Referral Information

THE REFERRAL GUIDELINES OF THE COUNSELING CENTER
FOR USE BY FACULTY AND STAFF

As a faculty or staff member, you are pivotally positioned to make referrals. Because of your frequent interaction with students, you may be the first person to become aware that a student has a personal problem for which he or she needs counseling.

SIGNS OF A STUDENT IN EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

• Frequently missing or arriving late for class
• Marked shifts in quality of performance on academic tasks
• Complaints of inability to concentrate, difficulty remembering material
• Apathy, chronic fatigue, falling asleep in class
• Drastic changes in personal appearance/hygiene
• Social behavior changes (e.g., stammering, withdrawal, inability to sit still, emotional outbursts)
• Somatic complaints (e.g., muscle aches, stomach aches, headaches), frequent illness
• References to death, suicidal statements or allusions
• Report of a life crisis (e.g., death in family, relationship break-up, legal problem, loss of job injury or serious illness)

APPROACHING A STUDENT IN DISTRESS

• You may not want to wait for a student to ask for help when he/she/they is obviously in trouble. You might decide to actively make contact by asking the student to drop by your office or stay after class.
• Once you are together in a private place with the student, comment on what you have observed and express your concern.
• If a student discloses a problem, try to allow them to discuss it openly. You can convey your support by listening in a calm, accepting and non-judgmental manner.
• Sometimes a student will not want to discuss a problem. In this case, simply express your concern and tell the student that they can get help at the Counseling Center by calling 216-687-2277. Remember that you cannot help someone who is not ready to be helped.

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WHEN TO REFER A STUDENT TO COUNSELING

There are many times when listening and providing your support are all that a student needs. There are also times when it is appropriate to encourage a student to seek help from a mental health professional. If you are unsure about how to respond to a student, you can call a Counseling Center staff member at 216-687-2277. In general, it is a good idea to refer a student to counseling when:

• The student is exhibiting several of the distress signs mentioned above
• The student is using an ineffective, self-destructive strategy to cope with problems (e.g., excessive use of alcohol or other drugs, withdrawing from others, suicidal thoughts)
• The problem the student is experiencing has existed for an extended period of time and the student's attempts to solve it have been unsuccessful
• The student seems stuck in an overwhelming or panicked state
• Support from yourself and the student's friends does not seem adequate to alleviate the problem

REFERRING A STUDENT TO COUNSELING

All Cleveland State University students are eligible for free personal, vocational and academic counseling through the Counseling Center. Appointments can be made by calling 216-687-2277. Daytime and evening appointments are available. Refer by:

• Reminding the student that counseling is confidential
• Reassuring the student that recognizing a problem and reaching out for help are signs of strength, not weakness
• Allowing the student to use your phone and staying with the student while they make the initial contact with the Counseling Center, or offering them the option of making the call privately
• Communicating your positive feelings about the student's decision to seek counseling
• Reassuring the student that you will not tell others about their seeking counseling

Thank you for your attention to these Guidelines. 
If you have questions about the above information, please call the Counseling Center at 216-687-2277.