Counseling and Wellness Services

Welcome to Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) at NYU. CWS offers students short-term individual counseling, group counseling, self-improvement classes, referrals, and psychiatric medication services. All services except psychiatric medication services are free of charge.

Short-term Counseling
Counseling—or psychotherapy—is a professional relationship that focuses on personal problems. The counseling relationship differs from both social friendships and patient-doctor contacts. Unlike friends, counselors are able to be objective; they are not involved in your daily lives. Unlike most doctors, counselors don't give specific advice or tell you what to do. Instead, they serve as skilled listeners who help you to clarify issues, discover your true wishes and feelings, and deal effectively with problems.

CWS counselors are psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and advanced trainees in those professions. There are male and female counselors, counselors from different racial and national backgrounds, and counselors who specialize in substance abuse, gay/lesbian/bisexual concerns, eating disorders, international students, and other concerns. We also have counselors who specialize in the issues of students from different schools: CAS, Gallatin, Law, Social Work, Steinhardt, Tisch, and students living in residence halls.

Length of counseling varies. Some problems lend themselves to a one or two session consultation. Others require a series of appointments, the length to be decided by you and your counselor. If you need longer than short-term counseling, your counselor will discuss with you affordable referral resources in the community.

Many problems lend themselves to group counseling or a self-improvement class, rather than individual counseling.

What kind of problem is appropriate to discuss with a CWS counselor? Anything that troubles you. Here is a partial list of common student concerns:

• Depression
• Homesickness
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Alcohol or drugs
• Eating concerns
• Academic anxieties
• Roommate and friendship problems
• Family problems
• Suicidal thoughts
• Sexual concerns
• Identity concerns

Be sure to check out the self-help information in the resources section and the information on helping a friend.

Confidentiality
CWS counseling services are confidential. No one outside the Student Health Center is informed that you've come to CWS. Counseling is not part of your college record.

Are there exceptions to confidentiality? Yes — in case of a life-threatening emergency, suspected child abuse, the need to share limited information with the Student Health Center, and evaluations when an administrator has sent you to CWS expecting to receive feedback. Evaluations take place only with your full awareness and permission. These exceptions are rare.

Emergency Services
Appointments are usually available within a few days. Students who need to be seen sooner should come to the Wellness Exchange walk-in clinic, 726 Broadway, 4th Floor, Suite 402. In case of an emergency during office hours, please tell the receptionist that you need to be seen right away.

For evening and weekend emergencies, call NYU Public Safety (212-998-2222), who will connect you with a Crisis Response Counselor (CRC). The CRC will speak to you over the phone and, if appropriate, can also arrange to meet you in-person. This emergency service is available around the clock.

You may also call the Wellness Exchange hotline at 212-443-9999, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak to a trained counselor.