Counseling support services

Define and achieve your personal, social and educational goals with the support of Stark State College’s counseling support services.

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Welcome to counseling support

Our team is here to help you address challenges such as:

Adjustment to college and other life stressors
Anxiety
Balancing demands of school, family, work, etc.
Body image/eating disorders
Connection to community resources
Decision-making and goal setting
Depression/suicidal ideation
Difficulty with alcohol and/or drugs
Family conflict/family member issues
Food insecurity
Grief and loss issues

Homelessness/basic needs
Physical/domestic violence
Recovery support
Relationship issues
Self-esteem
Sexual assault/Title IX confidential resource
Stress management
Study skills
Test anxiety
Time management/procrastination

Services

Short-term individual counseling sessions to assist you with personal and academic concerns.
Confidential Title IX consultation and connection to resources.

Connection services – Linking you to resources needed both on campus and in the community.
- Counseling support staff foster and maintain a comprehensive community referral system to connect students directly with off-campus agencies.
- Direct linkage available for resources related to housing, food insecurity, transportation, mental health care, recovery support, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, LGBTQIA support and emergency funding.

Consultation services – Providing support and guidance to assist college administration, faculty and staff with supporting student academic success.
- Assisting college administration, faculty and staff in the critical area of crisis planning and intervention.
- Coordinating with a team of campus-wide supports to identify and provide behavioral and crisis interventions as needed.
- Act as a confidential resource for Title IX concerns.
- Maintain collaborative working relationships with local mental health professionals, crisis services, coalitions and task forces to coordinate treatment services and referrals.
- Provide training to the campus community for recognizing and assisting students in need of resources.
- Consulting in various ways, including classroom assistance as requested. For example, consultations with instructors, classroom observation, etc.
- Providing activities, groups and other information to raise awareness on various topics such as stress management, mental health, recovery, community resources, etc.

Reach Out. Reach Out is a suicide prevention initiative (HB 28) created to assist you in making choices when responding to individuals in emotional distress, those at risk for suicide and those who may exhibit disruptive behavior.
Free online screenings. Mental Health America offers resources including free screenings for a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression and PTSD. There’s also information on self-care, facts about mental health conditions and resources for getting help.

Contact

For more information about services or to schedule an appointment, contact Elizabeth Inkinen Schehl, PCC-S, at ext. 4219 or eschehl@starkstate.edu. You also can stop by room B230G on main campus to schedule an appointment.

For services at Stark State College Akron, please stop by A113N or the front Gateway office to schedule an appointment.

If you’re in a counseling emergency 24/7, please call the Stark County Crisis Center at 330-452-6000, Summit County at 330-493-9144, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), 988 or the Crisis Text Line by texting 4HOPE to 741-741. Services are provided at no cost to Stark State College students.