Counseling Services

Services available at Personal Counseling Services (PCS) include the following.

• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Urgent care for immediate mental health concerns that arise during business hours
• Relaxation Room
• Let’s Talk Program
• Lightbox Rental
• Anonymous Stress & Depression Questionnaire
• Lending Library of self-help books
• Biofeedback
• Consultations with faculty, staff, parents/guardians, and others who are concerned about a student (note that no confidential information, including whether or not a particular student is seeking services, can be shared without a student’s written permission)
• Outreach programming to the campus community

To schedule, please call 608-663-4148, email pcsnotifications@edgewood.edu, or stop by The Wellness Center, Dominican 122. Individual and group counseling are available to all enrolled Edgewood College students. All services are free and confidential.

View additional Resources and Referrals here

Individual Counseling

Short-term counseling is available for help with issues such as:

• Adjustment to college and/or other life transitions
• Relationship difficulties
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Interpersonal Issues
• Grief and Loss
• Exploring Personal Identity
• Gender Identity (students may be eligible to receive letters of support for hormone therapy, breast/chest surgery, and/or sex reassignment surgery)
• Discrimination
• Academic Difficulties
• Family Issues
• Self-esteem
• Trauma (e.g., combat, sexual assault, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect)
• Substance Abuse
• Sexual Assault
• Eating and/or Body Images Issues
• Self-injury (e.g., cutting)
• Stress Management
• Managing a Personal Crisis
• Anger
• Assertiveness
• Test Anxiety
• Suicidal Thoughts

What To Expect

Students will be asked to fill out paperwork prior to their first appointment, which takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. Students will then meet with a counselor for about 45-50 minutes. The focus of the first appointment is to get to know the student, their reasons for seeking counseling, and to ask some mental health screening questions to ensure that the counselor understands the “bigger picture” of what the student is struggling with. Potential goals of therapy and plans of what to focus on in future appointments are discussed. Students often describe feeling relief after the first appointment, though more of the “problem-solving” typically takes place starting in the second appointment.

Students often continue to meet with the same counselor they had their first appointment with, though accommodations can be made to switch counselors if requested.

Group Counseling

PCS offers weekly groups in which students discuss a variety of concerns, such as interpersonal relationships, feelings of loneliness or isolation, or symptoms of depression or anxiety. If interested in participating, please schedule an initial appointment or discuss with your current therapist.

Research shows that group therapy is at least as effective as individual therapy. Read more about how you could benefit from group here: Group Therapy FAQ

Let’s Talk Drop-In Consultation

“Let’s Talk” is a drop-in service that offers informal, confidential dialogue with an Edgewood College Personal Counseling Services consultant.

Consultants hold walk-in hours at on-campus locations during the academic year. Stop by to speak with a consultant about concerns, get help problem-solving, and learn more about Personal Counseling Services and other resources available to you at Edgewood College.

Let’s Talk Consultations are:

• Free for Edgewood College students
• Offered first-come, first-served (no appointment necessary)
• Confidential
• Informal (not intended to be a substitute for traditional counseling)

Who should visit Let’s Talk?

• Students who are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor
• Students who are not interested in ongoing counseling, but would like the perspective of a consultant
• Students who have a specific problem and would like someone with whom to talk it through
• Students who have a concern about a friend and want some ideas about what to do

For more detailed information please view FAQ’s for LET’S TALK

About “Let’s Talk”

The “Let’s Talk” off-site walk-in model – developed at Cornell University – is nationally recognized for its success in increasing student access to mental health care. The model has been adopted by nearly 50 universities and colleges nationwide.

Read the article about the development of Let’s Talk from the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development.

The above information was adapted with permission from Cornell University and UW-LaCrosse. Their dedicated efforts to provide innovative services to students and willingness to share these resources with other universities and colleges are deeply appreciated.

Lightbox Rental

Lightboxes, also known as Happy Lights or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Lamps, are available for enrolled students to check out, free of charge, for up to two weeks at a time. For more information, please talk with your counselor or email us at pcsnotifications@edgewood.edu. Please note that it is important to ask your counselor and/or a medical provider whether or not a lightbox is right for you and to follow the directions included with the lightbox.

Crisis Care

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency during business hours and would like to be seen by a counselor, please call our office at 608-663-4148 or stop by Dominican 122. Based on your symptoms, we have protocols in place to either see you right away or schedule you for the soonest available appointment, typically on the following business day. If experiencing an emergency after hours, please use the emergency phone numbers below.

Emergency Resources
Madison Police Department Emergency: 911
Edgewood College Security: (608) 663-4321
24-hour Crisis Line of Dane County: (608) 280-2600
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

For on-campus residents, notify a Res Life staff member who can contact our on-call counselors.

For those who prefer to text, text HELLO to 741-741 to contact the national 24/hour Crisis Text Line. Learn more about the Crisis Text Line here.

Means Reduction

“Means reduction,” or limiting access to the lethal methods individuals use to attempt suicide, is an important part of suicide prevention. Learn more here. The following steps are recommended to reduce risk:

• Take any expired or unneeded over-the-counter or prescription medications to the drop-off site located in the Safety & Security office in Weber Hall.
• Do not keep lethal doses of any medication on hand. Work with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you have only a safe amount in your residence.
• Consider keeping medications locked in a safe place.
• Take any unneeded sharp objects to the sharps disposal container located in the Safety & Security office in Weber Hall.
• Firearms are prohibited on campus. Those who have access to firearms off campus are encouraged to follow best practices for safe gun storage. Free cable gun locks are available through the Madison Police Department.
• If you feel you, or someone you care about, is at risk of suicide, please use the crisis resources listed above.

Stress and Depression Questionnaire

 Are you wondering about your current stress or possible symptoms of depression? Trying to figure out if counseling might be right for you? Complete our ANONYMOUS online stress & depression questionnaire. After you complete the questionnaire, a counselor will provide a prompt, personalized response without knowing who you are.