FAQs

All RSU students, including those enrolled exclusively online or on the Bartlesville and Pryor campuses are eligible to take advantage of Counseling Services at Rogers State University. However, students are responsible for all transportation including the cost of transportation between their respective campus and the Counseling Services office at the Claremore campus.

After completing an in-person initial consultation with an RSU counselor, telehealth services via Zoom may be utilized by students for mental health support. If telehealth services are not an appropriate fit to meet the needs of the student then a referral for an outside mental health agency will be provided.

All RSU students are eligible for an initial session/brief assessment of problem areas with a counselor; however, if the counselor determines that a student is experiencing psychological or medical problems that require more intensive therapy or a specialized treatment approach that is not available through RSU Counseling Services, a referral will be made to an appropriate treatment facility off campus. If a student has questions about whether or not they will be eligible for services, they should speak to the counselor who can further explain the criterion for on-campus services.

RSU Counseling Services generally provides services listed on the main page. Counselors will perform basic assessments to determine the treatment needs of a client but may decline evaluations of whether a student should remain on campus or evaluations that could be viewed as forensic in nature.

RSU Counseling Services does not offer psychological or psychiatric evaluations, forensic/court evaluations, or services related to legal proceedings, cases involving child custody, or disability evaluations (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid).

Imminent Harm to Self: If a staff member has reason to believe that a client is in danger of physically harming themselves, the counselor is legally and ethically required to report this information to the proper authorities or another person as needed to ensure safety.

Imminent Harm to Others: If a staff member has reason to believe that a client presents an articulable and significant or serious threat to the health or safety of a student or other member of the campus community or public, s/he is legally and ethically required to take action necessary to ensure that the other person is protected (such as contacting the police and/or university personnel , notifying the object of the threat, seeking involuntary hospitalization or some combination of these actions).

Abuse/Neglect of Children or Dependent Adults: If a staff member has reason to believe that a child under the age of 18 or a dependent adult is being physically or sexually abused or neglected, s/he is legally obligated to report this situation to the appropriate state agency.*

Court Order: A court order, issued by a judge, may require Counseling Services staff to release information contained in records and/or require a counselor to testify in a court proceeding.

In cases of an emergency in which someone’s safety is thought to be at risk, counselors can report information to parents and/or university officials or faculty (see the scenarios listed above or the laws regarding FERPA disclosures). However, outside of an emergency situation, counselors cannot communicate with others (including college personnel or parents) without the client’s written permission.

If a student experiences a medical emergency they should call 911.

If a student is experiencing a mental health crisis during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm) and has an urgent need for counseling, the student should come to the counseling office located in the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center (DCTC), Room 103.

For a mental health emergency after business hours, students can call the Grand Lake Crisis Line at 1-800-722-3611. Campus police are also available 24 hours a day to assist students and can be reached at 918-343-7624.

The counselor is required by law to maintain a copy of case-relevant material for a period of seven (7) years from the last point of contact. Records are maintained in a confidential electronic medical records system that is HIPAA compliant and only accessed by RSU Counseling Services.

Students utilizing counseling services are welcome to sign a voluntary release of information. If you would like a parent, professor, employer etc. to know that you are attending counseling, you may sign a release of information and specify the type of information you would like released. This information is only shared if you would like it to be and can be limited to your wishes.

RSU Counseling Services cannot be utilized by a student’s child. However, if you have questions about providers in the area, the counselor can help educate you on options available in the community in the Claremore or Tulsa metro areas.

At this time, RSU Counseling Services prefers to refer students requesting couples counseling to community resources. These resources are low-cost and very affordable to students.

No. Only licensed physicians and psychiatrists can prescribe medications. If a student wishes to discuss the possibility of medications, they are encouraged to speak to their primary physician.

If a student does not have insurance or a primary provider, they can go to the Student Health Center to speak to a doctor about their symptoms. However, the use of the Student Health Center to provide psychotropic medications is discouraged. Due to the specialized nature of these drugs and the need for close monitoring when taking psychotropic medications, it is recommended that the student be monitored by a primary physician. In rare instances where psychotropic medications are prescribed, they will be short-term and students will be encouraged to follow up with mental health counseling as well.

Counseling will begin with a brief questionnaire about your history and an explanation of the limits of confidentiality and applicable state and federal confidentiality laws. The counselor will allow you to explain what issues brought you to counseling. Together you will conceptualize what issues you would like to work on and begin to formulate possible solutions. Often clients report feeling worse before feeling better. This is to be expected, and at times of discomfort, it is very important that clients share that information with their counselor.

RSU Counseling Services understands that there will be times when students need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If possible, please try to notify the counselor ASAP if you know you will not be able to make it to your appointment so that your appointment time can be used by someone else who may need or request it. If you are over 15 minutes late for your session, the counselor reserves the right to either shorten your session time or ask you to reschedule. This is so the counselor can maintain scheduling times with other students. RSU Counseling Services does not call to remind students about their appointment times.

If at any time a student becomes dissatisfied with the services that he/she is receiving, he/she is encouraged to contact the Director of Student Development at 918-343-7707.

Yes, the counselor is available to set appointments and have contact via email. However, clients are encouraged to limit this communication to setting appointment dates or other “housekeeping” type content. Email is not a confidential medium (as the university IT staff has access to all incoming and outgoing emails on the server) so issues that the client would not want shared should not be shared via email. In addition, emails will only be answered during business hours. If a client has an emergency, please see the above information.

The counselor keeps a list of counseling services available in the Claremore and Tulsa metro areas if a student prefers to see someone off campus. However, students need to be aware that they are financially responsible for psychological services provided off campus. Students seeking services off campus are strongly advised to get fee schedules from the provider to see how fees are addressed, whether the provider accepts insurance, offers sliding scales, etc.