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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I address a grievance regarding Counseling Services (CS) Staff?
A: Here is the order in which you can address your concerns:
1) Contact the counselor you are dissatisfied with directly
2) Director of Counseling Services (Dr. Aresh Assadi, axassadi@ualr.edu)
3) Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs – Wellness and Inclusion (Sharon Downs, sadowns@ualr.edu)
Q: How do I set up an appointment?
A: There are a few ways to make an appointment. You can call us at 501-916-3185, contact us online, or email our staff with questions.
Q: Will my family, friends, instructors or anyone else know about me coming to counseling?
A: Counseling is completely confidential, nobody needs to know that you are going to counseling unless you tell them about it. In fact, this won’t even go on your insurance or permanent health record. Our stock answer to people asking about our clients is “I can neither confirm, nor deny if I have even met that person. We are bound by strict codes and laws regarding confidentiality in the counseling relationship.” There are however a few instances that we must break confidentiality, including to try and save someone’s life or protect a child or vulnerable adult from abuse or neglect.
Q: What can I expect from counseling?
A: Counseling sessions in general last 50 min. Your counselor is a trained professional, specializing in clinical mental health. You will meet a counselor and should expect to be treated in a caring and respectful manner. Sometimes a counselor and client’s personalities don’t “click”, you are free to change counselors, without any fear of hard feelings. We all care about our clients and we want you to have the most beneficial experience possible. Your relationship with your counselor should feel reasonably comfortable, yet challenging. Counseling is a service to facilitate change, and change can often feel a bit unsettling. While you meet individually with one counselor, we work together as a team and meet regularly to discuss pertinent information in collaboration to provide the highest quality of care and best practices.
Q: Do you prescribe medications?
A: We do have a clinician, Tara Kittrell, in the office who can write psychotropic prescriptions if in her judgment she believes the client would benefit from medication therapy oftentimes in conjunction with counseling. However, we are limited in what prescriptions can be provided to our clients (i.e. stimulants, benzodiazepines, and any other controlled substances). We do not prescribe any medications that have a tendency to be abused.
Q: Am I eligible for counseling?
A: Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for 10 counseling sessions per year. You have already paid for this service in your student fees, so please take advantage of the resources available for you.
Q: Isn’t counseling for “crazy” people?
A: Counseling is for people who could use some help and guidance in improving the quality of their lives and reaching their personal goals. When people are in serious distress beyond the services we can provide, we assist that person in referring and connecting them with off-campus care.
Q: What if I am worried about someone on campus that might need help?
A: Personal friends, instructors, or classmates are the first people to notice someone in distress. Please reach out to that person and trust your gut about asking for help for that person. We will always take information about UA Little Rock students, even if you want to remain anonymous. You can give us a call at 501-916-3185 or drop us a message in our box below. You also deserve support yourself. We will do everything within our power to help a student in distress.
Q: Can Counseling Services help me get an Emotional Support Animal?
A: Counseling Services does not provide this service at the moment.
Q: Can Counseling Services help me get a medical marijuana card?
A: Counseling Services does not provide this service.
Q: Does Counseling Services provide remote sessions to students out of state?
A: Counseling Services does not provide this service due to licensure restrictions.
Q: What if I do not vibe well with my assigned counselor?
A: We have a diverse group of counselors at our office, if for any reason you do not work well with your assigned counselor, you can ask the front desk to schedule you with someone else. This happens, we are all professionals, and we want you to get the support you need. Your request to change providers will not offend us.
