Counseling

North Hennepin Community College Counselors and Mental Health Therapist are professionally trained mental health practitioners who are trained to identify, support, and problem solve the difficulties students face in maintaining their mental wellness and pursuing and achieving their educational goals. We have developed an expertise within the context of community college student development and the inevitable changes that occur as students progress through a college education.

Meet the Team

Personal counseling includes helping students with personal life issues that interfere with their academic success. Services include, but are not limited to:

• Holistic, individual support for students’ mental and emotional needs
• Group sessions and workshops focused on various wellness topics
• Educating students about topics related to their well-being
• Teaching students how to navigate the college experience and how to advocate for themselves
• Outreach programming including both preventative and developmental interventions
• Supporting the overall well-being of students working towards completion of their program

Personal counseling services do not include any medical treatment, diagnosis, or long-term therapy for chronic issues. Counselors refer out for long-term therapy for mental health services, medication, county case management, social service resources, medical diagnosis, addiction counseling, and eating disorders. Please see our Scope of Care below.

Students are encouraged to schedule an initial evaluation appointment to determine the best treatment or resources for their concerns. Any currently enrolled student is eligible to receive an initial evaluation.

A decision about whether the needs of the student fall within the scope of care is made after considering the information from the initial evaluation and/or, if needed, after consultation with appropriate staff.

The professional judgement of our providers will govern the determination in a particular case. Students and their Counselor will discuss treatment recommendations including those offered on campus and/or in the community.

Services offered within our levels of care:

Common concerns that may be addressed by brief individual counseling may include:

• Mild to moderate anxiety and depression
• Adjustment and developmental concerns (transition to college, graduation)
• Academic performance or motivation
• Interpersonal concerns (family, friends, romantic partners, roommates)
• Grief or loss
• Self-esteem or self-confidence
• Issues related to meaning, purpose, and spirituality
• Identity development related to various dimensions of self (sexual, gender, racial/ethnic, spirituality, etc.)
• Stabilization related to trauma or interpersonal violence
• Body image and mild eating concerns
• Impacts of oppression
• Support and referral for autism spectrum disorders
• Mild substance use concerns
• Skill building for the management of ADHD symptoms
• Making a specific, important decision
• Setting specific goals and checking in to continue progress on goals
• Learning new coping skills or strategies to decrease symptoms
• Learning to manage mild or situational emotional or relational concerns

Common concerns that are best served by off-campus referrals:

• Significant substance use or abuse requiring specialized care
• History of chronic hospitalization or suicidality
• Eating disorders without medical stabilization (or requiring more intensive treatment)
• Psychosis without medical stabilization
• Non-suicidal self-injury that is not improving
• Students who need immediate intensive care and/or are experiencing a severe disruption in their ability to function (a severe deterioration in day-to-day functioning or issues requiring a community agency or case worker)
• Students who are assessed to best benefit from more than weekly sessions or long term treatment
• Students who need approaches not within the scope of our care
• Students who are noncompliant with treatment recommendations
• Students and families who bring treatment requirements that have a time frame, a number of appointments, and other restricting factors that are not available through counseling services
• Students who prefer or need longer term therapy

Services that are not available at the  CARE Center:

• Couples or family therapy
• Forensic evaluation or support
• Evaluation or letters for emotional support animals
• Evaluations to diagnose learning disorders, ADHD, or other neurological or neurodevelopmental concerns
• Intensive outpatient programs, inpatient services or specialized treatment for conditions such as:
  • Personality disorders requiring intensive treatment
  • Long-standing and/or untreated eating disorders with medical safety risks
  • Substance use disorders requiring intensive treatment

We offer one on one and small group sessions in person, phone or via zoom.

We know that it can be uncomfortable to access Counseling Services for the first time.  Be assured that you don’t have to know what to do. Your Counselor/Mental Health Therapist has extensive training that enables them to help you explore whatever is troubling you.  They will ask you questions to learn more about you and the topic you want to discuss and provide you support as you process the situation, and provide you tools to help you cope with any difficulties you encounter.

This is a free service to all NHCC and partner university students.  It is paid for by a portion of student fees which are allocated to the CARE Center in order to support counseling services; therefore, it is a service that can be offered only to currently enrolled students.

Information shared with a Counselor/Therapist is legally and ethically considered confidential and will not be shared with anyone including your parents or any university office without your written permission or as required by law. Your Counseling Center records are not part of your academic record.  The only time a Counselor would breach confidentiality is if:

• You sign a release of information permitting such disclosure
• It is needed to protect the health or safety of yourself or others
• It is required to report abuse or neglect of minors or vulnerable adults
• Records are subject to a valid subpoena or court order
• Professional consultation is needed

Professional consultation is needed.

No, currently enrolled NHCC and partner University students are allowed to meet with a counselor for as long as determined by Counselor discretion

If a student requires longer-term or more intensive psychotherapy or specialized care the CARE  Center does not provide, we will make a referral to a clinician in the community who can provide that care. If you are referred to a clinician in the community, you will need to use your health insurance or pay out of pocket for that care. We will make every effort to make sure that referral fits your clinical and practical needs. If the referral is not working for you, for any reason, you are encouraged to contact the Counselor at the CARE Center that you initially saw to discuss your options.

In the course of providing personal counseling to students, many are referred to appropriate community resources. A partial listing is provided on our Mental Health Resources page.

For Staff and Faculty:

If you have concern for a distressed student and would like consultation with a CARE Center Team Member:

Please see the Crisis/Distressed Student Decision Tree for help in determining what is a crisis vs. distressed student.

Non-crisis Support:

The CARE Center offers consultation to anyone who is concerned about an NHCC student.  If the situation is not an emergency, you can reach out directly to a CARE Center team member directly for follow up, or you can submit a BCRT Report.

 You can find the BCRT button on your desktop or here:

File a BCRT Report 

Crisis Support:

If a student is an active threat to themselves or another please reach out to our department directly by calling 763-424-0554 in addition to contacting public safety or 911.

For Students:

If you are a student  in distress and  find that your usual ways of coping are not working or that you are unable to cope alone and need immediate assistance, please contact our office directly by calling 763-493-0554 or come to our office at ES 118 during normal business hours for support.

If you need support outside of our hours, please reach out to one of the following community resources:

In case of emergency or after hours mental health crisis please call 911 or

A County Mobile Crisis Team can assess the situation and provide help. Call if you or someone close to you is having a mental health crisis. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is free. The team will assist individuals within their own homes and at other sites.

• Anoka: 763-755-3801
• Carver/Scott: 952-442-7601
• Dakota: 952-891-7171
• Hennepin: 612-596-1223
• Washington: 651-777-5222 - Washington County Adult Mental Health and Crisis Counseling
• Ramsey: 651-266-7900
• All Mental health crisis phone numbers listed by county.

More Confidential, Free, available 24/7 Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-988-273-TALK (8255); call to be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area
  • 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. Veterans will also be connected to Veterans Crisis support.
• MN Crisis Line: Call **CRISIS (**274747) to talk to a team of professionals who can help
• Crisis Text Line: Text "MN" to 741741, offers services across MN to help those who are having a mental health crisis or contemplating suicide.

Mission: To provide counseling and support services to NHCC students experiencing life transitions as they progress toward their personal, social and educational goals.

Vision:  Opportunity to fully engage in the college experience through personal, social and career exploration.

Values: Respect, Acceptance, Support and Encouragement