Coronavirus Service Update
SPRING SEMESTER 2021
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Therapy and consultations are being offered remotely this semester
Welcome to the McClintock Center for Counseling and Psychological Services! We are committed to the well-being and success of the Drew community and support students in meeting their academic and personal developmental goals, taking into consideration the long, natural breaks built into the academic calendar. Therefore, we focus on wellness at multiple levels, most especially, community, interpersonal, and psychological wellness.
After an intake meeting, and according to clinical best practices, we recommend services from the following options:
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- Crisis Intervention. Do you feel as though you’re in crisis? If so, please contact the counseling center at 973-408-3398 or email counseling@drew.edu during business hours. After business hours, call Campus Security 973-408-3379 (They will contact the appropriate Residence Life Staff to respond)
- Group Therapy: In thinking about your own mental health and satisfaction with your relationships, you might be thinking of certain themes or circumstances that you would like to work through. We can easily say that there likely are others in the community who are looking to address the same kinds of themes you are. As a result, therapy groups are the main offering in our menu of services.
- Outreach Programs and Multi-Session Workshops: For example, we offer workshops on topics such as self-care or stress reduction. We may also address multiple kinds of wellness at once, for example, using mindfulness techniques, developing relationship skills, or addressing procrastination.
- Consultations: Sometimes you may just want to consult with a counselor for a session or two about a concern you have (e.g., how to help a friend, roommate issues, etc.). We have you covered there, too, with our brief consultations.
- Referrals: We can help you to connect with referrals in the community for longer term therapy or a higher level of care.
- Solution-Focused Brief Individual Therapy: If it is clinically indicated, this service is based on several factors that we are happy to discuss with you during your intake. Short-term counseling is generally fewer than 12 sessions.
Tips on teletherapy.
Help page for faculty and staff.
We are open and offering teletherapy for both individuals and groups thanks to an emergency order from the US Department of Health and Human Services allowing us to be more flexible with the technology we use. Whether we can provide teletherapy depends on the jurisdiction you reside in.
Intake sessions for new clients will be conducted remotely. New clients should set up a screening appointment. You can email counseling@drew.edu to set up an appointment. If you call our phone (973-408-3398) and leave a message, the message will be sent to us at counseling@drew.edu.We may call you initially so make sure you can be in a private place when your session is scheduled.
Updates to these policies will be posted here if they change. Read more about Drew’s coronavirus information here.
How to Use Our Services During the Coronavirus Emergency
In order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Counseling and Psychological Services will be offering remote therapy. In addition to phone sessions, remote therapy sessions will be offered over Doxy.me, or through Zoom. If you do not have good internet access, we now have permission for the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct telephone sessions.
New Clients
You can email or call and set up an on-line intake meeting with a therapist online. If you are not feeling safe, call 911 (in the US), 973-408-3397 for Campus Security, if you are on campus, or go to your hospital emergency room.
We will still have crisis times available every day. Email us to clarify a time since we can be flexible. If it is a life or death emergency, or you are not feeling safe, call one of the emergency numbers above or go to your local emergency room.
Our email for an appointment is counseling@drew.edu and our phone is 973-408-3398. If you call, you will be asked to leave a voicemail with your name and phone number.
Current Clients Located On or Off-Campus
During the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, Drew Counseling and Psychological Services will attempt to maintain continuity with your counseling sessions. Your therapist will provide remote therapy sessions at your regularly scheduled time.
You will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone in order to use the communication software that is fully protected. If you don’t have good internet access, we can conduct your session with a phone call. You should also arrange to be in a quiet, private space where you are comfortable talking with your therapist for that time.
How To Access Remote Therapy from Drew Counseling
Doxy.me is a telemedicine video conferencing website that was created for doctors and therapists to privately and confidentially video chat with their patients. It is compliant with both HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and the HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act).
Note: Doxy.me or Zoom cannot be used for emergencies or to contact the therapist between scheduled sessions. In case of emergency on campus, call Campus Security 973-408-3397 or, if off-campus, call 911.
How to Use Doxy.me for Remote Therapy
In order to start therapy:
- Your therapist will send a link to your Drew email before your session.
- Clicking on this link at the beginning of your scheduled session time will take you directly to your therapist’s private, confidential Doxy.me account.
- You will be prompted by Doxy.me to type in your name so your therapist can see that you have checked into their “waiting room.”
- After you have done this, your therapist can begin the session.
In Case of Technology Failure
If your scheduled appointment is prevented or disrupted due to technical complications, please email your therapist at their Drew account.
What if I don't have internet access?
Although not ideal, we can make other arrangements for remote therapy via telephone. Remember many cell phone companies are increasing their services without charging during the crisis. (pcworld.com/article/3532817/which-internet-providers-are-lifting-data-caps-during-the-coronavirus-and-which-arent.html)
Tips for Teletherapy while on Campus
In a time of quarantine and social-distancing, your Counseling Center has adjusted services to continue to provide you the best supportive care. We are here to help you navigate every stage along the way. The option of teletherapy requires creativity. Below are some tips and suggestions in getting the most out of your remote counseling sessions.
Carve Out a Safe Space
- Talk to your roommate about wanting to schedule some private/alone time in your room. You don’t need to explain or share more than that.
- Use earbuds or noise-canceling headphones to increase confidentiality. If needed, ask your roommate to wear headphones.
- If you have a car, that can be another option for a private and confidential space.
- During agreeable weather, go for a walk during your counseling session on one of Drew’s paths or close by and talk with your counselor on the phone. You will be providing yourself with 2 forms of positive self-care at the same time!
Be Flexible with your platforms for teletherapy
- Depending on the weather, schedules, etc. phone calls, for example, may be another option to use from time to time.
- Remote counseling can offer creative options, such as sharing videos, TedTalks, worksheets, books to read, and creative therapies towards your treatment goals.
- Expect a transition period and some awkwardness at first as you get used to a new way of interacting with your counselor. Be patient with yourself and your counselor.
Communicate with you Counselor
- Keep an open line of communication. Share any cultural needs you have or uncomfortable feelings using remote counseling.
- Share your emotions. Nonverbal cues are more difficult to observe. Online counseling is good practice to name your emotions.
- Share questions on how to use remote counseling and what is helpful or unhelpful. Your counselor values your feedback on how you feel teletherapy is helping, or not.
Psychological Emergencies
How to Use Our Services When Coronavirus Emergency is Over
During the regular school year, you can make an appointment to see a Counselor by calling or by visiting the McClintock Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. We are located on Drew University’s campus in Holloway Annex (in the same building as Health Services, see picture above) right up the hill from the University Commons. We are the door immediately to the left as you enter the building. You may walk in or call 973-408-3398.
After you call you will be scheduled for an appointment, it can usually be scheduled within a few days (in an emergency a counselor will see you right away). After the introductory interview, a treatment plan will be developed in consultation with the Counseling and Psychological Services treatment team. The treatment plan may be:
- Group counseling, All requests for services are first considered for potential group membership. For a variety of problems, group treatment is more effective than individual therapy and it is especially effective for college-age people. Unlike individual therapy, group therapy is not time-limited.
- Referral to one of our Therapeutic Workshops or Seminars, These are open to any Drew student, run on an open basis
- Short-term individual counseling. Most of our students are seen for brief therapy (1-12 sessions). If you are to be seen for individual therapy, the team will assign you to a therapist.
- Referrals out for more intensive or specialized treatment. There are many local therapists and treatment centers that provide long term or specialized treatment, many of whom are within walking distance to the campus.
General E-mail: counseling@drew.edu*
*Email is not a confidential form of communication. Please do NOT send emergency messages to this account, as we are not able to respond immediately.
