Counseling Services

Welcome to Counseling at Student Health Services 

Student Health Services Counseling provides counseling, consultation, outreach and education to MSU Billings students, faculty, and staff. We do this in order to promote and enhance student’s academic success, mental health, and personal development as well as promote a culture of positive mental health at MSU Billings.

• Counselors see clients by appointment
  • To make an appointment to see a counselor call Student Health Services 657-2153 or stop by the Front Desk at either SHS location.
• Counseling hours will vary at both locations.

• If you are dealing with an emergency or life-threatening situation, call 911 or go to an area hospital (see “Emergency Situations” tab on this website). 

Why Come to Counseling?

These are some of the signs or issues that prompt people to seek counseling:

• stress or anxiety
• depression
• academic motivation
• career choice confusion
• eating disorders
• substance abuse
• family relationship conflicts
• financial stress
• grief/loss issues
• intimacy, commitment, or relationship issues
• identity concerns (e.g., ethnic/racial identity; sexual orientation, spiritual identity)
• thoughts and feelings about suicide or self-harm
• anger or thoughts of violence

What can I expect from Counseling?

What happens in counseling depends on the unique needs and strengths of each person seeking assistance. For this reason, each counseling experience is unique, just as every individual is unique.

Typically, the first few sessions are spent clarifying the problem and examining what solutions have already been tried. This process assists the counselor in determining which counseling strategies will be most helpful to you. Once you clarify your issues, you and the counselor will delineate counseling goals.

There are many approaches to dealing with these issues. Often, the process will include learning new problem-solving or coping skills, increasing self-understanding, exploring life patterns, and gaining a better sense of how you are influenced by your surroundings.

How can I get the most out of Counseling?

• Attempt to clarify your goals, and/or what you hope to get out of the experience
• Consider how you feel about the counseling relationship
• Be an active participant
• Focus on what is most important to you
• Recognize and express feelings
• Be patient with yourself
• Ask questions

Services Available

• Individual counseling/psychotherapy is the most common.
• Clients will see the same counselor for every appointment unless client prefers to see another counselor.
• Counseling is available to wide range of personal issues (e.g. depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, social anxiety, anger).
• If a client’s difficulties are part of a relationship with a significant other, the couple may be seen together, provided one of the partners is a registered student at MSU Billings.
• Sessions typically last fifty minutes.
• Many students find relief in a few sessions; most students will be seen for less than 8 sessions per academic year.  The counselor and student will discuss and agree upon an appropriate course of action in the initial sessions.

Check Yourself or Get Help Now

If you need immediate help call 1 800 273 TALK (8255) Suicide Prevention Hotline

Take a confidential self- evaluator screening tool

**No-Show Policy**

If a student is unable to keep a Student Health Services Counseling appointment, the student must call (406) 657-2153 at least 24 hours in advance to cancel (or as soon as possible for appointments made for later the same day) so that other students have access to this limited student support resource.

Failure to cancel two appointments in the same semester at least 24 hours in advance will result in the following:

A. $25.00 fee will be assessed to their student account.

B.  Being put at the bottom of the waiting list

OR

If no waiting list exists, when the student schedules their next counseling appointment it will be at least two (2) weeks from the missed appointment. 

Free Anonymous Mental Screenings 

Disability Support Services

Additional Resources & Information

(click on subject to view details)