unique styles available to meet with you and assist you in your positive growth and development.
At times during the academic year individuals may need emergency services. These resources will help in times of need. Remember for immediate emergency care, dial 9-1-1. Both Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet and Silver Cross Hospital are accredited trauma centers and the closest 24-hour emergency service.
The University of St. 蘑菇影视 has specific policies regard returning to campus following a hospitalization. This is for the safety of the individual and the campus. Returning to campus following a mental health or medical evaluation or hospitalization off-campus is contingent upon the mental health/medical condition being sufficiently resolved or managed successfully.听
While off-campus, students are expected to seek necessary or appropriate medical attention and to document the steps taken and progress made toward resolving or managing the mental health/medical condition. Students returning to campus will be required to provide written documentation that verifies they are ready to return to a rigorous academic environment and describe treatment and/or discharge plans signed by the medical clinician who provided services to the student. Decisions about returning to campus are made by the Dean of Students.听
At any time, the Dean of Students may contact parents/family of the student and any appropriate university officials about the student鈥檚 status. If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the University of St. 蘑菇影视, the student must comply with these requirements before resuming enrollment.
The University of St. 蘑菇影视 promotes student wellness and, to the extent possible, prevention of sickness and injury while students are here at the university. We want to ensure students receive the medical care and treatment they need, and moreover, have the ability to pay for these services.
USF requires all full-time (12 credit hours or more) undergraduate students and athletes have health insurance coverage. The University of St. 蘑菇影视 uses a highly regarded health insurance company to provide student health insurance coverage, and the cost of this plan is automatically added to your tuition statement. It is being provided at a very reasonable cost, with rates comparable or less expensive than what most employers offer.
If you have comparable coverage and/or prefer to use your own insurance, you must complete a health insurance waiver process in the online portal. Completion of the waiver process will eliminate the insurance cost from your tuition statement. The online waiver MUST be completed by September 1, or you WILL be charged for USF’s student health insurance. Simply submitting an insurance card to the Wellness Center or the Athletic Trainer does not constitute completion of the waiver process.
The current cost for insurance can be found here, under “Student Fees.” Half of the premium is paid in the fall, and the other half is paid in the spring.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INSURANCE
Like domestic students, all international students are required to have health insurance. It is very important for all international students to have health insurance because health care in the United States can be very expensive. American citizens and international visitors are required to pay medical costs by themselves unless they have health insurance. Insurance provides protection against high costs and gives you access to health care in the United States.
All USF students are automatically enrolled in USF鈥檚 insurance plan unless proof of private coverage that is accepted by USF is provided.
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STUDENT INSURANCE FAQs
Is the parent鈥檚 plan an HMO or PPO?
Health insurance under an HMO or PPO program often limits benefits for out of network medical treatment. Please verify with your health plan provider what is covered while your student is away at school. Benefits may be limited!
Is this plan ACA Compliant?
Yes, this plan is compliant with the Affordable Care Act. We do not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and there are no monetary limits in coverage.
What if I find a cheaper plan through the healthcare.gov exchange?
If you find a plan that comes to less than $100 per month for the student, then, yes, it might be a good idea to use the exchange. However, we feel our plan is a quality one for a very reasonable cost in today鈥檚 health care market.
Can I keep the student on a parent鈥檚 plan?
Yes, you can. Most plans, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, allows parents to keep children on their plans until they reach the age of 26. However, if placing a child on the student insurance plan allows the parent to move from a family plan to a single or a single plus 1 plan, the savings might be more than the per-year rate that you would pay.
Why do athletes pay more?
Athletes are at a greater risk for injury. We have supplemental insurance for athletes when out of pocket expenses exist. Athletes are 100% covered for all injuries that occur in games or at practices. No money comes out of pocket for any athlete that is injured under these conditions. Because of this, even athletes who waive the student health insurance still pay a $400 administrative fee to help defer the cost of the intercollegiate sports coverage.
Is there any other additional coverage you provide?
Yes, all full-time undergraduate students are covered for any injury that may occur while on campus grounds or at a university event. It is a blanket accidental coverage plan that the university provides each student. Non-athletic injuries are covered up to $15,000, and athletic injuries are covered up to $5,000 before the intercollegiate sports coverage covers the difference. Athletes who are injured and on a parent鈥檚 plan have the parent鈥檚 plan as the primary insurance with the accidental coverage paying the difference.
How does the student apply?
Coverage is automatically billed to full time undergraduate students and is included on the tuition billing statement unless you submit insurance waiver information online at
How does the student get his ID card?
The student can access their printable ID card by going to the following website: Follow the prompts after entering the University of St. 蘑菇影视 as the school name
SERVICIOS DE ORIENTACI脫N
Donovan Hall C310
Lunes a viernes, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m.
CENTRO DE BIENESTAR
Tower Hall S213
De lunes a jueves, de 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Utilice nuestra听Sala de Madres听en el Centro de Bienestar en cualquier momento. Si la puerta est谩 cerrada, llame a Protecci贸n y Seguridad al听815-740-3200听para obtener acceso.
Para obtener asistencia confidencial y GRATUITA, llame al听800-236-3231听o env铆e un correo electr贸nico a听eap@aah.org. Se pueden concertar las citas por tel茅fono, video o en persona. Si lo desea, puede concertar una cita fuera del horario de atenci贸n al p煤blico.
Para ponerse en contacto con el Centro de Bienestar, llame al听815-740-3864听o visite la oficina, donde una enfermera titulada presta servicios m茅dicos b谩sicos a los alumnos y los deriva a otros proveedores/agencias de atenci贸n sanitaria cuando es necesario.
P贸ngase en contacto con el Centro de Bienestar en el听815-740-3399听si tiene preocupaciones sobre enfermedades y lesiones, o preguntas sobre el seguro estudiantil y los registros m茅dicos.
Qu茅 hacer en caso de enfermedad o lesi贸n?
C贸mo presentar historiales m茅dicos
隆Le facilitamos el env铆o de su historial m茅dico! Puede utilizar la aplicaci贸n de esc谩ner de la c谩mara del tel茅fono o su propio esc谩ner. Estos son los pasos para presentar su historial:
Espere dos d铆as laborables para recibir una copia de su historial m茅dico. En cumplimiento de la normativa sobre privacidad, los historiales m茅dicos s贸lo pueden entregarse a los alumnos. P贸ngase en contacto con Phyllis Peterson en听ppeterson@stfrancis.edu听o llame al听815 740-3864听en relaci贸n con los historiales m茅dicos.
La Universidad de St. 蘑菇影视 fomenta el establecimiento de comportamientos de estilo de vida que promueven patrones de vida saludables consistentes con nuestros valores franciscanos de respeto, servicio, integridad y compasi贸n.听Los alumnos universitarios experimentan importantes retos de transici贸n en sus vidas al matricularse en la universidad. Estas cuestiones pueden incluir, entre otras, las siguientes:听adaptaci贸n a la vida universitaria, ansiedad, depresi贸n, problemas de autoestima, dificultades en las relaciones familiares y sociales, retos y transiciones vitales, gesti贸n del estr茅s/tiempo, trastornos alimentarios, duelo y p茅rdida, y mucho m谩s.
Los servicios de asesoramiento son gratuitos para los alumnos de la USF actualmente matriculados. Se pueden prestar estos servicios en persona o a trav茅s de la telesalud, as铆 como en formato individual o de grupo, en funci贸n de las necesidades o preferencias.
Los miembros del personal del Centro de Asesoramiento tambi茅n est谩n disponibles para proporcionar servicios de consulta, presentaciones psicoeducativas en el aula y talleres de formaci贸n sobre gesti贸n de crisis, previa solicitud, durante todo el a帽o acad茅mico. Todos los servicios ofrecidos por los orientadores de salud mental de la USF son confidenciales, y la divulgaci贸n de informaci贸n confidencial s贸lo puede hacerse con el consentimiento por escrito del alumno.
La siguiente informaci贸n le ayudar谩 a comprender mejor qu茅 puede esperar y qu茅 no cuando decida tomar la valiente decisi贸n de probar la orientaci贸n.
隆S贸lo funciona si quiere estar aqu铆!
A veces, los alumnos remitidos a nuestra oficina se sienten como si hubieran sido obligados a venir a orientaci贸n por los padres u otras partes interesadas y son “participantes involuntarios鈥�. Aunque creemos que la orientaci贸n puede ayudar a听cualquier persona, no puede crecer ni curarse si no acude por su propia voluntad. Si se siente coaccionado para asistir a la orientaci贸n, exprese su malestar a su orientador y podremos hablar de ello; 隆no reprima su reticencia!
La orientaci贸n no le arreglar谩.
USTED听saldr谩 adelante.听Nuestro trabajo es ayudarle a ayudarse a usted mismo.听El objetivo del asesoramiento es capacitarle para afrontar los problemas de la vida, aprender sobre los desencadenantes, los patrones in煤tiles y desarrollar la resiliencia, para que pueda prosperar en lugar de sobrevivir y convertirse en la mejor versi贸n de usted mismo.
No siempre hay arco iris y sol.
Es probable que se sienta mucho mejor despu茅s de reunirse con un consejero, pero el viaje requiere que sea valiente y no tenga miedo. Dependiendo de lo que le haya llevado a acudir a orientaci贸n, puede ser importante rememorar recuerdos y experiencias o cambiar un estilo de comportamiento que puede resultarle dif铆cil, molesto e incluso abrumador. Estar en orientaci贸n le ayuda a sentirse mejor, pero es beneficioso saber que el camino a veces puede ser accidentado. 隆Si sigue y acepta el proceso, es probable que le sorprenda el resultado final!
隆Las expectativas poco realistas no son realistas!
El cambio no se produce de la noche a la ma帽ana. Tampoco el desarrollo de la perspicacia o la sustituci贸n de viejos comportamientos por otros nuevos. Se necesita tiempo y colaboraci贸n con su orientador para desarrollar y trabajar hacia objetivos pr谩cticos y realistas que sean espec铆ficos para sus necesidades. A medida que pase el tiempo, puede revisar estos objetivos y redefinirlos si es necesario.
Es (y no es) como hablar con un amigo.
Al igual que un amigo o un familiar, un orientador es una persona amable, atenta e interesada con la que puede hablar cuando se atraviesan dificultades en la vida.听A diferencia de听un amigo o un miembro de la familia, su orientador ha sido ampliamente entrenado para escuchar no s贸lo con la intenci贸n de comprender y proporcionar apoyo emp谩tico, sino tambi茅n con el objetivo de identificar, explorar y aclarar las experiencias que afectan negativamente su bienestar. La escucha activa y las preguntas de seguimiento ayudan a su orientador a aplicar la teor铆a y las t茅cnicas adecuadas y espec铆ficas a sus necesidades y objetivos. Adem谩s, la objetividad cl铆nica de su asesor le permite recibir un marco de referencia equilibrado e imparcial, algo que a menudo queda desdibujado en otras relaciones.
Sentirse c贸modo con su orientador es REALMENTE importante.
Lleva tiempo llegar a conocer a su orientador y confiar en 茅l, pero a veces las diferencias de personalidad, la falta de conexi贸n听u otros factores pueden ser indicios de un “desajuste鈥�. Si esto ocurre, puede resultarle dif铆cil sentirse c贸modo hablando de temas personales y sentirse seguro para desprenderse de sus miedos o probar nuevos comportamientos. Si no se siente c贸modo, no hay ning煤n problema en que solicite otro orientador.听NO听estar谩 hiriendo los sentimientos de su orientador; queremos lo mejor para usted y somos conscientes de que no podemos ser del gusto de todos. Tenemos una variedad de orientadores con estilos 煤nicos disponibles para reunirse con usted y ayudarle en su crecimiento y desarrollo positivo.
En ocasiones, durante el a帽o acad茅mico, las personas pueden necesitar servicios de emergencia. Estos recursos ayudar谩n en momentos de necesidad. Recuerde para atenci贸n de emergencia inmediata, marque el 9-1-1. Tanto Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet como Silver Cross Hospital son centros de trauma acreditados y el servicio de emergencia las 24 horas m谩s cercano.
La Universidad de St. 蘑菇影视 tiene pol铆ticas espec铆ficas con respecto al regreso al campus despu茅s de una hospitalizaci贸n. Esto es por la seguridad del individuo y del campus. El regreso al campus despu茅s de una evaluaci贸n m茅dica o de salud mental u hospitalizaci贸n fuera del campus depende de que la condici贸n m茅dica o de salud mental se resuelva suficientemente o se maneje con 茅xito.
Mientras est茅n fuera del campus, se espera que los estudiantes busquen la atenci贸n m茅dica necesaria o adecuada y documenten los pasos tomados y el progreso realizado para resolver o controlar la condici贸n m茅dica o de salud mental. Los estudiantes que regresen al campus deber谩n proporcionar documentaci贸n escrita que verifique que est谩n listos para regresar a un entorno acad茅mico riguroso y describir los planes de tratamiento y/o alta firmados por el m茅dico que brind贸 los servicios al estudiante. Las decisiones sobre el regreso al campus las toma el Decano de Estudiantes.
En cualquier momento, el Decano de Estudiantes puede comunicarse con los padres/familiares del estudiante y con cualquier funcionario universitario apropiado sobre el estado del estudiante. Si un estudiante se da de baja o toma una licencia de la Universidad de St. 蘑菇影视, el estudiante debe cumplir con estos requisitos antes de reanudar la inscripci贸n.