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Counseling Services

Counseling Services is a safe, welcoming space for all students, available for helping students learn ways to cope and manage mental and emotional challenges.

Counseling Services embraces and has experience with diverse populations and are dedicated to providing high quality support.

Counseling Services provides counseling services for the most common concerns, such as:

    • Life stressors
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Relationship 
    • Coping skills 

Counseling modalities include:

    • Individual counseling
    • Group counseling
    • Consultation
    • Brief/urgent counseling
    • Couples counseling (for eligible students and their partner(s)/non-enrolled students)
    • Presentations and workshops

Students may be referred to Olmsted Medical Center, Mayo Clinic and other community health care facilities for more intensive and/or specialized care.

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In-Person Counseling

Counselors assist individuals with expressing emotions, solving personal problems and understanding oneself better to reach success in their personal, professional and academic lives.
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Virtual Counseling

Virtual counseling is available via Zoom for currently enrolled students. The individual counseling process involves cultivating a helping relationship between the counselor and student.
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Free Online Therapy

Free online therapy offers a variety of highly effective online programs based on the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This program can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
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Programs for Mental Health

The de-Stress Program is helps UMR students manage and release stress levels during the classroom or before exams or projects. This program is based on the request, the faculty will have to request a counselor ahead of time and schedule, time, classroom and two weeks in advance for us to come into the classroom and provide a 15-20 minutes to conduct a de-Stress program activity. 

Learn to Live is a self directed counseling approach. Online assessments and tools that offer evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy solutions that reliably engage people who are suffering.

This program is available to students at no cost. Enter code UMN on the Partners page to get started.

UMR's Mental Health Ambassador Program is a student-focused program dedicated to fostering a culture of mental well-being and support within our campus community. This program is a 5-week, 2-hour per week commitment designed to train interested students in mental health skills and how to support students as a peer helper. Upon completion of this program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion in basic mental health skills. This certification and the skills you'll have learned while earning it are outstanding additions to any resume, school or job application. 

Sign Up For Training

Interested? Fill out this form

Resources for Program Alumni

Looking for peer support or access to mental health resources? 

Visit with a Mental Health Ambassador for peer support in USquare at the JustAsk desk or conference room 321. Services are offered every Wednesday from 7-9 p.m.

The Mental Health Lunch series talks about important and relevant mental health topics such as perfectionism, depression, self-compassion and much more, with the topic changing monthly. This series is open to all students, staff and faculty.

Upcoming Series:

Sleep and Mental Health

Healthy Relationships

Depression, Grief and Loss

Visit RaptorLink to learn more about upcoming events and activities.

Please fill out an interest form if considering support groups. Individually contact counselors for more details.

      • In-person support group with Boonmee McElroy
        • Every Monday and Friday 2-3:30 p.m.
        • Maximum of 8 people 
      • Zoom group with Betsy Bateman every Tuesday at 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Further Resources

If you are noticing signs or wondering if you (or someone you care about) needs some support right now, know that there are beneficial resources at UMR.

Students

Is there a friend or someone at UMR that you are concerned about? Sending a Care Report is a good way to help staff at UMR provide assistance to students needing additional support.

Faculty/Staff

If you are working with a student who is experiencing significant distress, appears to be having difficulties managing stress and/or experiencing difficulties managing mental health symptoms, your response will depend on the level of urgency in the situation and your relational engagement with the student.  

      • Red Folder
        • The Red Folder is our campus guide for recognizing and responding to students in distress and connecting them with appropriate referrals.
      • Urgent Needs and Crisis Situations
        • Call our 24/7 UMN Phone Counseling and Crisis Line at (218) 281-TALK (8255). Stay on the line with them together until you are dismissed by the crisis line professional, during which time you remain nearby. If a student exhibits behaviors that indicate IMMEDIATE DANGER to SELF or SOMEONE ELSE, call 911.  
      • Care Team Referral
        • In addition to any of the above resources, students of concern should be referred to the Care Team. Faculty, staff and students can fill out the Care Team's online referral form  to connect the student with appropriate resources.

UMN/UMR Resources

Outside Resources

Mental Health Apps

Free Apps
    • Mindshift CBT: Free evidence-based anxiety relief using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) from Anxiety Canada.  
    • ACT Coach: Free app from the Department of Veterans Affairs using tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you "live with unpleasant thoughts, feelings and impulses without avoiding them or being controlled by them."   
    • PTSD Coach: Self-help strategies for those struggling with trauma from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Subscription-based apps with limited free content 
    • Headspace: Mindfulness app with guided meditations, sleep stories, and breathwork with limited free content and a special student rate of $9.99/year.
    • Calm: Sleep, relaxation, and meditation support app with limited free content.  
    • The Tapping Solution: Tap on acupressure meridians to reduce stress levels.  Several tapping meditations are available in the free version.  

YouTube Videos for Mental Well-Being

Developing Coping Skills
Dealing with Difficult Emotions
Test Anxiety
Improving Sleep
Understanding and Releasing Trauma

Students who gave testimonials chose to stay anonymous

"Meeting with Boonmee turned my stressful life around amidst a time where I felt alone and helpless."

"Seeking counseling at UMR has taught me how to take control of my thoughts, and I have finally found pure happiness!"

"Counseling with Boonmee at UMR is not about whether or not you are mentally ill, it is about learning to love yourself for who you are and about growing your positive mindset!"

"Since talking with Boonmee, I have grown to respect myself, I have taken control of my negative and overwhelming thoughts, and I have become happier and happier everyday!"

Counselors

Boonmee Pakviset McElroy
bmcelroy@r.umn.edu

Betsy Bateman
batem108@r.umn.edu

Counseling Services phone number: 507-258-8017

University of Minnesota Rochester | 111 South Broadway, Suite 300 | Rochester, MN 55904