COUNSELING SERVICES
Donovan Hall C310
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m
WELLNESS CENTER
Tower Hall S213
Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Use our Mother’s Room in the Wellness Center at any time. If door is locked, call Safety & Security at 815-740-3200 for access.
For confidential, FREE assistance, call 800-236-3231 or email eap@aah.org. Appointments are available by phone, video or in-person. After-hour appointments available upon request.
To contact the Wellness Center, call 815-740-3864 or visit the office, where a registered nurse provides basic medical services for students and makes referrals to other health care providers/agencies when necessary.
In USF’s Wellness Center, a registered nurse provides basic medical services for students and makes referrals to other health care providers/agencies when necessary. Visit the center in Tower Hall to see the nurse. When the Wellness Center is closed, you can go to a local quick care facility:
Click here to download the Student Health History/Physical Exam form. See below for Student Health Services Requirements chart for commuters and residents.
We make it easy to submit your medical health records! You can either use your phone’s camera scanner application or your own scanner. Here are the steps to submit your records:
Please allow two business days for a copy of your health records. In compliance with privacy regulations, health records can only be given to students. Contact Phyllis Peterson at ppeterson@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-3864 regarding Health Records.
The University of St. Francis encourages the establishment of lifestyle behaviors that promote healthy living patterns consistent with our Franciscan values of respect, service, integrity and compassion. College students experience major transitional challenges in their lives upon enrolling into university. These issues may include, but are not limited to: adjustment to college life, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, difficulty in family and social relationships, life challenges and transitions, stress/time management, grief and loss, and more.
Counseling services are provided free of charge to currently enrolled USF students. These services may be provided in person or via telehealth, as well as in an individual or group format depending on need and/or preference.
Counseling Center staff members are also available to provide consultation services, psycho-educational classroom presentations, and crisis management training workshops upon request throughout the academic year. All services offered by USF Mental Health Counselors are confidential, and release of confidential information may only be made with the written consent of the student.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of what to expect and what not to expect when you decide to make the courageous decision to give counseling a try.
It only works if you want to be here! At times, students referred to our office feel as if they have been forced to come to counseling by parents or other concerned parties and are “unwilling participants.” Although we believe counseling can help anyone, you cannot grow or heal if you do not come in on your own accord. If you feel coerced into attending counseling, express your discomfort to your counselor and we can talk about it—please do not hold in your reluctance!
Counseling will not fix you. YOU will fix you. Our job is to help you help yourself. The goal of counseling is to empower you with ways to deal with life issues, learn about triggers, unhelpful patterns, and build resiliency, so you can thrive rather than survive—and become your best you.
It’s not always rainbows and sunshine. It’s likely you will feel much better after meeting with a counselor, but the journey requires you to be brave and fearless. Depending on what brought you in to counseling, it may be important to recall memories and experiences or change a behavioral style which can be trying, upsetting, even overwhelming. Being in counseling helps you feel better, but it’s beneficial to know that the journey can sometimes be bumpy. If you stick with and embrace the process, it’s likely you will be amazed with the end results!
Unrealistic expectations are unrealistic! Change does not happen overnight. Nor does the development of insight or replacing old behaviors with new ones. It takes time and collaboration with your counselor to develop and work towards practical and realistic goals that are specific to your needs. As time progresses, you can review these targeted goals and redefine them if necessary.
It is (and is not) like talking to a friend. Like a friend or family member, a counselor is a friendly, caring, interested person to talk to when you are experiencing life’s difficulties. Unlike a friend or family member, your counselor has been extensively trained to listen not only with the intent to understand and provide empathic support, but also with the goal to identify, explore, and clarify the experiences that negatively affect your wellbeing. Active listening and follow up questions assist your counselor in applying appropriate theory and techniques specific to your needs and goals. In addition, your counselor’s clinical objectivity, allows you to receive a balanced, unbiased frame of reference— something that often is blurred in other relationships.
Being comfortable with your counselor is REALLY important. It takes time to get to know and trust your counselor, but sometimes personality differences, lack of connection, or other factors may be an indication of a “mismatch.” If this happens, it may be difficult for you to feel comfortable talking about personal issues and to feel safe letting go of fears or trying out new behaviors. If you don’t feel comfortable, it’s perfectly fine to request a different counselor. You will NOT be hurting your counselor’s feelings—we want the best for you and realize we cannot be everyone’s “cup of java.” We have a variety of counselors with unique styles available to meet with you and assist you in your positive growth and development.
At times during the academic year individuals may need emergency services. These resources will help in times of need. Remember for immediate emergency care, dial 9-1-1. Both Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet and Silver Cross Hospital are accredited trauma centers and the closest 24-hour emergency service.
The University of St. Francis has specific policies regard returning to campus following a hospitalization. This is for the safety of the individual and the campus. Returning to campus following a mental health or medical evaluation or hospitalization off-campus is contingent upon the mental health/medical condition being sufficiently resolved or managed successfully.
While off-campus, students are expected to seek necessary or appropriate medical attention and to document the steps taken and progress made toward resolving or managing the mental health/medical condition. Students returning to campus will be required to provide written documentation that verifies they are ready to return to a rigorous academic environment and describe treatment and/or discharge plans signed by the medical clinician who provided services to the student. Decisions about returning to campus are made by the Dean of Students.
At any time, the Dean of Students may contact parents/family of the student and any appropriate university officials about the student’s status. If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the University of St. Francis, the student must comply with these requirements before resuming enrollment. For more details, see the student Code of Conduct here.
