Counseling and Wellness Center

The mission of Wellness is to support and aid students in reaching their academic and personal goals by promoting their interpersonal and psychological well-being. We are committed to assist students in addressing any stress, conflicts, and other psycho-social factors that may be a hindrance. Wellness seeks to provide a non-judgmental space, work collaboratively, and equip students with effective strategies to use now and in the future.

When you think of counseling or therapy what comes to mind? A couch? Someone nodding politely as you talk about your dreams? Ink blots? Strait jackets and padded rooms? Someone asking you how you are feeling? We all have ideas about what counseling is and who it’s for. Many people are wary of counseling, thinking they “should” handle their problems by themselves, they don’t “need” it, or they are worried what it might be like.

So what is counseling?

Here at Wellness, we view counseling as a safe, non-judgmental space where we can work together on areas in your life you want to see change. While you will experience an openness to talk about what you are thinking and feeling, –and yes, there might even be some nodding– we don’t just stop there. Most people come to counseling because they are experiencing emotions they don’t know how to handle and/or not getting the results in life they are wanting. In counseling you will identify any beliefs, behaviors, and patterns that may be holding you back or leaving your feeling stuck. Together we will explore the interactions between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and change any unhealthy patterns that may be at the core of your problems. It is our goal to give you tools to help you overcome life’s challenges, both now and in the future!

During our first session, we will get to know each other. You will share what has been going on, answer some questions, learn about the counseling process, and set goals for our work together. The following sessions will simply be working towards those goals.

Counseling at Wellness is short-term, confidential, and voluntary.

People come to counseling to have a safe space to talk about what they are thinking and feeling. People deal with all types of challenges in their daily life; counseling provides an outlet to talk, as well as, learn skills to understand, manage, and cope with these challenges. Common issues that students seek counseling for are:

• Relationship issues
• Issues with body image
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Academic stress
• Grief

The first session of counseling is called the intake session. During this initial session, you will be able to talk about what brings you in. A main focus, however, will be on us (the counselor) asking you questions to get background information that will allow us to put your current situation into context. The purpose of this session is for us to get a full picture and for both of us to work collaboratively to set goals for treatment. The sessions following the intake session will focus more on your presenting problem and work towards your goals.

Click here for Gender and Domestic Based Violence Survivor Resources and Information.

Depression:

• Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (2433) – Can use in US, U.K., Canada and Singapore
• Suicide Crisis Line: 1-800-999-9999
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-800-273-TALK (8245)
• National Adolescent Suicide Helpline: 1-800-621-4000
• Postpartum Depression: 1-800-PPD-MOMS
• NDMDA Depression Hotline – Support Group: 1-800-826-3632
• Veterans: 1-877-VET2VET
• Crisis Help Line – For Any Kind of Crisis: 1-800-233-4357
• Suicide & Depression Crisis Line – Covenant House: 1-800-999-9999

Domestic Abuse:

• National Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-422-4453
• National Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (TDD): 1-800-787-32324
• Center for the Prevention of School Violence: 1-800-299-6504
• Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
• Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-548-2722
• Healing Woman Foundation (Abuse): 1-800-477-4111
• Child Abuse Hotline Support & Information: 1-800-792-5200
• RAINN (Rape and Incest Survivors National Network): 800-656-HOPE or Rainn.org
• Safe Horizon Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-621-HOPE (1.800.621.4673)

Alcohol & Drug Abuse:

• National Association for Children of Alcoholics: 1-888-55-4COAS (1-888-554-2627)
• National Drug Abuse: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Al-Anon/Alateen Hope & Help for young people who are the relatives & friends of a problem drinker): 1-800-344-2666
• Alcohol/Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Be Sober Hotline: 1-800-BE-SOBER (1-800-237-6237)
• Cocaine Help Line: 1-800-COCAINE (1-800-262-2463)
• 24 Hour Cocaine Support Line: 1-800-992-9239
• Ecstasy Addiction: 1-800-468-6933
• Marijuana Anonymous: 1-800-766-6779

Youth & Teen Hotlines:

• National Youth Crisis Support: 1-800-448-4663
• Youth America Hotline: 1-877-YOUTHLINE (1-877-968-8454)
• Covenant House Nine-Line (Teens): 1-800-999-9999
• Boys Town National: 1-800-448-3000
• Teen Helpline: 1-800-400-0900
• TeenLine: 1-800-522-8336
• Youth Crisis Support: 1-800-448-4663 or 1-800-422-0009
• National Runaway Hotline: (US only) 800-231-6946
• National Youth Crisis Hotline:(US only) 800-442-442-4673

Pregnancy Hotlines:

• Pregnancy Support: 1-800-4-OPTIONS (1-800-467-8466)
• Pregnancy National Helpline: 1-800-356-5761
• Young Pregnant Support: 1-800 550-4900

LGBTQ Hotlines:

• The Trevor Helpline (For homosexuality questions or problems): 1-800-850-8078
• Gay & Lesbian National Support: 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Youth Support Line: 1-800-850-8078
• TransLifeline: 877-565-8860

Other Hotlines:

• Self-Injury Support: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288)
• Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention: 1-800-931-2237 (Hours: 8am-noon daily, PST)
• Eating Disorders Center: 1-888-236-1188
• Help Finding a Therapist: 1-800-THERAPIST (1-800-843-7274)
• Panic Disorder Information and Support: 1-800-64-PANIC (1-800-647-2642)
• TalkZone (Peer Counselors): 1-800-475-TALK (1-800-475-2855)
• Parental Stress Hotline: 1-800-632-8188

People who have anxiety or struggle with talking on the phone can use a text-based app called ImAlive.org to check in with mental health experts and receive help via text message

Check out the Wellness Quick Reference Guide. This along with other useful Wellness information can be found on the Guttman portal (my.guttman.cuny.edu) under Resources.

Other useful links:

Behavioral Information Team (BIT) Referral Form and Info

Emergency Resources

Medical Leave of Absence Protocol

Domestic and Gender Based Violence Information

Sexual Health and Awareness

Student Wellness Events

Guttman’s Counseling and Wellness Center is no longer accepting applications. Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year will be accepted January 3- February 15, 2023.

The Counseling and Wellness Center at Guttman Community College serves as a training facility for graduate students completing their internship requirement for a master’s degree in mental health counseling.

Internships typically run for a full academic year, starting in late August/early September and ending in early June for a total of 600 internship hours. Exact start and end dates are determined by the intern and supervisor and based on the both Guttman’s academic calendar and the academic calendar of the intern’s university. 100 hour practicums typically occur the summer prior to the internship. Exact dates are flexible.

To apply, email  counseling.wellness@guttman.cuny.edu and include the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Unofficial transcript

If available, include a letter of readiness from your college. You may also attach any letters of recommendation although it is not required.