Drop-in Consultations

The service is open to all enrolled Vanderbilt University undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who have paid the student health fee.

A Drop-in Consultation is a good fit for students who:

• Are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor
• Are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor
• Have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with a counselor
• Have a concern about a friend and want some thoughts about what to do

Absolutely. The counselor will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help.

Conversations with counselors are confidential. However, the primary exception is that counselors may need to share information in a situation in which safety for you or others is a concern. Counselors keep brief written notes of their contacts with students only in the event that there is an emergency, or when a student is referred to the UCC for treatment. In these situations, other UCC clinicians may see these notes. Information is also collected about attendance, so that we can keep track of the students we are serving and those we need to continue serving. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a counselor and review the information given to you during your Drop-in Consultation.

Drop-in Consultations are not a substitute for psychotherapy/counseling and do not constitute mental health treatment. Counselors provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it is like to speak with a counselor. The Drop-in counselor can help you determine whether ongoing therapy at the UCC would be useful to you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.

Students who are experiencing an immediate mental health emergency are encouraged to attend UCC Urgent Care, instead of Drop-in Consultation.