Whether or not you received support for your emotional health in the past, there are several things you can do to get ready and stay healthy while you transition to campus life and attend classes.
Getting ready to come to WashU
Learn about resources
| Check out our services | |
| Plan for the length of your care and obtain community referrals if you think you might require longer term care | |
| For LGBTQIA+ Students: CCPS is passionate about providing high quality services in a caring environment that is affirming of all sexual orientations and gender identities. | |
| If you do not see the information you are looking for, call 314-935-6695. If you prefer not to identify yourself, say “I’m an incoming student.” | |
| If you think you might need accommodations, visit Disability Resources to learn about requesting and using those accommodations. |
Know your care plan
If you have been diagnosed/in treatment for a mental health concern, learn the details of your condition and treatment so you can advocate for yourself. Here are some key things that you will need to be able to talk about:
| The name of your condition | |
| The challenges or symptoms you experience (e.g., anxiety, difficulty concentrating, poor sleep) | |
| How these experiences affect your life | |
| The treatment you’re receiving (type of individual or group therapy, medication) | |
| How to describe your reactions and responses to your treatment (what’s been helpful and what hasn’t) | |
| Names and contact information of your treatment providers | |
| A picture or copy of your insurance card |
Things to know if you take medication
| Name of your medication(s) | |
| Dosage of your medication | |
| What time of day you’re supposed to take your medication | |
| How it makes you feel | |
| Any side effects or problems you’ve had with medication (current and/or past) | |
| Your medication history (what did you take in the past? Why was it changed?) |
If you take medication with supervision from a family member and want to get ready to be more independent, try a test run of taking responsibility for taking your medication on schedule (ask for supervision at first). Medication reminder apps like Medisafe or MyMeds can be helpful. Also consider purchasing a weekly pill box, a pill box with a reminder notification feature, and/or a medication lock box.
Integrate your treatment & education plan
To set yourself up for success, it’s helpful to integrate your treatment and your educational goals. If you had an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and/or accommodations in the past, these will not automatically transfer to WashU. If you think you will need accommodations, it is helpful to bring a copy of your IEP or 504 plan or any other relevant documents with you when you meet with Disability Resources. If you don’t have a copy, it’s helpful if you can describe the purpose and goals of your IEP.
Know where to get emergency help/be prepared
Even if it doesn’t happen, it’s good to be prepared in case of a setback or mental health crisis.
| Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency | |
| Keep your emergency contact information current in WorkDay Student so you can be contacted quickly if need be |
Transitioning to campus life and attending classes: managing your care
You have options for managing your care.
Option A: continue care with clinicians from home
This option might be best if you will be able to be in regular contact with your clinician or treatment team and you are comfortable working with them or you have a complicated problem.
Questions to consider with your parents/guardians and/or treatment team:
| Is your home therapist/psychiatrist able to provide treatment to you in Missouri? | |
| Are secure online therapy sessions an option? (Note, Skype is not secure). | |
| Will phone calls and infrequent face-to-face visits be sufficient? | |
| If you take medication, how will you get it? | |
| How will you share information between your home clinician and any campus-based providers? | |
| Even if you choose this option, you may still want to connect with the Habif Health & Wellness Center and Disability Resources because they can help you with urgent medical needs and/or academic accommodations |
Option B: on campus
This option makes sense if you need only intermittent individual visits and the additional range of services at CCPS can provide sufficient ongoing care and support.
CCPS counseling options on campus:
Counseling services through CCPS
- Are not an appropriate substitute for open-ended, intensive psychological services
- See information on off-campus clinicians
Habif psychiatric medication management
Students who choose not to continue with a current provider and are interested in transferring existing care to Habif Psychiatry:
| Submit all psychiatric medical records for a minimum of the past five years (including any psychiatric hospitalizations and in-patient treatment). | |
| Fax these records to 314-935-8515 for the most secure method | |
| Call 314-935-6695 to verify that the records have been received |
Questions to consider
| Is your home clinician or treatment team okay with you receiving intermittent visits? | |
| Will limited face-to-face visits be sufficient? | |
| Has your clinician/treatment team from home shared necessary information and records with CCPS and the Student Health Center? | |
| What will work best for you financially? | |
| Do you need treatment for ADHD? |
If you have not had psychological testing and do not wish to be tested, we recommend that you current provider continue to prescribe your medication.
Option C: off-campus clinician
We provide assistance with accessing off-campus treatment.
If you need open-ended care and regular face-to-face visits, we can help you with referral suggestions to clinicians off campus and private care that fits your needs.
Questions to consider:
| Are the off-campus clinician referrals affordable and/or do they accept your insurance? | |
| Can you and/or you and your family meet the off-campus clinician before you transition to WashU so you can set up a plan in advance? | |
| How will you get to your off-campus provider? |
If you decide to engage in treatment with an off-campus clinician, it’s important to make sure your home clinician sends your treatment notes and information to your new local clinician so you can have continuity of care. If you intend to also keep in touch with your clinician from home, you should make sure that the arrangement for communication between your home clinician and your new clinician are clear.
Option D: self-guided services
Therapist Assistance online (TAO) offers brief, educational sessions covering common mental health topics and skills.