The Counseling Center

The Counseling Center is very excited to announce that Tech has partnered up with the Virtual Care Group (VCG), to offer free supplemental healthcare services to our degree-seeking students.  This virtual healthcare includes unlimited Tele-medical and unlimited Tele-therapy/counseling sessions available 24/7, as well as life coaching. Both in-person sessions on campus and this virtual healthcare are available for those degree-seeking students currently enrolled for Fall classes.

To access the free services of the Virtual Care Group, go here: 

Getting Started is Easy.

• Register at Virtual Care Group to speak to a doctor or therapist today!
• Please use zip code 87801 when promted

If you have been seen before by the Counseling Center, please complete the returning clients form below.

Please, be sure to include 3 dates and times that you are available. 

RETURNING CLIENTS FORM

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to students regarding no shows or late cancellations of appointments for the Counseling Center.
Why: The Counseling Center is funded, in part, by student fees and there is an expectation that student fees be handled in a responsible way. When students do not show up to a scheduled appointment, valuable professional time goes without being used and other NMT students are not able to access services in a timely manner.
How: In order to cancel an appointment, students need to call the Counseling Center at 575-835-6619 or email at counseling@nmt.edu by 3 pm the day before the scheduled appointment. A $25 No-Show Fee will be billed to the student account for any missed in-person or tele-therapy appointments not cancelled by 3 pm the day prior.
Waivers: We understand that there are unforeseen circumstances that may prevent someone from providing
adequate notice of a cancellation. If you believe that you have a justifiable reason for missing an appointment without notification and would like consideration for waiving this fee, notify the Counseling Center in writing within 1 week (5 business days) of missed session. Every late cancellation or no-show waiver will be assessed on an individual basis and each student will only be allowed 1 waiver. We reserve the right to deny services to any student who has missed two or more counseling appointments without notice during the course of the academic year. Students who are denied services will be referred out to local/community providers for their mental health needs.

The first step is the initial needs assessment appointment where the clinician determines the nature and impact of the presenting concerns and to identify options for addressing these issues. If additional treatment is indicated, the clinician will recommend the most effective method of treatment, which may include brief-solution focused treatment, group counseling, career exploration, Academic Advising/Student Success, Student Access Services, skills workshops, support from a peer supporter or referral to an off-campus mental health provider. In some cases, the assessment appointment is sufficient for identifying ways to address the problems.

Some of the concerns that are commonly addressed in short-term counseling at the Counseling Center are:

• Personal Concerns: Stress, anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, guilt, low self-esteem, grief
• Relationship Concerns: Romantic relationship, roommate problems, family problems, social life
• Developmental Concerns: Adjustment to college, healthy lifestyle choices, decisions, life transitions
• Academic Concerns: Performance anxiety, perfectionism, academic difficulties, low motivation, underachievement

Students whose needs fall outside the scope of services or scheduling availability of the Counseling Center are referred to community resources. The Counseling Center provides referral services after the initial needs assessment or as these factors become more apparent during the course of services. Some of the issues that are commonly addressed through referral to services outside of the Counseling Center for longer-term or more intensive counseling include:

• A desire or need to be seen weekly or desire for ongoing long-term psychotherapy
• History of multiple hospitalizations; chronic suicidality and/or self-injurious behaviors; history of repeated suicide attempt
• Clear indications of a need for more intensive services
• Indication that short-term therapy may be detrimental or non-beneficial
•  Evidence or risk of progressive deterioration in mental or emotional functioning that requires intensive intervention
• Exhibiting psychotic symptoms without willingness to follow treatment recommendations
• Inability or unwillingness to provide the necessary information to thoroughly assess symptoms
• Students who are already receiving ongoing therapy with another mental health provider
• Students seeking therapy for the sole purpose of obtaining documentation for another office (i.e. ESA Letters, Residential Life)
• Client concerns that required open-ended, ongoing psychotherapy before coming to NMT

A need for specialized services not available through the Counseling Center, as indicated by:

• Presence of significant drug or alcohol problems such as substance dependence and/or past failed treatments; a need for drug testing
• Presence of significant, long-standing and/or untreated eating disorder 
• Request for medications or medication management
• Request for psychological evaluation for the purpose of employment clearance 
• Request for services to fulfill clients’ court-mandated assessment or treatment requirements 

The general guidelines listed above are only intended to serve as a guide to assist treatment decisions. Due to the nature and complexity of presenting concerns, decisions regarding treatment recommendations and/or community referrals are made on an individual basis by clinicians in consultation with the clinical team of the Counseling Center.

• If you are in imminent danger to yourself or are a significant danger to someone else, we have a legal obligation to break confidentiality to protect you and/or others.
• If you are abusing children/vulnerable adults or inform us concerning someone who is, then we have a legal responsibility to report this to the proper authorities. Such a report could potentially lead to disclosure of your being a client and require testimony concerning the suspected abuse.
• If, as part of an employment process or security screening you sign a release of records form about services received from us, we will ask that you sign our form to ensure that you are freely and knowingly releasing a brief summary of your contact with us.
• Your records can also be subpoenaed by a court of law (e.g. if you claimed emotional damages in a lawsuit).
• We also reserve the right to consult with the NMT Health Center and NMT Behavior Intervention (BIT) Team when professionally appropriate.

Since all health records are strictly confidential, including
mental health records, you must provide a written request
specifying the information desired and where you wish it to
be sent. The forms provided must be mailed or faxed to :

The Counseling Center
New Mexico Tech
149 Fidel Building
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801
Fax: 575-835-6001

The Release of Information (ROI) must include:

• Copy of a photo ID
• Your name and address
• Telephone number and e-mail address
• Banner #900
• Dates attended (including when you left, and whether or
  not you graduated)
• Reason for Request
• Your signature

If you choose to continue treatment with a new mental health provider and you would like your information sent to them, send us an ROI and we will send your records to your new mental health provider. Please allow at least two (2) weeks to process the request.

To download our Release of Information (ROI), click here.

Raising mental health awareness can help you to understand your symptoms, find professional treatment, and, perhaps most importantly, break the mental health stigma that leaves so many people suffering in secret.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

EDUCATION

• Northeastern University, Boston, MA
  Master of Science, May 2004
  Counseling Psychology
• Northeastern University, Boston, MA
  Master of Science, September 1998
  Criminal Justice
• University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
  Bachelor of Arts, May 1997
  Summa Cum Laude

Licensure and Certifications

• State of NM - LPCC 
• Certified QPR Trainer