Drop-in Consultations
Spring 23 Drop-In Consultation will end on Friday, May 12.
During the summer, students can access Urgent Care for drop-in support.
A Drop-in Consultation is an outreach program that provides easy access to informal, confidential, and free consultations with clinicians (counselors) from the University Counseling Center (UCC).
The UCC has created the below-mentioned identity-specific Drop-In Consultations in response to current events and student feedback. We hope that our identity-based Drop-In Consultations provide opportunities for our students to receive brief support around these concerns in a more overtly affirming space.
| DROP-IN CONSULTATION | URGENT CARE | COUNSELING |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 sessions | 1-2 sessions | Ongoing, flexible, and time effective |
| Informal consultation about a concern that can benefit from immediate problem-solving or time-limited support | You are experiencing acute symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic, suicidal ideation | You want to find effective ways to address symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, body image, disorder eating, alcohol and other drugs, etc. |
| Not part of your releasable records | Grief associated with the death of a family member or friend | You want to address conflict with partners, roommates, or family members |
| Does not constitute mental health treatment | Recent traumatic event | You are struggling with motivation, performance anxiety, and/or perfectionism |
| If you could benefit from a higher level of care, every effort will be made to refer you to other appropriate resources | Extreme difficulty navigating stressors or urgent concern for a friend or family member | You are struggling with adjustment due to change in support system, acculturation, and/or identity issues; you have experienced trauma, and/or assault |
When scheduling a virtual Drop-In Consultation through the SCN Student Portal, please refer to the hours & provider info below to choose a time slot that best aligns with your identities and needs.
For the Spring 2023 semester, the UCC’s Drop-in Consultation program will amplify its response to the needs of students affected by events and natural disasters happening both locally and across the globe. Locations that many Vanderbilt students call home.
We are offering a confidential, private, and compassionate space for students in need of support and resources regarding the following traumatic events, including but not limited to:
- The Covenant School shooting
- The antisemitic symbol and homophobic language found on the exterior of the Blair School of Music
- Severe weather and tornadoes in Arkansas and surrounding states
- The death of Tyre Nichols following his being brutally beaten by the Memphis Police Department
- The devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
- The Monterey Park, CA mass shooting near a Lunar New Year Celebration
- The death of Keenan Anderson following his being tased by the Los Angeles Police Department
- The destructive and harmful tornadoes and storms in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and other locations
- The Itaewon Halloween stampede in Seoul, South Korea
- The devastating flooding in Pakistan, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Florida, the Carolinas, and other locations
- The political unrest in China, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, and other locations
- The attacks on gender-affirming care happening locally
If you are being impacted by any of the above-mentioned critical incidents, and/or any additional local or global crises or tragedies, students are able to access any and all Drop-In timeslots for support around critical incidents, except for the “Questions about Psychotropic Medications” Drop-In. The “Questions about Psychotropic Medications” Drop-In will remain dedicated only for questions about medications.
In addition, please note that the identity specific support will continue to be offered during the times listed below as well.
The UCC will continue to assess the potential extension of this expanded approach to Drop-In Consultation in the weeks ahead, based upon demonstrated student need.
Spring 2023 Drop-in Consultation Hours (In Person)
| Provider | Location | Day | Time | Identity Served | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Kyle Shadrick | KCPC, Room 203 | Mondays | 2pm - 4pm | LGBTQIA+ Students |
 | Wenzhi Pan | Peabody Admin Building, Room 218B | Tuesdays | 2pm - 4pm | APIDA, International, Grad/Pro Students |
  | Martez Nelson & Aneesa Anderson | BCC Resource Room | Fridays | 1pm - 3pm | Black Students |
Spring 2023 Drop-in Consultation Hours (Virtual)
| Provider | Day | Time | Identity/Focus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Brent Alcaraz | Mondays | 11am - 12pm | Alcohol & Other Drug Concerns, All Identities, Graduate & Professional Students |
 | Melissa Porter | Wednesdays | 12pm - 1pm | LGBTQIA+, Graduate & Professional Students, All Identities |
 | Courtney Williams | Thursdays | 9am-10am | All Identities |
 | Stacey Appiah-Opoku | Mondays | 2pm - 3pm | Black, Indigenous, & Students of Color |
 | Amira Mohamad | Tuesdays | 10am - 11am | All Identities |
 | Vanessa Bell | Tuesdays | 3pm - 4pm | Neurodiverse Students, Black Students |
 | Julia Acker | Wednesdays | 10am - 11am | Questions about psychotropic medications |
 | Ciera Scott | Wednesdays | 2pm - 3pm | LGBTQIA+, Black & Indigenous Students, Graduate & Professional Students |
 | Frances Niarhos | Thursdays | 10am - 11am | Neurodiverse & Disabled Students, All Identities |
 | Viviana Grice | Thursdays | 11am - 12pm | International Students, Latinx Students |
 | Ash Weber | Fridays | 2pm - 3pm | Grief & Loss Concerns |
FAQ
How to Connect with Drop-In Consultation & What to Expect
Appointments can be scheduled through the SCN Student Portal one day in advance, up to 30 minutes prior to the appointment time. Select “Telehealth Drop-In Consultation” from the appointment type list. Please refer to the schedule above to choose a time slot that aligns with your needs.
The counselor will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.
Who should use a drop-in Consultation?
The service is open to all enrolled Vanderbilt University undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who have paid the Student Health Fee.
A Drop-in Consultation is a good fit for students who:
- Are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor
- Are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor
- Have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with a counselor
- Have a concern about a friend and want some thoughts about what to do
“Ask a Med Provider” is a good fit for students:
- With general questions about the use of medication for psychological concerns
- Who would like to learn more about the UCC medical evaluation process
- Students will have the opportunity to meet with a medication provider for education, though they will not be prescribed treatment during this drop-in.
*Students who are already connected with a UCC medical provider and/or have specific questions about their own pre-existing psychiatric medication regimen are encouraged to reach out directly to their UCC medical provider for support as needed.
I think I have a problem that would benefit from counseling, but I don’t know anything about counseling. Would going to a drop-in consultation help me figure out what to do?
Absolutely. The counselor will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help.
Are drop-in consultations confidential? Are there any limits to confidentiality?
Conversations with counselors are confidential. However, the primary exception is that counselors may need to share information in a situation in which safety for you or others is a concern. Counselors keep brief written notes of their contacts with students only in the event that there is an emergency, or when a student is referred to the UCC for treatment. In these situations, other UCC clinicians may see these notes. Information is also collected about attendance, so that we can keep track of the students we are serving and those we need to continue serving. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a counselor and review the information given to you during your Drop-in Consultation.
What else do I need to know?
Drop-in Consultations are not a substitute for psychotherapy/ counseling and do not constitute mental health treatment. Counselors provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it is like to speak with a counselor. Your Drop-in counselor can help you determine whether ongoing therapy at the UCC would be useful to you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment. To note, students who are experiencing an immediate mental health emergency are encouraged to attend UCC Urgent Care, instead of Drop-In Consultation. Students may connect with UCC Urgent Care by calling the UCC at 615-322-2571.