Welcome to Personal Counseling Services
If you are an Oklahoma City University student and considering counseling, this web site offers information that will help you make the decision. We welcome feedback on experiences that you have in our office and with our services. Please read this information carefully and make certain that you understand it, and please feel free to refer back to it often.

Mission
The mission of Personal Counseling Services is to enhance human development and maximize students' problem solving and decision making capabilities so that they may more intentionally make effective and satisfying life choices. In accordance with this mission, the office acts to support and enhance the personal, social, and intellectual functioning of Oklahoma City University students. Resources provided include a broad spectrum of developmental, remedial, and preventative services.

Staff
Sherry Sage, Licensed Professional Counselor
(405)523-4994
ssage@okcu.edu

Ms. Sage completed a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She has been practicing as a Counselor in the state of Oklahoma since 1997. She is licensed to practice by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Her license number is LPC 2350.

What is Counseling?
Counseling is a confidential process designed to help you address concerns, come to a greater understanding of yourself, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies. Counseling involves a relationship between you and a trained therapist who has the desire and willingness to help you accomplish your individual goals. Counseling involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information that may at times be distressing. During the course of counseling, there may be periods of increased anxiety or confusion. Your therapist is available to support you through the counseling process.

How Do I know If I Need Counseling?
Counseling may be of help to you if you . . .

• feel as if you have no direction in life
• are constantly picking what seem to be the "wrong" friends
• have something you have never told anybody, but feel like you should
• don't know how to study
• study and do your homework, but still see unsatisfactory results
• received all "A's" and "B's" in high school and now are on academic probation
• can't decide on a major
• feel stressed out or anxious
• drink heavily or are using drugs
• feel like you can't go on
• think that things always go wrong for you
• feel stressed about being away from home
• eat too much or too little

What Can I Expect in Counseling?
The following are some of the things that you can expect:

• Your counselor will be someone who will listen and be nonjudgmental
• Sometimes you may experience painful feelings before you start feeling better.
• What you talk about with the counselor is confidential. Your parents and professors WILL NOT be informed about what is discussed during the sessions.
• There are some limits to confidentiality; however, these will be explained and given to you in writing on your first visit.
• While in counseling, you can talk about whatever is concerning you at the time. The counselor will help you examine your concerns and assist you in finding a means to fulfill your goals.

Intake or Initial Request for Service
Initial intake sessions will generally last one hour. Clients complete paperwork prior to the start of the intake session. This paperwork will help the intake counselor make a determination of which counselor or service offered is most likely to help you.

Since the counselor is limited to seeing students for short-term counseling, this may not be the most appropriate service for your problem or concern. If during the intake your counselor feels that this is the case, they will discuss with you options to provide you with the most appropriate service. This may require referral to other agencies or individuals, or negotiating a goal which can more likely to be reached in a reasonable number of sessions.

Duration and Cost of Services
Enrollment as an OCU student entitles you to 4-5 counseling sessions per year. University Counseling Services offers counseling to students only. There is no charge for the counseling sessions.

• Groups
  Group counseling is currently offered free of charge.
• Presentations
  Presentations are offered free of charge on a variety of topics throughout the year. If you have a topic you would like to see us address, please let us know.
• Consultation
  Consultation and referral are generally offered in a single session, free of charge to OCU students.

Hours and Location
The Counselor is available for appointments Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm in the Sports Hall of Fame office in the Student-Faculty Center. Please call to make an appointment. The office has a voice mail answering system. If you do not wish to leave a message, wait and call again. If you do leave a message, during office hours, someone will return your call as promptly as possible. If you have an emergency after hours please contact the OCU Security Office at 521-5001.

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency call
On-Campus - Oklahoma City University Security Office
(405) 521-5001