Scope of Clinical Care

Building on our Collaborative and Tailored approach to wellness, our team of licensed clinicians and supervised graduate-level interns is dedicated to providing inclusive, immediate access to care with no wait lists. 

To support your autonomy and individual goals, we offer a flexible range of clinical services centered on your unique needs. We believe there is no concern “too big” or “too small” to seek help, and we look forward to co-creating a personalized care plan with you.

Scope of Clinical Care

Following your initial triage appointment, you and your clinical provider will determine the best treatment and resources for your specific goals. Decisions regarding whether a student’s needs fall within our center's scope of practice are made thoughtfully and collaboratively, either during the initial intake or as needs evolve over time.

Concerns that are typically well-addressed within our campus clinical framework include, but are not limited to:

• Mood & Emotional Symptoms: Mild to moderate anxiety (stress, worry, guilt) and depression symptoms (sadness, irritability, anger)
• Adjustment & Life Transitions: Adapting to college life, navigating family changes, preparing for graduation, or experiencing major life shifts.
• Identity Development: Exploring personal, racial, cultural, sexual, gender, or spiritual identities in a safe, affirming environment.
• Interpersonal Dynamics: Navigating relationships and communication with family, friends, romantic partners, or roommates.
• Grief and Loss: Processing the impact of a death, breakup, or other significant life losses.
• Academic Well-being: Addressing motivation, perfectionism, test anxiety, or academic stress impacting your goals.
• Trauma Recovery: Managing the emotional effects of past trauma or interpersonal violence.
• Substance Use Exploration: Addressing mild to moderate concerns regarding alcohol or drug use.
• Body Image & Eating: Navigating general body image concerns and mild to moderate eating concerns and disruptions.

When a Community Referral is the Best Option

While we strive to provide comprehensive care, college counseling centers have inherent operational boundaries. Students who require highly specialized, open-ended, or intensive clinical care are often best served by community providers.

If your care plan indicates a need for resources outside our clinical scope, our Clinical Case Manager will collaborate with you to navigate your options and find an off-campus specialist.

Concerns Best Served by External Specialists:

• Eating disorders requiring medical stabilization or intensive, specialized day-treatment programming.
• Significant alcohol or drug use requiring specialized substance use rehabilitation or detoxification.
• Non-suicidal self-injury that causes significant physical harm or is increasing in frequency and severity.
• A history of chronic psychiatric hospitalizations or persistent, high-risk suicidality.
• Acute crises causing severe disruption in day-to-day functioning that require immediate intensive care.
• Clinical needs assessed to best benefit from more than weekly sessions, or students seeking guaranteed, open-ended therapy.

Services Not Available Through Counseling Services

To maintain immediate access for all students and focus our resources on counseling, the following specialized services are not provided by our center:

• Intensive outpatient (IOP) or inpatient psychiatric treatment.
• Court-ordered or legally mandated assessments and/or treatment.
• Evaluations to diagnose and/or treat ADHD, autism spectrum, or other neurological/neurodevelopmental concerns.
• Evaluations or formal letters for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs).
• Psychological assessments for forensic purposes, legal adjudications, employment security assessments, or professional school applications.
• Conjoint family therapy.

Understanding Our Inherent Limitations & Guidelines for Care

To maintain an equitable system with no wait lists and ensure immediate access for the entire student body, we operate within certain practical and ethical frameworks. There are times when our campus center may not be the right fit, or where a transition to an off-campus provider is necessary to truly support your well-being.

We navigate these decisions thoughtfully, and a student may be redirected to community resources under the following circumstances:

• Treatment Engagement: A demonstrated lack of engagement, consistent non-compliance with treatment recommendations, or failure to comply with critical clinical directives.
• Attendance Patterns: A repeated pattern of missed appointments, late cancellations, or frequent rescheduling that limits access for other students.
• Dual Therapy: Students who are currently actively engaged in individual therapy with another mental health provider.
• Administrative Documentation: Students seeking therapy for the sole purpose of obtaining documentation for another campus office (e.g., Disability Resources, Residence Life).
• Academic Requirements: Students required or encouraged to engage in services solely to meet an academic course requirement or to gain personal clinical experience.
• Safety & Conduct: Inappropriate, harassing, threatening, or violent language or behavior directed toward clients or staff.
• Clinical Discretion: Situations determined by the clinician or the Director of Counseling Services to fall outside our safe, ethical scope of practice.

Location & State Licensure Laws

Due to strict state licensing regulations, our clinicians can only provide clinical services to students who are physically located within the state of North Carolina at the time of the appointment. If you are away over summer break, studying abroad, or traveling out of state, we can assist with external referral routing but cannot provide therapy sessions.

Find a Community Provider

If you and your clinician determine that off-campus care is the best fit for your goals, you can meet with our Clinical Case Manager and/or use our Finding an Off-Campus Provider tool.