Counseling and therapy are terms that are often used interchangeably in the psychology field. While it focuses on a lot of the same things, counseling can look different for everyone. Some people may want and need more long-term/personal work, while others may not need that. 

The thought of counseling can seem overwhelming for a number of reasons: 1. Accessibility 2. Affordability 3. Confidentiality 4. Stigma 5. Vulnerability 6. Misinformation and the list goes on. Acknowledging that you may need help is a huge step that takes a lot of reflection and self-awareness. However, one of the most difficult parts of the process is the act of actually reaching out for help. Everyone deserves help, regardless of diagnoses, financial situation and the limiting belief that “other people have it worse.” While this statement may or may not be true, it doesn’t mean that the way you feel is any less valid. 

Chasidy Faith, director and training coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Stout counseling center, has some important things to say about students getting the help they might need. “We would like students to know that if you are struggling, there is help,” Faith said. “This does not have to mean counseling for everyone, but if that’s what may help, we are here for you.” 

So, how is the Counseling Center actively working to bridge the gap between struggling students and the available help? Faith says through education and conversation. “We offer a multitude of presentations and outreach programs, many of which are conducted by our undergraduate Wellness PROs (Peers Reaching Out)—peer health educators,” Faith said. “We share information about the services we offer, self-help tools students can easily access, how to support someone who is struggling with mental health and so on. We answer questions, explain confidentiality and encourage people to call and ask questions if they have any.” 

The UW-Stout counseling center, like many others, has faced open counselor positions this past year due to the pandemic. “We have worked hard to not impact the student experience or access to services due to our open counselor positions,” Faith said. “During COVID-19, counseling centers across the nation did see a decrease in student attendance; however, this appears to be increasing again,” she added. 

The counseling center currently does not have a waitlist for services and has moved to a consultation model, in which it offers 30-minute appointments that focus on meeting students’ immediate needs for the semester. 

Because the number of clients accessing counseling center services is slightly down (though right at their 5-year average again this year), the counseling center has been able to appropriately manage the clinical load this fall semester. “While our utilization rates seem to quickly be returning to pre-covid numbers, we have still been able to get students in for their first appointment within three to five business days, which has been an internal goal,” Faith said.

Counseling center statistics

Attended appointments from July 1-Nov. 12:

• 2019: 1,796

• 2020: 1,324

• 2021: 1,613

According to Faith, “The graph above shows our monthly year-to-date total of unique clients who have accessed counseling services. So, you can see that by the end of Oct. 2021, we had 362 unique students come to us for services. This is compared to only 266 during 2020-21 and a five-year average of 357.” The counseling center is currently offering both in-person and tele-counseling appointments for students.


Services offered by the counseling center

• Individual, couples and group counseling

• Two programs: “alcohol and other drug education” & “outreach and prevention” 

• Crisis appointments, consultations for questions or concerns and self-help resources, such as SilverCloud (a self-help resource for depression, anxiety, stress, sleep and resilience for Stout students and employees)


The counseling staff encourages students to become familiar with these resources now, so that it’s easier to access help later if needed. They would also like students to know about the additional crisis resources for mental health concerns located on the back of all UW-Stout ID cards. There, you can find the contacts for:

• Northwest Connections (888-552-6642)

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255)

• A text line (text “hopeline” to 741741)

Take a moment to locate these resources on your ID card so that you know how to find them in case you or a friend need immediate assistance.

Follow the counseling center on Instagram: @uwstoutcounselingcenter

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