Referring Students to Counseling Center

When to Refer

There are common behaviors that are observed when students are in trouble. Please see the FAQ page for those behavioral, emotional, and cognitive signs and symptoms. If you noticed them, please consider checking in with them if possible because your support might make a big difference to their emotional well-being, mental health, and academic success. Also, if your students would benefit from a referral for professional help, please help them get connected to the Counseling Center, or you can consult with the Counseling Center to identify options for supporting the student.

How to Set the Stage for Referral

If you plan to meet with a student to discuss issues that concern you, first set the stage:

• Talk to the student in private (e.g., your office, secure zoom link)
• Remove distractions (e.g., cell phones, emails)
• Do not promise confidentiality until you know what the student has to share. For instance, if the student is at risk for suicide or homicide, you will likely need to involve others.

How to Talk to Make a Referral

Before making a referral, it would be important to listen first and express your care and concerns to your students with distress. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you talk with them (See the FAQ page for more information; make this a hyperlink): 

• Gathering information

o Use open-ended questions

o Ask for clarification

o Listen actively and carefully

o Use silence

• Communicating understanding

o Provide empathy

o Use reflective statements

o Paraphrase

o Summarize and ask if you understood them correctly

• Providing support

o Validate feelings

o Pay attention to non-verbal communication

o Take non-judgmental stance

o Normalize help-seeking

• Connect with Additional Resources (hyperlinks would be helpful)

o Counseling Center

o Division of Career Pathways 

o Cross Cultural Center

o International Center

o Veteran Services

o LGBT Resource Center

o Disability Service Center

o Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE)

o Student Health Center

o Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion

How to Talk about Counseling Center

• De-stigmatize seeking help as much as possible:

o “Many students use services at the Counseling Center.”

o “Counseling Center can help with many different issues.”

o “Nothing is too big or too small.”

• Emphasize:

o Confidential & NO additional fees to currently registered students residing in CA

o Diverse clinicians with different languages and cultural backgrounds

o Some specialized services available (e.g., Graduate Student Therapy Group; Eating Disorder Initial Assessment)

 

Making the Referral

For most students, you can simply share with them the Counseling Center number 949-824-6457 and encourage them to schedule an appointment. The Counseling Center is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, excluding federal and university holidays.

If you think a student is at high risk for suicide/homicide or are concerned about their motivation to follow through with a referral, then it’s best to call the Counseling Center together or accompany them to Counseling Center.

After Making the Referral

Once students schedule an appointment at the Counseling Center, they will be seen by a clinician after completing some paperwork. Clinicians will listen and provide support and can also help students develop coping strategies. Clinicians will also work with students to come up with plans for next steps that meet their needs. 

After making the referral, you may be interested in knowing whether your students had an appointment at the Counseling Center and/or what plans were made for them. However, because psychological services are confidential by law, Counseling Center is not able to share any information with you, unless the student requests this and signs a specific release of information.

Ideally, the student would tell you directly about the outcome of your referral. We encourage you to follow up with the student after you have made a referral. Depending on your relationship with the student, they may tell you whether they were seen and/or about the outcome of their meeting.