Counseling FAQs

The Counseling Center provides individual counseling regarding a wide range of topics. We also provide group counseling, crisis intervention services, skill development for issues relating to academic concerns, and referrals to community resources.

The Counseling Center can also provide a variety of for classes, clubs, or professional development. If you are a student interested in hosting a workshop for your club, please reach out to the Counseling Center and we’ll be happy to help.

The Counseling Center does NOT provide medication management, but can provide referrals to local providers if requested.

If it is a concern to you, then we are here to talk about it.  Student issues that are commonly addressed include anxiety, depression, alcohol and/or drug use, relationship issues, family issues and stress management. Counseling is a safe, confidential place to talk about things that might be hard to talk to others about. We’re here to support you.

The Counseling Center offers services both in-person and through telehealth. Counseling can be done over the phone or over Zoom. Just let us know what works best for you.

Counseling services are free for any currently enrolled Crowder College student.

Crowder’s Counseling Center uses a short-term, solution-focused model. Individual counseling sessions generally last 45-50 minutes.

Often concerns can be addressed in short-term counseling; however, the length of your particular counseling will depend on many factors. You will always have the option to discontinue services, even if the counselor recommends more sessions. And, if you decide you would like more sessions than the center can offer, we will help you to find a resource in the community.

If you feel uncertain about whether counseling is for you, we hope you will make an appointment for an introductory meeting and discuss your reservations with a counselor. There is no obligation to continue if you do start. During the initial meeting, you and the counselor will discuss what you are hoping for, in terms of treatment and what the counselor thinks is needed. If you need resources outside of what the Counseling Center offers, we will help you find a resource in the community.

The Counseling Center provides Walk-In hours from 10:00am-11:00am Monday through Thursday. To ensure an uninterrupted meeting with a counselor, our staff asks individuals to schedule an appointment by calling ahead.

Just contact the Counseling Center and let us know you’re interested. We’ll ask you a few questions to make sure it’s a good fit and see if there are openings in the group. This is also a good time for you to ask us any questions you might have about group!

The Counseling Center adheres to the American College Association (ACA) Professional Code of Ethics. Counseling files are not a part of the college records, and others cannot access them without a student’s written permission.

We provide our individual personal counseling services in a private setting. Students can be assured that information they share with their counselor in this setting remains confidential. Information about our students and their issues is released only in specific mandated circumstances. Examples may include: if a student threatens harm to self or others; in cases of child or elder abuse/neglect; or if records are subpoenaed.

Counselors will explain the ethical limits of confidentiality during your first session.

Due to the short-term nature of counseling and potential conflicts of interest, the Counseling Center does not provide the assessments needed for accommodations. We would encourage you to contact the Student Accessibility Office.

Without written permission from a student, counselors may not disclose any information about a student to anyone outside of the counseling department. This includes disclosing information to concerned instructors, Crowder administrators or loved ones. Students may choose to give permission for the counselor to confirm with the instructor/Crowder Cares team that the student did come in for a counseling session. Again, we only disclose this information with the student’s expressed written consent.

Please call 911 (if emergency) or Crowder’s Safety and Security at 417.455.5744 or 417.456.0206. The National Suicide and Crisis Hotline can be reached at 988.

If you believe someone may be in imminent danger, please call Crowder’s Safety and Security at 417.455.5744 or 417.456.0206. If the student is not in imminent danger, but showing signs of distress please complete a Crowder Cares Student in Distress report on Crowder’s website (https://www.crowder.edu/services/crowdercares/). These reports are reviewed during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and should not be used to report emergencies.