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Counseling

Our mission at VCSU Counseling Services is to enhance personal growth, academic success, and lifelong learning by meeting the mental health needs of the students, staff, and faculty by providing preventative health care, individual and group counseling, consulting, workshops, and education.

The VCSU Counseling Services Office works in a spirit of collaboration within the Division of Student Affairs to support individual responsibility, personal growth, and wellness of all members of the VCSU community.

Our goal is to work collaboratively with you to help you achieve emotional and mental wellness. We evaluate your mental and physical state, help you identify environmental, social, and occupational challenges and stressors, help you determine a treatment goal, and provide mental health psychoeducation.

VCSU Counseling Services are free and confidential for students. Any personal concern is appropriate to bring to a mental health counselor.

Student concerns may involve:

  • relationships with others
  • unpleasant feelings
  • life decisions
  • values clarification
  • study problems
  • depression
  • trauma
  • anxiety
  • eating disorders
  • sexual identity issues
  • alcohol or drug abuse
  • grief
  • stress
  • or general topics

We can visit with students face-to-face, or virtually through Microsoft Teams. Visits can be scheduled through email or stopping by McFarland 424 or 425. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

We conduct free anxiety, depression, & alcohol assessments and free diagnostic screenings and referrals. Group counseling, workshops and seminars, consultations, and referrals are also provided by the counseling office per request. Workshops and seminars are designed for students, staff, and faculty. These include topics such as anxiety, depression, and stress, and can be scheduled by contacting Kelsie Carter. Erin Klingenberg is available in emergency situations.

Important ResourcesContact Info
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline988
Crisis Text line for freeText HOME to 741741
Emergencies911
LGBTQI+ Hotline1-866-488-4386 or text 202-304-1200
Transgender Hotline1-877-565-8860

Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO

The Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO will provide you with accurate and personalized feedback about your:

  • Your individual drinking pattern
  • Your risk patterns
  • Your aspirations and goals
  • Helpful resources at VCSU and in your community

You can access the link for the Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO here: Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO Assessment

Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO

The Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO will provide you with accurate and personalized feedback about your:
  • Your individual usage pattern
  • Your risk patterns
  • Your aspirations and goals
  • Helpful resources at VCSU and in your community

You can access the link for the Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO here: https://echeckup.sdsu.edu/usa/mj/coll/VCSU

Mental Health Resources

Whether it’s you, a friend, or a loved one who is struggling with mental health, there are many great resources to help you manage stress, cope with anxiety, or generally feel better.  Explore our resources now.

Northern Prairie Community Clinic: This resource is free for VCSU students on campus and online. VCSU students are able to utilize telehealth services through NPCC. Click here for more information.

Sexual Violence Prevention Program

The Sexual Violence Prevention Program echeckup-to-go at VCSU is an educational program that will provide you with accurate, customized, and detailed information about sexual violence prevention. For more information go to the following link: http://interwork.sdsu.edu/echeckup/svp/campus/VCSU

If you are completing this program as a requirement, when asked if you need verification~ please check “Yes”. Once completed, you may print a completion certificate.

VCSU Green Dot

VCSU Green Dot is a bystander training program to help students and VCSU employees gain skills to reduce violence they may see on campus and in the community. The program focuses on reducing power-based personal violence on our campus and to address other social issues that impede progress towards a safe and equitable campus community as stated by the official Green Dot program by Alteristic. Visit our Green Dot One Stop page for more information.

Counseling Waiting Area
Counseling Waiting Area
Kelsie's Office
Kelsie's Office
Counselor's Office
Counselor's Office

Meet our Director

Meet our Mental Health Counselors

Counseling One Stop Page
Health Services
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct