Counseling Services at USC

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

There should never be a day or moment where you don’t put your mental health first. 

You may have heard of the awesome resources at the OWHP Wellness Lounge, but have you heard of the counseling services on the third floor?

If you’re going through depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health issues, this place may be what you need.

Services

They offer great services. Their services vary from Individual Counseling, which offers “brief, solution-focused” therapy that students may need. There is a Stress Relief Clinic that gives students resources/tools such as: restorative yoga, sleep consults, and more. There is Group Counseling for those who would like the support of fellow Trojans and like learning new skills to help their mental health issues. Crisis Services are there for those who may be struggling with emotionally urgent concerns. Psychiatric Services are available for those who are receiving services at the center, as well. The staff also provides great workshops on topics like: procrastination, perfectionism, helping a friend, suicide awareness, dating concerns, and much more. You can even suggest an Outreach Workshop on a topic you’d like to find out more information on here! Check out this page for more info!

Eligibility

Those I am sure the staff in Counseling Services would like to help everyone, they are focused solely on USC Students. Students are automatically enrolled in the USC Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, however if you waived out of it, you may still use online resources and may ask for referrals for off-campus mental health providers. If you need referrals for off-campus mental health providers, the trained staff/faculty are happy to help. All you need to do is call: (213) 740-7711.

Finding a therapist in your area can sometimes be difficult so here is a list for Aetna members and any type of insurance that may need assistance with looking for a therapist near you.

For Aetna members:

Aetna.com/dse/search

Any type of insurance:

Locator.apa.org
Therapists.psychologytoday.com
Goodtherapy.org

Online Therapy Option

There is even an online option!

USC Telehealth provides free video counseling and therapy. Sessions are for 12 weeks and are about 50 minute (California residents). These services are unfortunately not available to students in the School of Social Work. If you are interested, call (866) 740-6502 to register.

Making an Appointment

If you’re considering on making an appointment (or regular appointments), you will have to call: (213) 740-7711. You will start with a confidential phone appointment soon after. These will usually last 15-20 minutes and these questions will be personal, so make sure you are in a safe/quiet environment where you can be honest and open. Based on your answers and the clinician’s assessment, they will provide recommendations for your treatment. When making your first Counseling Consultation, it should be made online.

Virtual Clinic

If you’re like me and you’re a bit nervous in person, you can check out the virtual clinic! You can view resources on Alcohol Use, Grief Loss, Self-Compassion, and Sleep Resources.

If you aren’t sure where to start check out this virtual mental screening, a confidential and anonymous resource, that will provides other resources based on your answers in statements you may relate to.

Last Thoughts

The staff and faculty in the Counseling Services are genuine and are a source for help. Whether you need to vent for one session or an entire year, these human beings are there to help you. These are also not all the resources that the Counseling Services provide, if you check on their web page, there is so much more to use and view. Never forget to put you or your mental health first! These resources are here to help you better yourself.

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