Counseling Service
Any full- or part-time student currently enrolled at Luther College may use the counseling services available on campus during the regular academic year. The services are free and voluntary.
The Counseling Service staff consists of qualified, trained professionals with advanced degrees in counseling and other mental health disciplines.
Confidentiality
Counseling Service regards your contacts with us and the issues you discuss as private and confidential. We do not share information with anyone outside the Counseling staff without your informed consent.
The only exceptions to this policy occur in specific situations involving danger of serious harm to you or others. For more information, read the Counseling Service Policy on Confidentiality.
What is counseling and what kinds of issues can be discussed?
Counseling provides a supportive environment where a student can talk freely about confidential issues and work toward changes in thoughts, feelings, behavior, relationships, or a life situation.
Students bring a wide variety of issues to the Counseling Service. Concerns frequently discussed include:
- Relationships
- Family issues
- Life decisions
- Feelings of depression or anxiety
- Sexuality
- Eating disorders
- Drug/alcohol abuse
- Sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse
- Loss or grief
Types of counseling sessions
Most students meet with a counselor on a one-to-one basis. Individual counseling is generally short term (10-12 sessions at most). Occasionally, support groups are offered in which a counselor and 6-8 students meet together for a few weeks to address a specific, personal issue such as stress management or recovery from grief.
Off-Campus Referral
Counseling Service is able to work with most students on campus. However, some treatment needs are beyond the scope of our resources. We refer students to off-campus professionals for mental health issues that require more intensive, specialized, or longer-term counseling.
Several professionals and agencies in Decorah provide evaluation and treatment related to mental health and substance abuse issues. Please visit this link to view a listing of off-campus resources (http://www.luther.edu/student-life/counseling/offcampus/index.html). We also recommend that you consult with your insurance provider to see if you have coverage for off-campus mental health or substance abuse services. It is critical to explore whether you have coverage for services in Decorah that are outside your preferred provider group.
Please note that the off-campus evaluation and treatment resources and other community resources function independently from Luther College Counseling Service.
Hours and information
Counseling Services are available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, when classes are in session. For more information, students can call 563-387-1375 during office hours.
The Counseling Service is closed in the summer from mid-June to mid-August. During this time, please contact the Student Life Office (563-387-1020) if you have questions about the Counseling Service or off-campus providers.
Psychological disabilities
Students who have been in treatment for significant psychological problems may meet the criteria for having a "psychological disability" and may be eligible for "reasonable accommodations," as set forth with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information, contact the Disabilities Coordinator for Luther College.
