Mental Health Services for College Students in NC and VA
The reality is...
The expectation of college and independence often differs significantly from the reality.
Most of us are never taught how to take care of our mental health. Even with the best preparation, periods of transition can be stressful and may require additional support.
Additionally, most of us are never taught how to set boundaries, communicate assertively, decide when and how to say “yes” or “no,” understand how our brains and bodies are interconnected, recognize signs of mental distress, access healthcare, consider medication, communicate with healthcare providers, utilize pharmacy services, or appreciate the benefits of therapy, among many other essential skills!
Moreover, many families do not discuss mental health or mental illness.
As a result, many young adults have experienced symptoms for years but have not had the support or opportunity to access mental health services until they gain independence.
Furthermore, many young adults find that their childhood traumas continue to affect them in adulthood. Unfortunately, for some, they experience trauma for the first time during this period.
Finally, the people who supported you in the past may no longer be available or able to meet your needs during this transition.
The reality can be...
The young adult period can be safe, fun, productive, and full of healthy experimentation, learning, and adventure. Moreover, you do not have to learn everything the hard way. In fact, you have time to navigate this journey thoughtfully and with support.
The earlier you develop the skills needed to take care of your mental health, advocate for yourself, and establish the values that will guide your decisions, the more successful you will be in your career, relationships, and overall resiliency.
You do not have to develop these skills on your own. In fact, it is entirely possible to work with a provider who can help you navigate your changing environment and evolving roles.
When medication is necessary, it is possible to find a plan that is not only safe and effective but also tolerable.
Telehealth makes it possible to receive care, especially when transportation is limited.
Brief, 25-minute therapy appointments offer greater convenience and flexibility when it comes to scheduling.
Is the thought of seeing a mental health specialist feeling overwhelming?
We understand. When people realize they are struggling, they often respond initially by denying, avoiding, or masking their feelings. This happens because our brains are skilled at sending us “what if” thoughts and worst-case scenario scenarios.
Common Reasons Clients Seek My Services
Social anxiety and anxiety in general
Academic struggles
Difficulty with focus and organization
Relationships challenges
Breakups
Career planning
Low mood and low energy
Mood swings
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
Depression
Trauma
What it's like to work with me.
Clients who enjoy working with us are eager to learn about their minds and bodies. They are ready to make progress toward creating and achieving their goals, and they want to collaborate with someone who will genuinely take an interest in their success and well-being. We are passionate about being approachable, meeting people where they are, and putting in the hard work necessary for success. By the end of your first session, you will likely think, “That wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, and I feel hopeful about this plan.
Check out our working with me page to learn more.
Common Fears about Mental Healthcare
Will my school or parents know I am getting care?
Your information is confidential. If you are on your parent’s insurance, they will only know that you’ve had an appointment if you choose to use your insurance. However, they will not have access to the details of your appointment unless you decide to share that information with them.
What if I don’t know what to say?
You don’t have to know everything right away. Together, we will work to discover your needs. You’ll find that we are skilled at helping clients communicate effectively.
Check out my working with me page to learn more.
Answers to Your Questions about Mental Healthcare
General Mental Health Basics
We offer both as my schedule allows. In general, we have more availability for medication appointments. If you are interested in both and our therapy slots are full, we will help you connect with another therapist while we manage your medication.
This will be determined during your intake appointment. Brief appointments are ideal for time-limited specific concerns or for clients who are stable and transitioning out of recurring therapy or have already been in recurring therapy in the past. It is also helpful for clients who have challenging schedules or financial concerns that do not accommodate recurring therapy.
No! we see young adults and young-at-heart adults from diverse backgrounds. We have additional training and experience working with the college health and perinatal mental health populations but you do not have to identify with those groups to receive care.
We do not at this time.
Depression, anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD (with non-stimulants only)
No. Our services are offered predominantly through telehealth and I do not prescribe any controlled substances.
Yes. Clients who live locally, may request an in-person appointment.
Yes. We know how challenging juggling all these responsibilities can be and we will make a plan that will help you succeed all aspects of your life-including academic life.
College Mental Health Basics
No, we see young adults who are entering the workforce without additional schooling, in community college, and who have already graduated. Each transition has its own challenges and we enjoy working with adults in any of these phases. College students often have a more difficult time accessing care so we provide additional information on my site for this group.
The majority of our patients are 45 or younger. This is because for our purposes, we work with clients who are entering adulthood and the challenges that occur with the challenges of adulthood and this happens at different ages for everyone.
No. As an adult, you are legally responsible for your own mental health and you will have to sign a release of information designating who you are allowed to share information with (this is a federal HIPAA policy). We do require that every patient have an emergency contact on file. Also, if you choose to use insurance and you plan to submit your Superbill to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement and you are on your parent’s insurance, they will receive notice of this. Also, because if we are an out-of-network provider for your plan, you may have your parents cover the cost of their appointments.
No, your information is still protected (other than billing which will include a diagnosis code).
Only if that is your preference. Our initial appointments are always with the patient only so that we can discuss this in detail. If you would like to have a parent attend at the end of the appointment or at future appointments, we will make arrangements for this. This applies to medication appointments.
You are welcome to share information but please note that any information you share will shared with the patient. We do not schedule appointments with parents without the patient present.
No. Your information is legally protected by HIPAA regulations.
No. We do not evaluate or train animals. If you have had at least 3 appointments and we can provide a statement of your diagnosis and that you find your pet to be helpful. This letter does not provide any legal requirement that your landlord must follow. We will not submit any additional documentation for this purpose and you will need to sign a release of information for this letter.
Our first appointment is a comprehensive assessment and we will review the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. In most situations, if you are experiencing ADHD symptoms and mood symptoms, treating the mood symptoms first is recommended and then we will reassess ADHD symptoms. We are not able to provide diagnostic testing for learning disorders. We do not prescribe controlled substances. If you have a previous diagnosis or suspect ADHD and are interested in stimulant medication (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, etc), you will want to work with another provider. We do prescribe non-controlled medications for ADHD and work with you on skill development for management of ADHD symptoms.
No. We do not prescribed controlled substances. For many reasons, I recommend a different plan of care.
No problem! This is common. You can schedule your appointment online and we will make sure you understand how to access medication services.
The transition to parenthood of an adult child is a developmental task as well. Our goal is to help our clients learn how and when to set safe and healthy boundaries and also learn how to advocate for themselves and communicate effectively. We provide a summary and care plan (often including handouts) at every visit and you may want to ask the patient to share this information with you. We also provide education at every visit so your family member should be able to share as they are comfortable. We provide the care to our clients that we would want our children and (and myself) to receive and we take this responsibility very seriously.
What to expect for Virtual Appointments
Yes, in order to provide effective care, we must be able to see you. You are not required to use your camera for asynchronous classes.
No, you will need to reschedule. Please be aware there is a cancellation fee for appointments not cancelled within 24 hours.
The best feature of having a virtual appointment option is the convenience! Come as you are, baby drool, messy house, and all. You must be clothed (shirts required, and you may not be using mind altering substances during your appointment.
You will be able to access your appointment from any device with internet and a camera. Due to state licensing regulations, you must be in NC or VA at the time of your appointment. Please try to give yourself a quiet and private place. (Some patients find their vehicles (parked-not driving!) or bathroom to be great escape locations for their appointment.
Practice Policies for clients seeking 1-on-1mental healthcare
Yes, we will collaborate with your individual therapist.
No. Due to the boundaries established by the DEA system, providers cannot prescribe controlled substances to patients they have not initially seen in person. It is anticipated that the COVID pandemic exception will expire. That said, we have many modalities that are safe and effective and provide a long-term solutions so that controlled substances may not be necessary. We are committed to helping patients connect with their best-selves (which involves the courageous exploration of a values-driven life, rather than avoidance and symptom management).
Yes. Please plan to sign a release of information so we can communicate with your medication provider as needed.