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For Parents
Family Consult Appointments
If a student or prospective student has a history of treatment for psychological difficulties, a family consult appointment is an opportunity to determine if our services are appropriate for the student or if the student would be better served by more comprehensive services in the community. The student must give permission for his or her parents to be involved in this appointment and must attend the session along with the parents. It is often helpful to provide records of earlier treatment prior to this session, or at least to bring the information necessary to send away for these records to the session. (The student may sign a Release of Information Form so these records may be sent.) During the family consult appointment, the student can determine under what conditions his or her parents should be involved in treatment and sign a release to that effect.
If a family lives too far away to have an in-person meeting, a telephone consult with parents may take place with the student's consent. We prefer that the student will normally be present in the counselor's office during this telephone consult, and all information provided by parents will be shared with the student. Parents sometimes call with concerns about their student and ask that the student not be told about the call. This undermines the therapeutic relationship between the student and the counselor and such requests will not be honored.
Students who are under psychiatric care for medications may wish to continue to see their hometown psychiatrist for follow-up, since psychiatric resources are limited in the Martin area. A plan for regular follow-up appointments and access to the psychiatrist in case of an emergency should be established before the student leaves home.
While our counselors will work closely with students to assist them in managing their psychological problems and succeeding in school, it must be understood that we cannot provide intensive outpatient management of high-risk clients. Please see our Limited Scope of Services policy. It is ultimately the student's responsibility to make and keep appointments and to follow through on the recommendations of his or her counselor.
Early Warning signs your student may be in trouble
- Exhibiting overconfidence and/or thinking college is just an extension of high school
- Parental notification of student alcohol or drug use
- Skipping classes
- Inability to complete assignments
- Going home every weekend
I want to know if my child is coming to counseling. Can I call and ask?
We understand and respect your concerns as a parent. We are not able to even confirm that a particular student is a client because of confidentiality. We encourage parents in general to try to keep the lines of communication with their child open and to express any concerns they have directly to the student. Some students are willing to have their parent accompany them to a session or are willing to sign a limited release of information so that the parent and the counselor can communicate.
Should I make an appointment for my child?
We require that your student schedule his or her own appointment with us. Students are more likely to keep the appointment and commit themselves to counseling if they have taken the responsibility to initiate the process. Except in cases of emergency, the decision whether to attend counseling rests with the student.