Reasons for Counseling

All students are on their own journey and carry with them a unique set of circumstances and experiences. The counseling center offers counseling to facilitate students’ personal development in order to have more fulfilling participation in the Lyon living and learning community.

You might consider counseling if you

• feel sad or depressed most of the time;
• have been keeping something inside that you would rather not;
• want to learn better academic skills;
• are experiencing homesickness;
• would like to understand yourself better;
• experience the death of a family member, friend, or pet;
• have been sexually or physically assaulted;
• are in a relationship and would like to come in with your partner to discuss better relationship skills;
• have a chronic or serious illness;
• are concerned about sexual identity issues;
• experience difficulties with eating or body image;
• anything you would like to discuss in confidence.

Referrals

Victoria Hutcheson, Director of Mental Health and Behavorial Health, encourages faculty and staff to reach out if they have concerns about a student. It can be helpful to consult with Victoria about how or when to intervene with a student.

Confidentiality

The counseling center staff subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association and to the professional laws of the State of Arkansas. Adherence to these standards ensures the confidentiality of all counseling services.

You can be assured that all discussions with the counselor are private and no information about you can be shared without your written permission.
 

Confidentiality will be kept at all times with the following exceptions:

• when a client poses a clear and imminent danger to her/himself
• when a client poses a clear and imminent danger to others
• when legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed, i.e. a court subpoena
• when there is reason to suspect child/elder abuse