Referral GuidelinesCounseling Center

The Counseling Center is committed to maintaining an appropriate balance between meeting the needs of individual students and the needs of the college community as a whole. Given the demand for clinical services and the nature of the college calendar the Gustavus Adolphus College Counseling Center operates from a short-term therapy model. Furthermore, some students require specialized care that falls outside of the center's scope of practice. In cases where the Counseling Center staff determines they cannot fully meet the needs of a student, off-campus referrals may be provided. At the same time, we recognize that an individual student’s needs or the needs of the college may demand that we be flexible in the nature and amount of clinical services that we provide.

The purpose of the referral procedures and guidelines is to

• Provide guidance, ensure consistency of clinical practice and hold Counseling Center staff accountable in balancing the needs of the community with the needs of the individual student
• Enable clear communication of clinical practice to the larger college community
• Provide a record of accepted practice for new staff and interns

Students are also referred to other on-campus offices for specific help in various areas. The Counseling Center also provides referrals to off-campus professionals or agencies for services not available at the college.

Click here for a list of common off-campus referrals.