Caring for Students’ Mental Health
The Kalamazoo College Counseling Center is a safe place for students to confidentially work through their concerns and improve their mental well-being.
Students can experience a range of emotions throughout their four years at K: excitement, sadness, homesickness, grief, questioning identity, and stress—sometimes all at once. To help students process their emotions and improve their mental health, Kalamazoo College provides free counseling services.
Counseling is not just for students who have a major problem; all students who would like someone to talk to are encouraged to make an appointment.
While each student comes in with unique concerns, the most frequent issues that bring students to the counseling center are depression, anxiety, trouble in social relationships and family dynamics, stress, self-esteem, eating issues, sexuality concerns, and the use of substances.
In Emergency Dial 911
Contact information
Hours: Monday–Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m
Location: 1st Floor Hicks Student Center
Phone: 269.337.7191
Resources
Individual Counseling
Students are welcome to take advantage of the counseling center at any time during their four years at K. Our therapists are available for individual sessions—typically 30 to 45 minutes—where students can confidentially work through and unpack their concerns.
Sessions can occur on a regular or one-off basis; however, the counseling center is only able to offer each student seven individual sessions per year. If the student requires long-term care, our therapists will refer them to local professionals.
To begin counseling, please visit the counseling center and complete intake forms. A therapist will then reach out to schedule an appointment within 48 hours.
Group Sessions
Group sessions, led by a trained counselor, provide students with a supportive environment to discuss their problems with people going through similar circumstances. In small groups of five to ten, students open up about their experiences, provide honest feedback, and collaboratively develop coping strategies.
These conversations are founded on a bedrock of trust. Group members are required to protect each other’s confidentiality and agree not to divulge details that would identify participants to people outside of the group.
Emergency Services
A counselor is on call 24/7 to assist students in crisis. While open, the counseling center takes emergency appointments throughout the day and 2 to 3 p.m. is specifically reserved for walk-in appointments.
If you require assistance outside of business hours, please call campus safety at 269.337.7321 or talk to your dorm’s resident assistant who will put you in contact with the on-call counselor.
Confidentiality
The counseling center does not give out information about participation in or the content of counseling—even to faculty members, parents, or administrative staff members—unless a student gives explicit consent.
The only exception is if a counselor believes that a student is a danger to themselves or others. If that is the case, the counseling center is ethically and legally bound to inform relevant parties such as residence staff and/or family members who can reduce the risk of serious harm.