CAPS
Consultation and Referral Guide

 Everyone feels stressed, depressed, or anxious from time to time.  Many students successfully cope with the pressures, but some find themselves overwhelmed.  Because emotional distress typically interferers with students’ academic performance and/or social interactions, faculty and staff are often in good positions to recognize students in trouble.  By communicating interest and concern to a distressed student, you may play an important role in helping that student regain the emotional balance needed to cope with stress.
 

Warning Signs of Student Distress and Troubled or Inappropriate Behavior

-         Loss of interest in previously important activities

-    Caring less about personal performance

-    Recent drop in grades, missed classes, poor attendance, repeated tardiness

-    Talking/writing about suicide or violence toward others

-    Unruliness and disrespect of University authorities

-    Changes in sleep patterns; too much or too little

-    Abrupt changes or wide variations in mood; angry and hostile, overactive and excitable, or withdrawn and passive

-     Obviously withdrawal from family and friends

-     Stealing, lying

-     Giving away possessions

-     Decreased concentration

-     Increased disorganization

-     Talk of hopelessness or despair
 

What You Can Do

     -   Talk to the student when both of you have sufficient time and are in a  
          private free from disturbance by others.  Give the student your    
          undivided attention.

-     Be matter-of-fact. Controlling your emotions may help the student do     
the  same.

-     Express concern for the student in clear, direct, behavioral, non- 
judgmental terms (e.g., I’ve noticed you’ve been absent from class lately
and I’m concerned,” rather than “Why haven’t you been to class?” or
“Where have you been lately?”)

-     Listen in a respectful, non-threatening way to the student’s description of the problem.  Let the student talk.

-    Avoid negative comments or implications about personality or character.

-    Convey support and understanding by summarizing what you hear the student saying by both including content and feelings (It sounds as if the experience of moving away from home was a big change and now you’re feeling lonely and isolated.”)

-    Assure the student that help is available.

-    Call Counseling and Psychological Services at 678-466-5406.

Even though you may be genuinely concerned about students, and interested in helping them, you may find yourself in situations where it would be better to refer them to other services.  Circumstances that might necessitate a referral to Counseling and Psychological Services include:

-    the problem is more serious than you feel comfortable handling

-    you are either extremely busy, or are experiencing stress in your own life, and are unable or unwilling to handle other requests for help

-    you have talked to the student and helped as much as you can, but further assistance is needed

-    you think your personal feelings about the student will interfere with your objectivity

-    the student admits there is a problem, but does not want to talk to you about it

-    the student asks for information or assistance that you are unable to provide
 

Counseling and Psychological Services

Counseling and Psychological Services is located in the Student Center, Room 245.  We are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, but provide after hours crisis consultation.  Students call 678-466-5406 to make an initial appointment.  At the time of the appointment, the student will talk to a counselor who will evaluate the situation and determine how we can best meet the need of the student. 
 

How To Refer

There are several guidelines which might be helpful:

-    Speak with the student openly and honestly and in private.  Share your concerns directly and concretely and without judging. 

-    Share with the student your observations of the behavior(s) which lead you to conclude that a referral is advisable.

-    Be specific about the behaviors that have caused you concern.

-    Share your knowledge about Counseling and Psychological Services.  Assure the student that hope is available.

-    Assure the student that seeking help is a sign of strength and does not necessarily mean that there are serious problems. 

-    Maintain clear and consistent boundaries and expectations.  Be frank with the student about the limits or your ability to help. 

-    Respect the student’s right to reject the referral suggestion, as he/she may need time to think about it.  This is acceptable unless there is talk of suicide or harm toward others.

-    If the student is ready to accept a referral, let him or her make the call.  If the student prefers that you call Counseling Services, do so with the student present.  Call 678-466-5406 and request an appointment.  If it is an emergency, indicate this to the person who answers the phone and a counselor will speak with you immediately.  You may wish to tell the student you will be glad to escort him or her to our office.
 

Making a Counseling Services Referral

Presenting yourself as knowledgeable about campus services can ease a student’s discomfort about seeking help.  Here a re some suggestions for non-crisis and crisis (a student needs to be seen right away) situations:

 
Non Crisis Referrals

•  Encourage students to contact Counseling and Psychological Services     directly to schedule an appointment by calling 678-466-5406.

•  Offer to let the student call from your office or offer to walk over with the
    student if you believe they need extra support.

Crisis Referrals

• If a student is in crisis during Counseling and Psychological Services business hours (Mon- Fri 8am - 5pm) call us at 678-466-5406 and ask to speak to a counselor.

• Provide the counselor with a description of the situation.

• The counselor will help you with appropriate actions to take.  Same day appointments are available for students who need to be seen right away.

• If the crisis occurs outside of Counseling and Psychological Services business hours call Public Safety at 678-466-4050 and a dispatcher will contact the Counselor On Call.

• If the student or another person is in imminent danger, or when you believe a student is out of control, call CSU Public Safety.

• It is often a good idea to follow up with a student after you’ve made a referral to us.          

Be aware that Counseling and Psychological Services works within ethical and legal limits of confidentiality and WE CANNOT give information about students that we see in our office without written permission.  WE CAN answer your general questions about making referrals, offer you information about psychological concerns and problems in general, and take information from you about the student.
 

When in Doubt, Consult

If you have specific questions about a student, or are unsure about whether or how to approach an individual to make a referral, call Counseling and Psychological Services at (678) 466-5406, indicate that you are concerned about a student, and ask to speak to a counselor.  The Counseling and Psychological Services staff member can help you to:

1.   assess the seriousness of the situation;

2.   learn about resources, both on and off campus, so that you can provide the student with potential options for obtaining assistance;

3.  decide how best to initiate the referral process;

4.  clarify your own feelings regarding the student and consider how you can be most effective.

Counseling and Psychological Services
Clayton State University
(678) 466-5406
Student Center, Room 245

Christine Smith, Ph.D., Director
Shiraz Karaa, Ed.S., LPC
Wayne Strother., LPC
Jennifer Dean, Ph.D.
Roxanne Dilbeck