Individual Counseling 

Overview of Individual Counseling

Moravian University Counseling Center provides individual counseling and therapy to current full-time undergraduate and graduate Moravian University students (including Lancaster campus) and full-time LTS students, at no additional charge. Students are typically assigned to a counselor that best fits with the student’s schedule, however if both student and counselor schedule allows it, students are able to request a specific counselor. The number of sessions a student attends and the length of each session is based on each student's individual counseling need. Typically, students will either meet weekly, biweekly, or schedule as needed and sessions will last 30 or 50 minutes. 

What to expect at your first session?

When you first contact the Counseling Center for services, you will typically be scheduled for a 50 minute intake session. After you schedule your first appointment you will receive an email with paperwork that needs to be completed prior to meeting with your counselor.  During this first meeting your counselor will discuss confidentiality, collect relevant background information, and ask about your reasons for seeking counseling. Together the counselor and you will begin addressing your current concern and identify a plan on moving forward, which may include completing an agreed upon action plan, scheduling follow-up sessions, and/or referral to community resources. 

How do I make the most of my counseling experience?

Individual Counseling is most effective when....

  1. You attend your scheduled sessions.
  2. You have a general idea of what you would like to discuss and goals you are working towards.
  3. You are motivated outside of the counseling session, in that your counselor may ask you to try a new behavior, adapt your thinking, better manage your emotional responses, or experiment with a different approach to your concerns. You are encouraged to try and practice these ideas and approaches outside of the counseling session.
  4. You are open and honest with your counselor about your concerns. The thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that produce the most emotion and/or life disturbances, are usually the concerns that need to be discussed. You have certain rights of confidentiality and you are encouraged to discuss these with your counselor if you are unclear about them.

Confidentiality

The APA Code of Ethics and PA state law considers the personal information you discuss in counseling to be confidential, therefore the counseling center strictly protects the confidentiality of information shared during sessions, as well as the attendance to any counseling service.  This means that no record of counseling is made on an academic transcript, and that information regarding your counseling is not released without your written permission to anyone, unless otherwise indicated by law.