North Dakota State University

• Individual and Group Counseling
• Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Services
• Groups and Workshops
• Psychiatric Services
• Phototherapy (for SAD)
• Assessment Services
• Personal Growth Classes

• Location and Hours
• Appointments
• Crises During Office Hours
• Crises Outside Office Hours  

Counseling, or psychotherapy, is a professional relationship that focuses on personal problems. The counseling relationship differs from both social friendships and patient-physician contacts. Unlike friends, counselors are able to be objective; they are not involved in your daily lives. Unlike most physicians, counselors do not give specific advice or tell you what to do. Instead, they serve as skilled listeners who help you to clarify issues, discover your true wishes and feelings, and deal effectively with problems.

Some examples of challenges for which students seek counseling include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Interpersonal/relationship issues
• Low self-esteem
• Identity concerns
• Crisis needs
• Eating disorders
• Chemical abuse concerns
• Abuse and violence issues

In addition to individual sessions, we often offer group counseling and support groups with a focus on specific issues.

Meeting with a counselor at the NDSU Counseling Center is free for NDSU Students. If your concerns may be more appropriately addressed by another agency, the proper referral(s) will be made.  

Individual and group counseling related to concerns of the use of a substance and other issues of impulse control is available for NDSU students.  Whether the concern is for self or a loved one, NDSU students can meet with a counselor who specializes in both mental health and addictions.  Additionally, BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Assessment for College Students) is provided by our office.  There is no fee these services, and NDSU students may make an appointment  by calling our office at 231-7671.

FirstLink Local Support Group Listings

The Counseling Center provides on-site consultation with a psychiatrist or psychiatric resident for NDSU students. Psychiatric services include evaluation, medication consultation and follow-up visits. Services are offered at a nominal fee. Students access our psychiatric services by being referred through the Counseling Center staff after first undergoing an initial consultation with a counselor.

A limited number of therapeutic light boxes are available for current clients of the Center who are experiencing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The light boxes may be checked out from the Center for clients' personal use. Clients at the Center may speak to their counselor to discuss whether this option may be appropriate for them in conjunction with counseling.

In conjunction with the counseling process, various types of tests and inventories may be administered, including instruments measuring interests or personality factors. These are administered when the results may lend helpful insights during the counseling experience. For certain instruments a nominal fee is assessed.

These classes are offered for one hour of pass-fail credit (look under Education in the Registration Schedule). Examples of classes typically offered include Study Skills (EDUC 123) and Career Planning (EDUC 124).

The Counseling Center is located at 212 Ceres Hall.  Hours are M/W/F 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and T/Th 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. during the school year, and M-F 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. during summer and school breaks.

Unless you are in crisis, we suggest that you schedule an appointment in advance. To make an appointment, you may call the Counseling Center at 231-7671 and specify that you wish to make an appointment for personal counseling.

If you have not been here before, you will be scheduled for an Initial Consultation. During this initial session, the consulting counselor will listen to your concerns, obtain information about you, assess your needs, and discuss available resources. Ongoing counseling with a member of the counseling staff and/ or other referral possibilities may be arranged.

If you have been here before and are already working regularly with a particular counselor, the front desk staff will schedule an appointment for you with your counselor. If it has been some time since you were last seen, or the counselor you worked with before is no longer available, you may need to be scheduled for a Return Consultation.

The Counseling Center has a staff member designated to handle emergencies and crises at 10:00 AM each morning and 2:00 PM each afternoon. It is helpful to call before coming to the Counseling Center in order to determine counselor availability. 

Realizing that emergencies are not predictable, we will respond to emergencies which cannot fit into our posted emergency hours. When calling, be sure to tell the receptionist that you have an emergency and need to be seen at the earliest possible time. 

NOTE: If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911 for help. 

If you are an NDSU student in crisis after hours or over the weekend, please call our main number, 231-7671. Your call will be taken by our answering service and assistance will be offered. You may also call the F-M community's 24-hour FirstLink hotline directly at 235-7335.

We discourage people from contacting us via e-mail regarding personal problems. The nature of e-mail is such that we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of your correspondence, nor do we find e-mail communications as useful as in-depth, face-to-face contact. Moreover, we cannot guarantee that we will read e-mail right away or respond in a timely fashion.