Where to Start

Initial consultations are as long as they need to be for your same day needs. They typically last 20 - 30 minutes; longer if you are experiencing distress.

We have four goals for an initial consultation:

1. We will assess and respond to any mental health risk you have immediately.
2. We will learn if you are seeking clinical support beyond today.
3. We will contribute ideas for self-care and resources, based on what you share.
4. We will work to co-create a next step plan that supports your needs and your vision for what would be most helpful.

Initial consultations are offered by highly trained, licensed professional counselors, social workers, marriage family therapists and psychologists. The nature of their connection with you will be short – typically 1-2 points of contact. Continued therapy services are offered by a different set of highly trained clinicians, working closely with referrals from this team.

Students have shared that they prefer to have an online way to schedule their initial consult; we’ve heard you. We open same day consults, every day of the week on the My Health Portal. If you do not want to schedule online, you may call 480-965-6146 for an appointment, or you can walk into any ASU Counseling Services office to begin.

ASU Counseling Services now offers 24/7 Open Call and Open Chat services and telehealth appointments for you at anytime, anywhere across the world. This service can offer brief individual tele-therapy to you wherever you are in the world at both traditional and non-traditional times of day. You can follow directions on our Open Call Open Chat service page, and this is what you should expect:

1. Communicate your request to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
2. A Client Care Representative will gather your needs and preferences, including your availability. You can schedule someone at 11 p.m. if you want! This service extends beyond traditional office hours to meet your availability.
3. Open Call and Open Chat clinicians will find a match for you, and keep communication with you, according to your preferred communication path (call, email, message).
4. You can expect an appointment offered within five business days of when you call us.
5. Open Call and Open Chat clinicians will help connect you to ASU Counseling or ASU Health Services if that is the right next step for your care.

If you feel most comfortable speaking with a Medical Doctor or Nurse, ASU Health Services is a place to start. Providers at ASU Health Services take most health insurance, and can help you understand how mental health needs are impacting your physical and behavioral health, offering medical solutions.

At times, off-campus counseling and psychiatric providers may be the best options for students. ASU Counseling Services can facilitate these connections, or students can search for recommended providers independently through our ASU Community Link. ASU students can use this database at any time; prior service at ASU Counseling is not required. Students who prefer to receive support in connecting to a community provider should contact ASU Counseling Services at 480-965-6416.

Community providers include:

• Psychiatric services
• Community mental health providers
• Specialized services. Examples could include assessment for ADHD, learning disorders or other concerns.

• Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Telehealth consults
• Saturday and Sunday – 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Telehealth consults
• Outside of office hours or on University Holidays, call ASU’s Dedicated Mental Health Line through EMPACT to speak immediately to a counselor 480-921-1006.

Appointments available by telephone or HIPAA-compliant tele-mental health consult sessions. If you are outside of Arizona, please give us a phone call at 480-965-6146.

Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We recognize that some issues can only be served in person. While we are prioritizing care through tele-mental health, we remain available to see students who should be seen in person. If you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, if you have experienced a trauma, or an unexpected loss, please give us a call at 480-965-6146, or walk into any one of our four locations.