Counseling Center

Counseling Center
Director: Cathie Chester, PsyD
Tel.: (914) 251-6390
Office: Counseling Center Modular Office #86
Hours: Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Counseling Center offers matriculated students free, voluntary, and confidential assistance for personal problems and emotional development, including short-term individual counseling; ongoing and time-limited group counseling (e.g., adult children of dysfunctional families, social anxiety, eating concerns); crisis intervention, evaluations, and referrals; and initial psychiatric consultation. Some typical student problems include depression, low self-esteem, sexual identity concerns, eating disorders, anxiety, relationship conflicts, drug and alcohol concerns, loneliness, and academic and performance issues. Referrals are offered for nonmatriculated students who may be experiencing psychological stress. The Counseling Center is staffed by experienced clinicians licensed by New York State.

If you are concerned about a student and would like help, you have several options when contacting the Counseling Center. You can:

• request a consultation, where we provide information and assistance
• refer the student directly to the Counseling Center, where the student will see one of our counselors
• ask us to contact the student on your behalf
• inform the Counseling Center about the student through the Student Alert Button, located on the “Self Service” menu under the “Academics” tab on my.purchase.edu

Any contact that we may then have with a referred student will be kept confidential to protect the rights and privacy of the student. To request a consultation or an outreach to a student, feel free to call the Counseling Center, (914) 251-6390.

The following guides (also on the Counseling Center site) provide more information about our services:

• Crisis Pamphlet: Downloadable PDF pamphlet on how to handle crises
• Referral Guide 1: Information on Counseling Center services
• Referral Guide 2: Information on identifying students who may benefit from a referral to the Counseling Center
• Referral Guide 3: Information on procedures for making an appointment with a counselor

Supported Education Program
The Supported Education Program offers academic support and skills development for students with psychiatric problems. Donna Siegmann is the coordinator of this program, which is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building.

Victims Assistance Crisis Team Hotline
This hotline is for victims of sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking. It is run by New York State–certified rape crisis counselors in conjunction with Victims Assistance Services. It is a confidential service that offers emergency room and courtroom advocacy programs. The staff consists of both men and women who are sympathetic to a victim’s specific needs and who will listen and refer the victim to places and people who care and want to educate, inform, and help the victim in any way they possibly can.

24-Hour Hotline Numbers:

• When calling from an on-campus phone: 4393
• When calling from an off-campus phone: (914) 345-9111

For more information, please visit the Speak Out! section on the Counseling Center site.

Updated Sept. 5, 2012

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