Counseling
Center
Health and Wellness Center
Foster Hall
508 626-4640
Fax: 508 626-4628

Guide for Faculty, Staff, and Parents

When and How to Refer a Student for Personal Counseling

►  CALL FOR A CONSULTATION
If you are concerned about a student or situation, but are not sure how to proceed, call the Counseling Center. A counselor will  help you determine an appropriate course of action. We offer consultations to faculty and staff as well as parents and roommates. However, if the student is seen at the Counseling Center, because of confidentiality, we are unable to discuss the specifics about a particular student, including whether the student is being seen here.

►  HOW TO MAKE A REFERRAL
If you become aware that a student is having personal or family problems, it is often useful to ask: “Are you talking with anyone about this?” If you feel that a student would benefit from a referral for counseling, and the student is not currently getting counseling, it is usually best to express your concern directly to the student. It is generally better to suggest counseling to a student and allow the student to make his or her own decision. If a student needs help immediately, offer to call the Framingham State College Counseling Center with the student present.

If you call the Counseling Center on behalf of a student, identify yourself and explain that you are assisting a student in making an appointment. Encourage the student to arrange the appointment. Most appointments are made within a day or two. There is also a walk-in time from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If it would be helpful to the student, you may accompany him/her to the office to assist with the initial contact.
 

►  SIGNS SUGGESTING THE NEED FOR A REFERRAL

• Excessive procrastination

• Uncharacteristic poor or inconsistent school work

• Repeated requests for special consideration

• Uncharacteristic absences from class

• Repeated confiding in faculty or staff members about personal problems

• Avoidance of professor or other students

• Behavior which regularly interferes with decorum of the classroom

• Complaints from peers

• Marked change in personal hygiene

• Dramatic weight gain or loss

• Frequent falling asleep in class

• Irritability, particularly in conjunction with unruly behavior

• Impaired speech or garbled, disjointed thoughts

• Unusually soft or loud voice, or unusually slow or fast cadence in speech

• Tearfulness or intense emotion

• Worrisome or unusually personal content presented verbally or in student’s written work

• Engaging in high risk behavior, including alcohol or substance abuse