Scope of Clinical Services

UCC Scope of Clinical Service Statement

The UCC staff cares about the wellbeing of UND students. The primary goal of our clinical services is to provide and connect students with appropriate mental health and substance use services that support their academic and personal goals. The UCC offers a range of therapeutic interventions and supports, including: Initial Assessment, Group Counseling and Workshops, Online Self-Help Programming, Individual Counseling, Couples Counseling, Substance Use Evaluation, Case Management, and Urgent/Crisis Services for UND students who are enrolled and have paid student service fees for the current semester.

Scope of Clinical Services Provided at UCC

All eligible students are welcome to schedule an appointment for an Initial Assessment to discuss their presenting concerns and explore available treatment options with a staff member. This conversation between the student and staff member generally involves a discussion of the student’s current difficulties, a review of treatment options, and recommendations to assist the student in obtaining appropriate services. Recommendations may include: receiving services at the UCC, connecting to additional campus resources, or providing a referral to Case Management to connect the student with appropriate services in the community.

In order to maximize our resources in meeting the mental health and substance use needs of UND students, the UCC operates within a short-term and intermittent model of treatment during academic semesters. In many cases, Individual Counseling is just one part of a larger plan that can include Group Counseling, workshops and skills training, and/or referrals within the University or the community. Typically, a student will engage in one or more of our unlimited Group Counseling and Workshop programs, utilize the Online Self-Help Programming we offer, and typically meet with an Individual Counselor every 3-4 weeks throughout a semester.

Some of the concerns that are commonly addressed at the UCC are:

• Adjustment (stress, dealing with transitions, new life circumstances, etc.)
• Academic-related issues (motivation, perfectionism, interpersonal communication, etc.)
• Relationship issues (conflicts, communication, break-ups, assertiveness, etc.)
• Mild to moderate mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, as appropriate to brief therapy
• Grief and loss
• Substance use (mild or moderate alcohol or other drug use/abuse)
• Trauma, sexual assault (stabilization and treatment within a brief therapy model)

When a student’s needs fall outside the scope of services or scheduling availability we provide, the UCC partners with the student through Case Management to transition them to resources within the community. Local counseling options can include providers within walking distance to campus and some that provide low or sliding scale fee services.

The UCC is well connected with resources on UND’s campus and in the Grand Forks community, and the staff works with students to determine the most effective levels of care for their needs. Our goal is to identify the needs of our students and connect them to the appropriate service. Please note the nature and complexity of presenting concerns are considered in making the appropriate treatment recommendation(s). Cases are evaluated individually and the professional judgment of the UCC staff will determine the treatment decision in a particular situation.

Situations that may require a transition of care can include:

• Concerns that cannot be addressed in a short-term therapy model and require more intensive treatment.
• Students whose needs warrant treatment over multiple semesters and/or through semester breaks.
• A need, or request, for a treatment modality not provided by UCC staff or to be seen more frequently than the UCC can accommodate.
• Excessive utilization of emergency/crisis sessions, as this indicates that the standard frequency is inadequate for presenting concerns.
• A need, or request, to be seen differently than what is clinically recommended.
• Evidence or risk of progressive deterioration in mental or emotional functioning, requiring intensive intervention.
• Lack of engagement in treatment, inconsistent attendance and/or poor compliance with clinical assessment process and treatment recommendations
• Presence of one or more of the following, or cases where the best treatment may require a higher level of care. Such situations may include:
  • Eating Disorders
  • A history of multiple hospitalizations or suicide attempts, chronic suicidality and/or self-injury behaviors
  • Active unmanaged symptoms of psychosis
• Requests for:
  • Psychological testing or evaluations, including those to attain accommodations through Disability Services for Students (DSS)
  • Documentation for an emotional support animal
  • Counseling services defined by an external entity or department