We believe that counseling from an objective, knowledgeable, and caring person can benefit everyone at one time or another. For many, this time occurs during college. The Counseling Center at Rensselaer helps students maximize their sense of well-being, as well as their academic, personal, and social growth.
Staff
Counseling Center staff includes:
- licensed social workers and mental health counselors
- licensed physician associate specializing in psychiatry
All staff have specialized training in college health issues and provide a variety of services including, but not limited to: individual, group, and couples therapy, faculty/staff consultation, and outreach services.
Hours
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday during the academic year. *Please note we are closed daily from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. for lunch.
Appointments
Call 518-276-6479 or use the Student Health Portal
Walk-in Services
There are two hours available each day (M/W/F - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; T/Th - 2 to 4 p.m.) for students to meet with a counselor without a formal appointment. Walk-in counseling is available on a first come, first served basis on days when classes are in session.
BHS Services
To supplement our services, Rensselaer has partnered with BHS to offer additional urgent and crisis care services to students, 24/7. As an extension of the RPI Counseling Center, continuity of care is confidential and seamless between RPI counselors and BHS.
Call (518) 276-8888 to speak with a licensed clinical professional from the BHS program 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Students can also access BHS resources and live chat (limited hours) online at: https://portal.bhsonline.com (Username: Rensselaer)
Confidentiality
Maintaining confidentiality is a vital part of the counseling relationship. The information that you share with a counselor will not be disclosed to any outside person or agency – including parents, faculty, future employers, etc. – without your written permission. In fact, the Counseling Center generally will not even disclose whether or not a student has used its services.
The only exceptions to this strict policy of confidentiality are situations where:
- The client is likely to harm themselves
- The client presents a serious danger of violence to others
- There is a reasonable suspicion of abuse of children or of an elderly person
- The student is not yet 18 and disclosure is provided to the student's parents/guardians
- Disclosure is required by law, such as in fulfillment of a valid subpoena or court order
Crisis Services
In addition to the 24/7/365 crisis support offered to Rensselaer students through BHS (call (518) 276-8888) you may want to contact one of these hotlines:
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline (call 988)
- International Hotlines suicide hotlines from countries across the globe
- The Trevor Project 24/7 calls, text, and chat support for LGBTQ youth
- The Steve Fund Crisis Text Line 24/7 crisis text line for youth of color (text STEVE to 741741)
- National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673)
Psychiatry Services
For students who are currently under the care of a psychiatrist/psychiatric provider at home, we recommend continuing care with your current provider or establishing ongoing care with a psychiatrist in the Troy area. Click here for some resources for psychiatry services.
If you have previously been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and are stable on medication prescribed by your provider, you should continue obtaining the prescription(s) from your provider. New York State has no exclusions on prescriptions for controlled substances from outside of the state, therefore your provider can send your prescription to a local pharmacy for pick up or delivery. If you have tried to obtain the prescription(s) from your provider and have experienced issues, we recommend you establish ongoing care with a provider in the Troy area or an on-line provider. Click here for some resources for psychiatry services.
Students who are seeking a first-time psychiatric appointment (not currently taking psychiatric medication) should first make an appointment with a counselor for an assessment and referral to RPI psychiatric providers.
