Counseling

In the Office of Counseling Services, state licensed counselors help Mount Union students move toward life goals, while teaching students the coping skills needed for the future. The aim of counseling at Mount Union is to assist students in becoming socially and emotionally healthy. Counseling is a partnership between the client and the counselor, meant to help students find solutions and possibilities in life. Counseling staff members provide enrolled Mount Union students access to the following free and confidential counseling services on campus.

Walk-in Hours

Walk-in hours are times that are set aside for students who suddenly need help but do not have a scheduled counseling appointment. Walk-in hours are in the Student Affairs suite behind the information desk in HPCC.

Monday: 2-4 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday: 2-4 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Friday: 2-4 p.m.
Counseling Sessions

Students who are seeking formal counseling for issues big or small will schedule a counseling appointment with a counselor. The counselor will gather information from the student during the first session to determine a diagnosis. After the evaluation, the student will work with the counselor to form a treatment plan, setting goals they want to work on during the semester. Just use the contact information to the right to call or email for an appointment.
Consultations

A consultation is an informal meeting with a counselor. The counselor acts as an expert, providing advice, guidance, and linkage to ongoing services. Consultations are not counseling sessions. Counselors can offer up to four consultation sessions to a student before recommending counseling sessions.
Counseling Events

Mindfulness Moments: Learn skills to help discover and manage your emotions with Counseling Services. Join us Thursdays in the Dewald Chapel from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Food and refreshments will be provided!
Counseling Resources

If students need assistance outside of regular office hours, there are a variety of resources both on-campus and in the local area that can provide assistance. The following is a list of resources that may be used in situations in which a more immediate response is needed:

Resident Director on Duty (330) 428-3500
Campus Security (330) 428-1344
Alliance Police Department (330) 821-3131 or 911 if emergency services are needed
Alliance EMS (Fire Dept) (330) 821-1212 or 911 if emergency services are needed

Stark County Crisis Hotline: (330) 452-6000
Crisis Textline: Text 4hope to 741741
Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: 1 (866) 488-7386
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) or suicidepreventionlifline.org
Alliance Area Rape Crisis Center: (330) 821- RAPE (7273)
Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter: (330) 823-7223
National Mental Health Hotline*: Text or Call 988
*Learn about the new 988 hotline here

All counseling staff members are licensed through the state of Ohio CSWMFT Board. To facilitate consumer protection, please visit the Ohio licensure verification.

Counseling services will be providing virtual as well as live contact sessions via the Student Affairs Suite, Hoover-Price Campus Center. To schedule an appointment, call (330) 823-2886 or email counselingservices@mountunion.edu.

MEET THE STAFF WALK-IN HOURS

ABUNDANCE CHALLENGE MINDFULNESS MOMENTS

Francine E. Packard PhD. LPCC-S, LICDC-CS Director of Counseling Services

COUNSELING SUMMER HOURS

Monday - Friday

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

To schedule an appointment call (330) 823-2886 or email counselingservices@mountunion.edu

Access Counseling Services

Counseling Services staff provide many services to students. These services range from walk-in hours, counseling sessions, consultations, Koru Mindfulness, and special events. All services are free and confidential to enrolled students. If you are interested or want to inquire about a service, please contact us by phone at (330) 823-2886 or email counselingservices@mountunion.edu.

The Office of Counseling Services will be providing virtual as well as live contact sessions via the Student Affairs Suite, Hoover-Price Campus Center.

Coping with Transition and Change

Our “safe place” is our “territory.” Safe places can be as simple as our room, belongings, or familiar people, places, and things. Safe places provide people with the means to simultaneously meet three basic needs: 1 Identity, 2. Stimulation, and 3. Security. And as human beings we tend to “defend” our territory and struggle when we must let it go.

Relocation Stress can be experienced when a person experiences any transition. Relocation Stress or Transfer Trauma is a state in which people experience physiologic and/or psychological disturbances as a result of transfer from one environment to another (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, 1992).

In order to positively cope with change, it is important for you to build your awareness about the THREE E’s associated with this type of stress. Specifically, this stress results from an EVENT or set of circumstances EXPERIENCED by an individual that feel threatening and create adverse EFFECTS on the individual’s functioning (i.e. mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being).

One way to cope with Relocation Stress is to stay connected to your social supports. Specifically, these supports help protect or “buffer” you from stress and adversity (Shuster et. al., 2009). So, creating a community of support, weather that support is a face-to-face or virtual community, can help you cope with stress and change.

Also, give yourself permission to feel a range of emotions. It is ok to feel fear, anger, and frustration. But when these emotions arise, no matter how much you are justified in feeling that way, try to switch your perspective to one of gratitude for what you have, and the new opportunities change can bring.

Stay connected, stay positive, stay safe.

Francine E. Packard, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS
Director of Counseling Services
University of Mount Union

Counseling Resources

If students need assistance outside of regular office hours, there are a variety of resources both on-campus and in the local area that can provide assistance. The following is a list of resources that may be used in situations in which a more immediate response is needed:

For After Hours Emergencies:
Resident Director on Duty (330) 428-3500
Campus Security (330) 428-1344
Alliance Police Department (330) 821-3131 or 911 if emergency services are needed
Alliance EMS (Fire Dept) (330) 821-1212 or 911 if emergency services are needed

National and Local Crisis Resources:

Stark County Crisis Hotline: (330) 452-6000
Crisis Textline: Text 4hope to 741741
Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: 1 (866) 488-7386
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) or suicidepreventionlifline.org
Alliance Area Rape Crisis Center: (330) 821- RAPE (7273)
Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter: (330) 823-7223
National Mental Health Hotline*: Text or Call 988
*Learn about the new 988 hotline here

Upcoming Events and Workshops

Upcoming Events

Mindfulness Moments
- Join the Mount Union Counseling Services in a weekly get together to explore and manage your emotions.
- Thursdays in the Dewald Chapel, 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Food and refreshments provided
Sound Bath Experience
- Check back for multiple upcoming dates!

Workshops

Counseling Services will host workshops encouraging students to participate in positive behaviors. For the 2022-2023 academic year, please plan to attend:

Love Initiative - This movement is to challenge all negativity in the world by living by an unconditional love perspective, rather than conditional love. Join Tim Campbell, a university counselor as he hosts organizations, groups, or others who are interested in the Love Initiative workshop.
Koru Mindfulness - Koru Mindfulness Workshops will be offered to students by Dr. Francine E. Packard. Koru uses evidence-based mindfulness skills and information to help students cope and manage the stressors experienced as they maneuver their academic and personal life journey.