Counseling Services

Our Counseling Services is partnered with Hartford HealthCare to provide resources for a variety of mental health issues and situations such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, sexual violence, eating disorders, grief, and alcohol or drug abuse — all at no cost. We strive to promote the educational success of students by supporting their intellectual, emotional, and social development through the provision of culturally aware clinical services. Our staff is committed to creating a welcoming and affirming space where all members of the QU community are valued and celebrated.

Services we offer include:

• Diagnostic Evaluation
  Each student seeking help through the counseling service is evaluated by the counselor assigned to the case. At the end of the first visit, the diagnostic evaluation is completed, and the student is given feedback regarding the nature of the problem and how it might be resolved or treated.

• Urgent Visit Services
  Emergency evaluation and intervention are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Any student in crisis is seen promptly by a counselor during reserved urgent visit hours. If a student feels that they can’t wait, they should call 203-407-4020 and follow the prompts to speak with a mental health professional over the phone, or go directly to the emergency rooms of Yale-New Haven Hospital or The Hospital of Saint Raphael.

• Same Day Consultation (in-person and telehealth)
  Students may contact the Counseling Center by calling 203-407-4020.

• Individual Counseling (in-person and telehealth)
  Confidential consultation with a counselor is available to any undergraduate or graduate student. In this modality, counselors generally rely upon brief treatment methods.

• Consultation to Faculty and Staff
  Counselors frequently provide consultation to faculty members or staff who may have concerns about the well-being or functioning of a student. For consultation services, counselors may be contacted by phone or email.

• Outreach Programs
  Outreach Programs are offered to the university community as requested. Typical presentation topics include introduction to the Office of Counseling Services, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, mindfulness, etc.

• Referral and Consultation to Off-Campus Physicians and Therapists
  In situations where a student has requested a referral to a community provider or has been referred to an off campus mental health professional, we can assist in transfer of care. With the student’s permission our counselors will contact the provider and share their evaluation of the student being referred.

Group Therapy

For many issues facing our students, group therapy can be a very helpful type of treatment. Our therapy groups encourage peer support, promote emotional wellbeing, and increase a felt sense of connection.

Groups are held in the Mount Carmel Campus Recreation and Wellness Center group therapy room, unless noted otherwise. To learn more about group therapy, contact Counseling Services at 203-407-4020 or QUCounseling.general@hhchealth.org.

Groups offered include: 

• Hope and Healing
  This sexual assault support group provides a safe environment for members to meet weekly to look at how trauma continues to affect members' day-to-day living. Even if the trauma happened months or years ago, you are invited to participate in this group. This group is open to undergraduate and graduate students.
  Facilitated by: Adrienne Koenigsberg MSW, LCSW

• Grief Support Group
  You have lost someone important to you. Your grief may always be there, or it may present itself at unexpected times. You may feel confused, angry, sad, or alone. However you are feeling, we will provide a safe and support environment to express yourself and find support from others who likely know how you feel. This group will help you create meaningful connections with others and find support for your grief.
  Facilitated by: Adrienne Koenigsberg MSW, LCSW

• Navigating Your Stressful Family
  Are you supporting a family member with a substance addiction or mental health issue? Is there stress related to a parental divorce? Do you feel like you are walking on eggshells around specific family members? Is there a lot of anger and hostility in your family? If so you will have the opportunity to connect with other students and share your story as well as gain information, strategies and support in this support group.
  Facilitated by: Jennifer Zitser MSW, LCSW

• Mindful Mondays: “Training the Mind with Meditation”
  Students will learn to cultivate mindfulness and develop an integrated mind-body practice that encourages awakening and a capacity to meet life moment to moment with gentle awareness. Groups will include a range of relaxation, meditation and mindfulness techniques with the aim of better managing emotional distress, anxiety, chronic pain, depression and improving general wellbeing. Some topics covered include breathing techniques, grounding techniques, meditation, guided imagery relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation.
  Facilitated by: Jennifer Zitser MSW,LCSW

• Resilience, Identity and Support: a Group for Under-Represented and International Students
  Are you new to this country or a student of color navigating a PWI for the first time or having difficulty with adjustment and transition to college? This group offers a safe space to discuss and express your feelings about your experience as college students and serves to foster a sense of belonging and connection to the college community. Navigating college can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our goal is to promote emotional wellness, confidence and a positive sense of self. You belong here.
  Facilitated by: Marwa Mansour MS, LPC

• Family Dynamics
  This group is open to anyone who has a family! With the support of other group members, we will start to explore how families impact us, in the life choices we make and in many of our interpersonal relationships, both personally and professionally.
  Facilitated by: Mary Pellitteri, LADC
  Location: Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, NMH-276, North Haven Campus

• Caring For Others
  This group will focus on caregivers, and how being emotionally, physically and spiritually available to others can take a toll. You, along with peers who understand your struggles, will learn to develop Coping Skills and Strengths to deal with these challenges and to improve effectiveness and optimize success.
  Facilitated by: Mary Pellitteri, LADC
  Location: Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, NMH-276, North Haven Campus

• DBT - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills group
  The student will learn the five essential modules of DBT: Mindfulness, Emotional regulations, Distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and walking the middle Path. DBT skills group is for the students who would like to learn to COPE more effectively with intense emotions, addictive behaviors and or relationship struggles. The group is to help increase basic life skills on how to manage painful emotions and be able to create balance to your life through commitment to the program but more importantly to yourself!
  Facilitated by: Sheila van den Broeck, LCSW

The Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network affiliates provide a full array of behavioral health services for all ages, with specialty services to treat the full spectrum of mental health needs.

Learn more about the Behavioral Health Network