Skip to main content

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.

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)

 ProviderLocationDayTimeIdentity Served
Kyle ShadrickKCPC, Room 203
Mondays2pm - 4pmLGBTQIA+ Students
Wenzhi PanPeabody Admin Building, Room 218BTuesdays2pm - 4pmAPIDA, International, Grad/Pro Students
Martez Nelson & Aneesa AndersonBCC Resource RoomFridays1pm - 3pmBlack Students

Spring 2023 Drop-in Consultation Hours (Virtual)

 ProviderDayTimeIdentity/Focus
Brent AlcarazMondays11am - 12pmAlcohol & Other Drug Concerns, All Identities, Graduate & Professional Students
Melissa PorterWednesdays12pm - 1pmLGBTQIA+, Graduate & Professional Students, All Identities
Courtney WilliamsThursdays9am-10amAll Identities
Stacey Appiah-OpokuMondays2pm - 3pmBlack, Indigenous, & Students of Color
Amira MohamadTuesdays10am - 11amAll Identities
Vanessa BellTuesdays3pm - 4pmNeurodiverse Students, Black Students
Julia AckerWednesdays10am - 11amQuestions about psychotropic medications
Ciera ScottWednesdays2pm - 3pmLGBTQIA+, Black & Indigenous Students, Graduate & Professional Students
Frances NiarhosThursdays10am - 11amNeurodiverse & Disabled Students, All Identities
Viviana GriceThursdays11am - 12pmInternational Students, Latinx Students
Ash WeberFridays2pm - 3pmGrief & 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.