The Personal Counseling Center (PCC) functions as an integral part of the Division of Student Affairs. The PCC supports the mission of the University by fostering a student centered environment through:
- Identifying and resolving problems and situations which negatively impact the academic growth and development of our students.
- Facilitating educational programming aimed at creating an informed student body with respect to their psychosocial development.
- Offering personal counseling to address the psychological needs of students.
- Encouraging broad student participation in the university community.
This office is a provider of psychological support services to registered Pitt-Johnstown students as they seek to attain their personal, social, and academic goals. Since the office is not a mental health clinic, it does not present itself as a mental health treatment center.
Number of staff directly involved in the counseling programs with their credentials
There are two full time counselors in the Pitt-Johnstown Personal Counseling Center.
Dr. Bob Yaskanich, a licensed Pennsylvania psychologist and a certified school psychologist, provides counseling services to Pitt-Johnstown students. Dr. Yaskanich, who is referred as “Dr. Bob” by the students, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Duquesne University, a Master of Science degree in School Psychology from California University, and a Doctorate in Counselor Education from the University of Pittsburgh. He has over 40 years of experience in psychological counseling, diagnostic psychological assessment, and consulting work with educational institutions, business, industry and private practice. To maintain licensure as a psychologist, Dr. Yaskanich earns 30 hours of continuing education credits every 2 years.
Emily Kist is a licensed social worker with experience in clinical counseling, behavioral health, rehabilitation services and program development. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her counseling of students, Emily coordinates outreach initiatives and facilitates wellness programs.
The Personal Counseling Center has a nine-month secretary with superb interpersonal relationship skills.
Range of services provided
· Individual counseling
· Group counseling
· Referral to community resources as needed
· Psycho-educational programs to the campus community (e.g. on topics such as eating disorders, stress management, managing test anxiety, etc.)
· Training to resident assistants (RA), resident directors (RD) and area coordinators (AC)
- Informational posters and flyers which contain practical information of psychological relevance to our students are provided to Area Coordinators, Resident Assistants and to Resident Directors throughout the year for posting in residence halls. These same posters are strategically placed around campus in order to inform commuter students of the resources available to them, as well as the availability of personal counseling services. Mass emailings to students and postings on the Pitt-Johnstown calendar of events are also used to communicate information about upcoming counseling outreach programs
· Consultation to faculty
Miscellaneous:
· Supervision of psychology department faculty who seek licensure as a Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist and provide internship experiences for MSW students
· Psychological assessment screening for Pitt-Johnstown police officer candidates.
· Participation in various campus events including weekly student affairs directors’ staff meetings; orientation of new faculty; student activities fair; freshman orientation; guest lecturing upon request.
Access to services (fixed hours, emergency contacts, etc.)
Office Hours: The Personal Counseling Center is staffed during regular business hours, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The PCC schedules student appointments at a time convenient to their class schedule. When needed, students are seen on the same day they call. Counseling services continue to be provided to summer school students and to students who reside close to Pitt-Johnstown and come to the office for counseling appointments. In addition, students who reside at a distance maintain contact with this office via email. The PCC assist students immediately and refrains from placing anyone on an appointment waiting list.
Accessibility: The PCC is conveniently located in the center of the campus in Blackington Hall (room 121). Students schedule appointments by stopping in between classes, by telephoning (814-269-7119), or by sending an email request.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Personal Counseling Center Office (814) 269-7119
Director: Dr. Bob Yaskanich
Staff Therapist: Emily Kist
Secretary: Diane Lenio
Crisis Intervention (814) 535-8531
Fees: There are no additional fees charged for personal counseling services. All registered students are provided this service without charge.
Confidentiality: We assure students that no information discussed with their counselor is ever disclosed to anyone unless they provide written permission. No record of visiting the PCC appears in academic records. The rare exceptions to the confidentiality requirement are communicated to the student, thereby assuring “informed consent.”
Removing the Stigma: Recognizing that many students feel awkward about talking to a professional counselor, the PCC seeks to remove any stigma associated with seeking counseling. Staff assures visitors that many other students visit with them each term, noting that no concern is too small. Students are told problems usually worsen when left unresolved. Student Affairs staff are instrumental in encouraging students to access the counseling center.
Emergency Contacts: In the event of an emergency, the PCC works closely with departments across campus, in particular, residence life staff and campus police. The community based Crisis Intervention Unit, Victim Services, and the Women’s Help Center are utilized as needed, along with the emergency rooms at the two local hospitals (Windber Medical Center and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center).
Arrangements for access to psychiatric consultation and/or evaluation
Students who have had psychiatric intervention in the past typically continue to maintain contact with their physician, and the PCC office provides psychological support and serve as a liaison with that psychiatrist as deemed appropriate.
When there is a mental health emergency, the affected student is quickly transported by campus police or by local EMS units to local hospital emergency rooms. Two hospitals are within a 15 minute drive. One of the hospitals (Conemaugh) has a neuro-psychiatric unit for those students who are recommended for an in-patient stay, voluntary or involuntary by emergency room personnel.
Due to the paucity of area psychiatrists, students sometime schedule appointments with their primary care physician for evaluation of their need for psychotropic medications. The students can usually obtain an appointment within a day or two, and their physicians typically do not hesitate at prescribing appropriate medication. The PCC provides a letter to the student which they present to their physician. This letter details the PCC’s diagnostic assessment and suggestions. This protocol has served students very well.
Description of intervention strategies
Intervention strategies can include: cognitive behavioral, couples counseling, interpersonal, psychodynamic, biofeedback, re-parenting, guided imagery, meditation, existential, emotional support, psycho-education, etc.
The Personal Counseling Center is particularly sensitive to the needs of a student in crisis. Crisis intervention is defined by the provision of mental health assessment services to registered Pitt-Johnstown students regardless of the time of day or night when the crisis occurs. More specifically, crisis is defined by the student’s verbal expression of an intention to cause physical harm to him/herself or to others. Crisis intervention is traditionally limited to assessing whether or not a student is in imminent danger of harming him/herself or others. If the assessment determines that there is imminent danger to self or others then our office recommends that the student receives further assessment at the local hospital’s emergency room. The hospital may admit the student to their neuro-psychiatric unit, either on a voluntary or involuntary basis.
Pitt-Johnstown’s comprehensive model of crisis intervention not only assesses the imminent danger to self and/or others question, but also addresses all related complexities leading up to the crisis and develops a treatment plan for problem resolution. The assessment includes making a decision regarding parental notification. Campus police or residence life staff typically makes the request for crisis consultation with the Personal Counseling Center.
Some students simply need the experience of being listened to by a non-judgmental and compassionate professional therapist. Some students are helped by our staff to realize, for the first time in their lives, that they are responsible for the choices they make and that they must take full and complete responsibility for implementing personal change. Others have experienced sexual abuse as a child and are currently seeking counseling because they cannot seem to experience healthy adult relationships. Stress, anxiety and depression are common among college students and our counseling staff assists them in learning how to better cope with these challenging issues. Selection of intervention strategies is driven by the needs presented by the student who seek our assistance.
A short-term therapy model can be very useful (given the 15 week semester). In this model, the therapist and student work together on clearly defining the problematic issue and establishing corresponding goals. These goals are revised as needed at each therapy session. “Homework” is assigned at the end of each therapy session, and at the next session, progress or lack of progress is monitored and the process continues. This straightforward approach fosters the student’s gaining independence and reliance on their own resources and thus serves to diminish, as much as possible, dependence on the counselor. Some students discover, with the PCC’s assistance, that they are not motivated to do what is necessary to change their beliefs, values, or behaviors.
Finally, just as every student who comes for counseling is different, the intervention strategy must be artfully selected, and then individualized to meet (and challenge) that student’s values, beliefs, and culture.
Relationship between counseling program and areas such as residence life, police, and
health services
To achieve the University’s goals with regard to counseling, it is therefore necessary to establish strong working relationships with all offices within the student affairs division (and with faculty as well).
The Personal Counseling Center operates in a collaborative relationship with other units in the Divisions of Student and Academic Affairs including Student Life, Judicial Affairs, Career Services, Health Services, Housing and Residence Life, Campus Ministry, Academic Support Center, Athletics/Intramurals, Campus Police, and Disability Services.
Student Affairs staff receive annual training in matters relating to establishing and maintaining a safe campus environment. Training topics include:
- Alcohol use on campus
- Personal safety issues on campus
- Suicide risk management
A member of the student affairs team regularly meets with faculty and brings concerns faculty might have about a particular student to the student affairs team. New faculty are provided with an orientation which includes discussion about their role in helping to identify and refer students to the appropriate office within Student Affairs. In the event of a crisis situation, each office within the student affairs team follows a protocol which is unique to their functional area. These protocols incorporate the involvement of others on the student affairs team as appropriate.
Referrals to the Personal Counseling Center
These guidelines are provided to each office of the student affairs team at the beginning of the fall term:
I. REFERRAL GUIDELINES
Self-Referral
Students typically refer themselves to the Personal Counseling Center. Appointments are scheduled by telephone, e-mail, or a personal office visit. Students are seen for an appointment on the same day they request our services if that is needed.
Referral by Fellow Students, Faculty or Staff
Students sometime need encouragement and assistance in making a self-referral, and this can be provided by their friends, faculty, or staff. These concerned “others” may schedule an appointment on the student’s behalf with the student present. It may be helpful or even necessary to accompany the student to their appointment at the Personal Counseling Center to further demonstrate concern and support. If it is believed that the student’s situation is urgent enough to require immediate attention, it is imperative to state this to the secretary when contacting the PCC office.
Emergency Referral
If a therapist at the Personal Counseling Center has previously seen the student who is now in crisis, then that particular therapist should be contacted regardless of the time of day. If that particular therapist is not available, then the other staff therapist should be contacted. Obviously, the student only needs to be asked whether they have seen a therapist at the Personal Counseling Center in order to guide the decision about who should be called. If they have had no prior connection with this office, the director should be called. In the rare event that neither is available, Crisis Intervention should be contacted.
All referrals are managed by the Director of the Personal Counseling Center. This case management function ensures that our resources are allocated in the most efficient manner. Students should not be referred to any specific therapist on the staff.
Communication between counseling staff and faculty
· Provide consultation to faculty regarding students who are of a concern to them.
· Participate in regularly scheduled student affairs directors’ staff meetings, where the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee is present.
· Participate in orientation of new faculty to assure that they are aware of the Personal Counseling Center services and that they are considered to be an integral part of the referral process.
- Faculty department chairs are encouraged to invite the PCC Director to provide information and respond to questions during one of their meetings.
To increase awareness of the PCC, large format signs, printed in color, each promoting the availability of support groups (i.e. grieving support, depression, chemical dependency, gambling) are strategically posted around campus. These stand out from all of the other notices and advertising found throughout the campus.
Outreach programs designed to communicate services to students, faculty, and staff
- Please refer to the Range of Services Provided section of this document for items relating to outreach efforts. The following are additional items:
- Initiated and continue to monitor Pitt-Johnstown’s alcohol education program which is designed for students who violate the student Code of Conduct. The program is referred to as C.A.R.D. (Choices About Responsible Drinking).
- Developed and implemented a program entitled What’s It All About? Pitt-Johnstown students traveled to area schools and spoke to high school seniors about the college experience, what to expect, and answered students’ questions.
- Wrote, produced, and directed seven public service announcements about alcohol education. These PSAs were run on television for a year. Pitt-Johnstown students provided input for this project and were the actors in the productions.
Policy on parental involvement and notification
The Family Educational Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student educational records. It is incumbent upon the university not to disclose related information to anyone, including parents, unless the student consents to such disclosure.
Parents contact the PCC on occasion and request confidential information. During freshman orientation, they are provided with information about FERPA, and a very brief reminder about their student’s right to privacy. Parents may contact their student and inquire as to whether or not their student would sign a release of information form which grants the PCC permission to reveal otherwise confidential information.
FERPA does provide an exception for disclosure of otherwise confidential student information in a health or safety emergency. The student affairs team exercises due diligence with regard to determining the need (as in a crisis situation) to disclose confidential information, and will make every effort to obtain the student’s consent to do so. In a scenario in which the student affairs team determines that the student’s health or safety is endangered and the student will not consent to contacting his or her parents, such contact will be made.
Moreover, Section 952, Alcohol or Drug Possession Disclosure, Higher Education Act allows for parental notification in certain situations. The Act in pertinent part, states: “Nothing in this Act or the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall be construed to prohibit an institution of higher education from disclosing, to a parent or legal guardian of a student, information regarding any violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance, regardless of whether that information is contained in the student's education records, if--
(A) The student is under the age of 21; and
(B) The institution determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.”