Drop-in Consultations
A Drop-in Consultation is an outreach program that provides easy access to informal, confidential, and free consultations with clinicians (counselors) from the University Counseling Center (UCC).
The UCC has created the below-mentioned identity-specific Drop-In Consultations in response to current events and student feedback. We hope that our identity-based Drop-In Consultations provide opportunities for our students to receive brief support around these concerns in a more overtly affirming space.
| DROP-IN CONSULTATION | URGENT CARE | COUNSELING |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 sessions | 1-2 sessions | Ongoing, flexible, and time effective |
| Informal consultation about a concern that can benefit from immediate problem-solving or time-limited support | You are experiencing acute symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic, suicidal ideation | You want to find effective ways to address symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, body image, disorder eating, alcohol and other drugs, etc. |
| Not part of your releasable records | Grief associated with the death of a family member or friend | You want to address conflict with partners, roommates, or family members |
| Does not constitute mental health treatment | Recent traumatic event | You are struggling with motivation, performance anxiety, and/or perfectionism |
| If you could benefit from a higher level of care, every effort will be made to refer you to other appropriate resources | Extreme difficulty navigating stressors or urgent concern for a friend or family member | You are struggling with adjustment due to change in support system, acculturation, and/or identity issues; you have experienced trauma, and/or assault |
Students are also welcome to access any of our Drop-In Consultation spaces for intentional support and resources in response to ongoing current events that may impact students at the intersection of their identities. Such current events may include, but are not limited to, identity-based critical incidents, natural disasters, local and global political unrest, identity-based state-wide and federal legislative acts, economic uncertainty, and any other current events that may cause emotional activation and diminished sense of psychological safety and belonging for students.
Fall 2024 Drop-in Consultation Hours
There will be no Drop-In Consultations during the week of Fall break (Oct. 7-11) or Thanksgiving break (week of Nov. 23).
| Provider(s) | Location | Day | Time | Identity Served | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Stacey Appiah-Opoku & Wenzhi Pan | Peabody Admin Building, Room 218B | Mondays (9/9 - 9/23); Fridays (10/4-12/6) | 1:00 - 3:00 pm | APIDA, International, and Graduate & Professional Students |
 | Jordan Mike | BCC Resource Room | Wednesdays (Remaining Dates: 10/30, 11/13) | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Black Students |
  | Heather Boyd & Sarah Jordan Welch-Moore | Student Care Coordination, Rand 305 | Thursdays (9/5 - 12/5) | 1:00 - 3:00 pm | All identities |
 | Kyle Shadrick | KCPC Room 203 | Fridays (9/6 - 12/6) | 2:00 - 3:00 pm; 4:00 - 4:30 pm | LGBTQIA+ Students |
FAQ
Who should use a drop-in Consultation?
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
I think I have a problem that would benefit from counseling, but I don’t know anything about counseling. Would going to a drop-in consultation help me figure out what to do?
Absolutely. The counselor will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help.
Are drop-in consultations confidential? Are there any limits to confidentiality?
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.
What else do I need to know?
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. Your 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. To note, students who are experiencing an immediate mental health emergency are encouraged to attend UCC Urgent Care, instead of Drop-In Consultation. Students may connect with UCC Urgent Care by calling the UCC at 615-322-2571.