Services

Outreach

The Student Health and Counseling Center provides educational and preventative outreach programming to the UAF community. This may include trainings on suicide prevention, recognizing signs and symptoms of students of concern and how to effectively refer, or workshops on a variety of mental health topics such as test anxiety, stress and coping, resilience and relationship issues, or by specific request. The Student Health and Counseling Center also provides consultation services for the UAF community. This may involve evaluating and supporting the intervention of UAF faculty and staff in managing difficult situations effectively (i.e., traumatic events, grief debriefing, etc.) with individuals of concern. Consultation is available for staff, faculty, and students by calling the Student Health and Counseling Center weekdays from 1-2 p.m. and asking to speak to a counselor.

Please complete the form below to request a workshop, presentation or interview for a class assignment.  A minimum of two weeks’ notice is required; requests received on short notice are not guaranteed to be filled.  Requests for speaking engagements can only be made by a UAF affiliate; event locations must be on the UAF Main Campus.

Custom Requests: The Student Health and Counseling Center offers a number of standard presentations (e.g. Stress and Coping, Resilience, Healthy Relationships, and Overcoming Anxiety) but we sometimes get requests for more customized presentations.  We would be happy to fulfill a customized request if asked early in the semester.  However, the SHCC cannot guarantee custom requests during peak times of the semester (typically mid-terms to finals) or with less than two weeks’ notice.

Interviews for class assignments: The Student Health and Counseling Center is committed to supporting the educational mission of the university and providing mentorship to students interested in the helping professions. Given that we must prioritize students seeking clinical services, and at times receive multiple requests from students requesting interviews, all requests for interviews must be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance of the assignment due date. We cannot guarantee requests with less notice will be fulfilled.

Please select presentation topic
Type of audience
(check all that apply)
If we are unable to provide the presentation on the specified date (especially for requests received with a less than 2-week notice), please list alternative dates you would be willing to have the presentation.
(please specify UAF building and room number)
Is audio visual equipment available in the room?
 

Outreach topics may include:

  • Counseling services
  • Stress and coping
  • Time management
  • Resilience
  • College adjustment
  • Relationships
  • Intimate partner violence

Consultation services

The Student Health and Counseling Center provides mental health consultation to the UAF community in order to enhance the psychological well-being of the UAF community. Consultation with the UAF community involves evaluating situations and supporting the intervention of UAF faculty and staff to manage difficult situations effectively (i.e., traumatic events, grief debriefing, etc.) with individuals of concern. When providing consultation, Student Health and Counseling Center counselors are guided by confidentiality, privacy practices and federal HIPPA regulations. The goals of consultation are to improve the current and future functioning of the consultee and to enhance services to individuals of concern. SHCC staff are available to consult if you have any mental health questions or concerns regarding any individual. The UAF Police Department and the Office for Student Rights and Responsibilities also provide consultation services.

If there is an immediate concern for a student's safety or UAF community safety, please contact the UAF Police Department at 907-474-7721.

Reasons to consult with the Student Health and Counseling Center

  • Notable change in academic performance, such as deteriorating class work, excessive procrastination, inability to concentrate, decrease in class attendance, disruptive behavior; papers with themes of distress, hopelessness, death, violence, etc.
  • Distressed emails or voicemails
  • Physical changes—especially sudden weight loss or gain, deteriorating personal hygiene, extreme fatigue lasting beyond a day or two
  • Bizarre or strange behavior which is obviously out of place, e.g. talking to someone/thing that is not present (i.e., hallucinating or delusional, impaired speech, aggressive behavior) Please call UAF police department with immediate safety concerns at 907-474-7721
  • Threats or acts of violence to self or others; increase in risk-taking behavior (Please call UAF Police Department for immediate safety concerns)

How to consult with the Student Health and Counseling Center

  • If you have an urgent question or concern, call the Student Health and Counseling Center front office at 907-474-7043 and ask to speak with Associate Director, Stacey Schmitt.
  • Please be aware that due to confidentiality we cannot disclose if a student is seeking services at the counseling center.
  • Be prepared to inform us of the problem and clearly state your needs (e.g., "I received a distressed email and I need to know how to respond to the email…").
  • Be prepared to answer questions we can gain pertinent information to effectively support you and the student of concern.
  • Be prepared to collaborate with the Student Health and Counseling Center on the intervention plan; at times it is most effective for the student of concern to have you involved in the intervention with Student Health and Counseling Center support.

How to refer an individual to the Student Health and Counseling Center

If you have concerns for the student's immediate safety or the immediate safety of another on the UAF campus, contact UAF police department. Safety precedes treatment. Depending on the situation, you can help facilitate an appointment by:

  • Having the student call the Student Health and Counseling Center in your presence and put the student on the phone to speak to the front office staff. Staff and faculty cannot make an appointment for a student.
  • Encouraging the student to walk into the Student Health and Counseling Center to speak to a triage counselor in person or make an appointment.
  • Calling Student Health and Counseling Center and asking to speak to the triage counselor to indicate that you are concerned about a student's well-being and that you will be walking them over to the Student Health and Counsling Center. You may then escort the student to the Student Health and Counseling Center.
  • Counseling is available during and after business hours. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 907-474-7043 if you have any mental health questions or concerns regarding any student, staff, or faculty. We are open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30pm. If you need crisis assistance after hours, please call 907-474-7043 and follow the prompts to reach a crisis counselor.

Taking Charge of Your Headspace is a skills based workshop focusing on stress management and coping while a college student.  This series is available to all students, regardless of eligibility.  This is a topical workshop series so you can attend one or attend them all, depending on where your interests are.  Workshops will be held virtually.

To join, please email uaf-sh-cc@alaska.edu and we will send you the meeting link and password.

Fall 2021 topics

  • August 31: Coping with Stress & Change
  • Sept 7: Self-Care & Tending to Relationships
  • Sept 14: Time Management & Procrastination
  • Sept 21: Coping with Depression & Anxiety
  • Sept 28: Study Skills & Test Anxiety
  • Oct 5: Self-Care and Sleep
  • Oct 12: Time and Stress Management
  • Oct 19: Resiliency - What is it?
  • Oct 26: Setting Healthy Boundaries
  • Nov 2: Mastering Your Memory - Preparing for Finals
  • Nov 9: Coping with Depression & Anxiety
  • Nov 16: Study Skills & Test Anxiety
  • Nov 23: Time and Stress Management
  • Nov 30: Self-Care and Coping
  • Dec 7: Wellness, Healthy Diet & Exercise

Mindful Mondays is an open drop-in group for UA students who are interested in learning about and practicing mindfulness.  This group is open to all students, regardless of eligibility and will meet virtually.  This group is topical in nature so you can join in one class or join them all!

For more information or to access the class, please email Sarah Jensen at uaf-sh-cc@alaska.edu 

FALL 2021 topics

  • Sept 20: What is Mindfulness?
  • Sept 27: Mindfulness of Breath
  • Oct 4: Mindfulness of Body: Body Scan
  • Oct 11: Mindfulness of Body: Using the Senses
  • Oct 18: Mindfulness of Body: Eating & Movement
  • Oct 25: Mindfulness of Emotions
  • Nov 1: Mindfulness of Thoughts
  • Nov 8: Mindful Minute - Short exercises for when you only have a minute
  • Nov 15: Self-compassion and Lovingkindness - What are they and how do I practice them?
  • Nov 22: Radical Acceptance & Gratitude
  • Nov 29: FAQ’s and why you are not doing it wrong!!
  • Dec 6: Resources for further exploration