Making A Referral to the Counseling Center

If you are concerned about a student consider making a referral to the Counseling Center . Most faculty and staff members decide when and how to refer based on the behavior they have observed, their experience, their degree of comfort, and the nature of their relationship with the student.

Here are some reasons for making a referral to the Counseling Center .

•  You have observed some changes in behavior or affect and the problem seems to be more than you feel comfortable handling.

•  You are unable or unwilling to handle other requests for help because of your workload or other commitments.

•  You have talked with the student and helped as much as you can, but further assistance seems to be needed.

•  You think your personal feelings about the student will interfere with your ability to be helpful.

•  The student admits there is a problem, but doesn't want to talk to you about it.

•  The student asks for information or assistance that you are unable to provide.

Some faculty/staff members make “indirect” referrals. In other words, the faculty/staff member doesn't directly speak to the student, but does let a member of the Counseling Center staff know about the concern. The faculty/staff member typically says something like:

“I want you to know, but don't involve me.”

or

“I want you to know and you can mention me if you need to.”

Some faculty/staff members make “direct” referrals. They speak directly to the student about their concerns and then contact the Counseling Center . They typically say something like:

“I want you to know the concerns I have about this student and the student knows I am talking with you.”

or

“ I want you to know the concerns I have about this student and he/she is with me now.”

Even if you believe the student you are referring may benefit from counseling, it is important to realize that the student cannot be forced and certainly should not be tricked into meeting with a counselor. For best results just be honest and straightforward. Let the student know your reasons for making a referral and ask them if they are willing to make an appointment or meet one of the counselors.

Here are some guidelines/recommendations to consider:

•  Be thoughtful about when, where, and how you discuss your concerns with the student. Also, think about the nature, duration and severity of the problem.

•  State your reason for the referral. Emphasize your concern and the specific things you have observed.

•  Talk about the specific resource people and the variety of services available. (Go to the Counseling Center web page for information. The address is www.wvwc.edu/counseling .

•  Tell the person what to expect and suggest a couple of ways for them to make a contact.

•  Ask if he/she is willing to make a contact and which option is preferable. If the student is unwilling, ask if he/she is willing to discuss the reasons for not making a contact. Ask the student to consider what would have to change before making the contact.

•  Express support for the person's decision, re-emphasize your concern, and mention that you will probably ask how things are going in a week or two.

•  Wait a week or two and then ask the student how things are going.

Making a referral is not always as easy as following seven steps. Know that you can call to consult with us. We will all do our best to provide support and suggestions.

If you want to know if a student you referred came to the Counseling Center ask the student directly. You can call the Counseling Center and we will make a judgment based on the specific circumstances. We need to balance your inquiry with the issues of privacy and confidentiality.

We recommend that you visit our web page for information about the staff, services, special topics and links to other sites. You can find us at www.wvwc.edu/counseling .

If you have requests for programs, want to give us feedback, or have ideas that we ought to consider please contact Mike Kuba at kuba_m@wvwc.edu . Our phone works too and an in person conversation is great!