Counseling Services

Counseling provides students a safe place to talk with an objective, caring professional who can offer fresh ways to interpret difficult situations.  It gives students a chance to explore their feelings and learn new coping skills.  Unexplained changes in behavior, mood swings, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating are all indicators of a problem that counseling can help resolve–one that could affect academic performance if not addressed.

Common reasons students seek counseling include:

• Difficulty adjusting to college or other changes
• Stress, anxiety, or panic attacks
• Depression and feelings of hopelessness
• Problems with eating or body image
• Relationship problems (dating, roommate, family, work)
• Grief and loss (end of a relationship, death of a loved one)

Counseling can be for a specific problem, but it can also be for those wanting to better understand themselves or to make important decisions about their lives.

Most counseling sessions are individual, but students are also seen with partners, roommates, or family members.  Psycho-educational groups are offered on topics of common interest for college students, such as grief support, stress and anxiety management, healthy relationships, and positive psychology concepts.

First appointments focus on problem identification and assessment, and student and Counselor work together to identify goals.  On-going sessions are scheduled as needed with decreasing frequency.

To make an appointment, call 724-836-9870 or email GBGCounseling@pitt.edu.

The Pitt-Greensburg Counseling Center is available to all current students free of charge.  Appointments can be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling or emailing the Counseling Center.  Walk-ins are seen if time permits, and evening appointments are available by request.  Students who are in crisis are seen the same day.

Counseling is completely confidential (with rare exceptions when there is a threat to someone’s safety).  No information is shared with anyone on or off campus without the student’s written permission, and files are not part of student’s academic record. Regarding Title IX reports, Counseling staff are considered confidential resources and do not have to report sexual misconduct information to the Title IX Liaison. 

The Director of Counseling is a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with young adults.  This provides students with the same level of counseling as would be available at a private psychotherapy clinic.  In addition to the director, the Counseling Center often has a master’s-level graduate intern who is supervised by the director.

The Counseling Center frequently sponsors mental-health related educational events on campus, makes presentations in classes or at meetings, and offers prevention-oriented programming.  Students interested in helping to advocate for mental health awareness or decrease the stigma of mental illness can become peer educators by joining our Active Minds on Campus chapter.  Contact the Counseling Center for more information.

Free handouts and brochures on a variety of mental health topics are available in the Counseling Center and on the wall display outside the office.  Self-help books and relaxation CDs are available to borrow.

"Counseling Corner"

In each issue of the Families E-Connection Newsletter, the Counseling Corner offers some insight on what your college student might be dealing with at this point in the semester and some suggestions on how you can best offer support.

Adjusting and Homesickness

For more information on the following topics click on the links below:

Coping with Finals Week Stress (pdf)

Tips to Beat the Holiday Blues (pdf)