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Drop-in Consultations

 

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.


Students are also welcome to access any of our Drop-In Consultation spaces for intentional support and resources in response to ongoing current events that may impact students at the intersection of their identities. Such current events may include, but are not limited to, identity-based critical incidents, natural disasters, local and global political unrest, identity-based state-wide and federal legislative acts, economic uncertainty, and any other current events that may cause emotional activation and diminished sense of psychological safety and belonging for students.

Fall 2024 Drop-in Consultation Hours

There will be no Drop-In Consultations during the week of Fall break (Oct. 7-11) or Thanksgiving break (week of Nov. 23).

 Provider(s)LocationDayTimeIdentity Served
Stacey Appiah-Opoku & Wenzhi PanPeabody Admin Building, Room 218BMondays (9/9 - 9/23); Fridays (10/4-12/9)1:00 - 3:00 pmAPIDA, International, and Graduate & Professional Students
Jordan MikeBCC Resource RoomWednesdays
(Remaining Dates: 10/30, 11/13, 12/11)
2:00 - 4:00 pmBlack Students
Heather Boyd & Sarah Jordan Welch-MooreStudent Care Coordination, Rand 305Thursdays
(9/5 - 12/12)
1:00 - 3:00 pmAll identities
Kyle ShadrickKCPC Room 203Fridays
(9/6 - 12/13)
2:00 - 3:00 pm; 4:00 - 4:30 pmLGBTQIA+ Students

FAQ

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

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.