Counseling
Enrolled students can set up an appointment by calling our office, 831-582-3969.
Students will meet with a counselor to create a unique plan that may include group counseling, individual counseling, or both. In some cases, students may benefit from a referral to a mental health professional or service outside of CSUMB.
Students in crisis are seen as soon as possible.
Community Specific Support
The counseling center is available to support students who may be a part of various communities, such as:
PGCC services are designed to help students:
- Learn skills to optimize decision-making, problem-solving, and communication
- Deal with problems stemming from personal life experiences, trauma, and situational stress
- Resolve life crises that threaten persistence in college
- Adjust to and cope with college life and pressures
- Enhance individual potential
- Develop healthy relationships
Counseling can be helpful to address many concerns. A student may choose to contact our office for help with:
- Alcohol and drug use
- Anxiety
- Assertiveness
- Body image
- Cultural issues
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflict
- Grief and loss
- Relationships
- Roommates
- Sexual assault (students may also choose to contact the Campus Advocate or Title IX Office)
- Sexual identity
- Stress
- Test anxiety
- Traumatic events
- Veterans' Issues
- Violence
Students who are unsure about counseling and what to expect, are encouraged to review a list of frequently asked questions.
This policy (EO 1053) develops and communicates systemwide policies, procedures, and/or guidelines for mental health services to matriculated students.
A personal commitment to counseling is crucial for success. We encourage students to keep all scheduled appointments. If a student has an illness or emergency, please call to cancel as far in advance as possible.
Additionally, students are expected to:
- Be open and honest
- Be on time
- Work in collaboration with their counselor
Occasionally a student may need additional resources. The counseling center will appropriately refer students to outside services such as a private practitioner, medical professional (e.g. psychiatrist, nutritionist), community support group, or facility that specializes in the student's problem.
The counseling center provides services within a brief therapy model, therefore individual counseling appointments are limited. PGCC Groups and Workshops have no limit and are highly encouraged in combination with individual sessions to achieve maximum progress towards longer-term goals.
While there are limits to confidentiality, the fact that you are seeing a counselor does not appear on any academic records. Your right to confidentiality is protected by law. As helping professionals, we are legally and ethically bound to report cases of child abuse, elder abuse, suicide, homicide, and if individuals are gravely disabled and unable to care for themselves.
In such cases, the counselor is legally required to make outside reports (where appropriate) of information obtained during counseling sessions. The counselor will inform the student that confidentiality will be broken and the reason(s) for doing so.
Our privacy policy explains detailed use and description of protected health information and can be made available upon request.
Students must complete registration and screening forms prior to their first appointment each academic year. Our office will email forms prior to the first appointment.