Free for All Current Students!
HOURS OF SERVICES

Monday: 9am-5pm
Tuesday: 9am-5pm
Wednesday: 9am-5pm
Thursday: 9am-5pm
Friday: 9am-5pm (closed weekends and holidays)

To schedule an appointment for individual or group therapy:

• Call (212) 854-2092 
• Email counseling@barnard.edu Please note: email for routine appointment only

For URGENT concerns: 9am - 5pm

Call (212) 854-2092 and indicate “urgent” for a same-day appointment.

After 5pm and on weekends or for Psychological Emergencies:

• Call the After-Hours Psychological Emergency Line at (212) 854-2092     OR
• Call the CARES Emergency Line at (212) 854-6666   OR
• Call 9-1-1 if not on campus or go to your nearest emergency room.

Short-term Individual Counseling

Important decisions and changes are part of college life for every student, and individual work with a counseling professional can provide a safe, confidential setting in which to explore your feelings and thoughts, examine your options, weigh alternatives, and move toward your own goals. Some students experience feelings or symptoms that interfere with their ability to succeed academically and personally, such as those related to depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.  In these instances, our counselors can help you to understand these symptoms, offer treatment options, which could include a referral to one of our staff psychiatrists for further evaluation. Read more about the counseling process.

The Furman Counseling Center operates according to a short-term therapy model. The average number of sessions used per year by the students who visit us is approximately 5.8.  However, you and your counselor may feel that you can benefit more from longer-term individual treatment, and if so, we can provide you with referrals to therapists outside Barnard. We have an extensive referral network, and we make every effort to find therapists who can meet the therapeutic and financial needs of our students.

Group Counseling

The first question that many students have is "Just what is group counseling, anyway?" The short answer is, group counseling is one of the forms of counseling that are offered at the Furman Counseling Center. That might sound obvious, but it is important to understand what is meant by that statement: the counseling work that happens in groups is just as meaningful and "real" as that which takes place in the individual counseling context.

In group counseling, students experiencing a common concern meet face-to-face with group therapists. During the group meeting time, members are responsible for talking about what is troubling them.  Discussion flows according to what members would like to talk about in general support groups. Group leaders may not always assign topics for the group to discuss. However, skills training groups are more structured with lectures, practices, and reflection.

Members are  encouraged to give support and feedback to others, and to work with the responses and associations that other members' contributions bring up for them.

Feedback involves expressing your own feelings and thoughts about what someone else says or does, or about what is happening in the group as a whole.  This kind of interaction between group members is encouraged, and provides each person with an opportunity to try out new ways of relating to herself and others. It also provides members with an opportunity for learning more about their own interpersonal styles.

Group work usually begins with a focus on the establishment of trust. Members work to establish a level of trust that allows them to talk personally and honestly. Group trust is enhanced when all members make a commitment to the group.

One of the things that makes the group therapy situation unique is that it is a closed and safe system. People who join groups must agree to keep the content of the group sessions confidential. What people talk about or disclose in groups remains strictly among the members of the group. It is not appropriate for a group member to disclose events of the group to an outside person.

Evaluation for Medication

Some students come to the Furman Counseling Center with symptoms that seriously interfere with their ability to work, study, relax, and/or socialize.  The student might experience herself as depressed or anxious; her symptoms might be physical or mood-related or both.  If your counselor believes that, in conjunction with your other concerns, you have symptoms that would respond well to medication, she/he owes it to you to suggest this.  This suggestion will be the beginning of a conversation between the two of you in which you can discuss your feelings about medication, and ask any questions that you might have.  If, together, you decide to consider how medication may be of help to you, your counselor can  refer you to one of the Counseling Center's psychiatrists for an evaluation.  These appointments can be made by referral only.

Your evaluation will consist of meetings with the psychiatrist where you will discuss the issues that brought you to the Counseling Center, as well as the symptoms that you are experiencing.   If your psychiatrist decides to prescribe medication, she/he will describe the expected course of treatment and the proper way to take your medication.  She/he will also address any concerns or questions that you have. Even if both your therapist and psychiatrist are recommending you start medications, you are free to decide not to, without compromising your treatment here in anyway. Students need to be comfortable with their threatment plan, including possible medication. 

At the Furman Counseling Center, we believe that the most effective way to use psychoactive medication is in combination with psychotherapy.  Accordingly, if your psychiatrist prescribes medication for you, you'll continue to meet with your individual counselor once a week, and will schedule follow-up visits with your psychiatrist at whatever intervals she/he thinks appropriate.  While  we can start students on medications, we can't provide coverage for the long term, so if you decide to begin or continue medications, we will assist you with a referral for a psychiatrist in the community.  

Some students are already following a course of treatment that includes medication when they come to Barnard.   If you are taking medication prescribed by a psychiatrist at home, and would like to work with a psychiatrist in Manhattan who can monitor your progress, we would be happy to provide you with a referral.

A counseling-related emergency refers to a situation in which imminent risk is posed to someone's life or safety. These situations could include suicidal risk, as well as a risk of physical danger from one person to another.

If an emergency occurs during office hours, call the Furman Counseling Center at 854-2092, or Health Services at 854-2091. Regular office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If an emergency arises after hours or on the weekends, telephone consultation is available by calling the After-hours Psychological Emergency Line at (212) 854-2092. If the counselor and you determine that immediate, in-person intervention is required, we utilize Mount Sinai/St.Luke's Hospital as our primary treatment resource. Mount Sinai/St. Luke's is located at the corner of 113th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, and the counselor will call ahead to St.Luke's to arrange assistance for you.

Other useful emergency contacts are:

• Primary Care Health Service Emergency Line (212) 854-2091
• CARES (212) 854-3362
• Mount Sinai St Luke's Hospital, Psychiatric Emergency Room (212) 523-3347
• Sexual Violence Response & Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center. Available 24/7,  (212) 854-HELP (4357)

Referrals for Therapy or Medication

Because we are a short-term clinic, students interested in long-term support or who are on medication, will need a referral into the community.  The Furman Counseling Center maintains an extensive referral network of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers – many of whom are providers for different insurance networks.  They offer a range of specialties, many different languages, and represent different cultures and identities.  It’s essential that a treatment provider really understand the complexities of intersectional identities our students experience. 

But, can I afford it?

We have clinicians who take many insurances, some who offer sliding scale fees, and a range of clinic options from free  to low fee services.  We are committed to everyone being able to get good care, regardless of their financial resources.  We work tirelessly to match students to providers that are right for them and affordable. 

Our therapists will write a mental health letter of support, when a "therapy letter" is needed from a mental health professional for transgender and gender expansive medical needs. However, please note that many medical services in NY do not require this, so check with your medical team beforehand.

Consultations to Students, Faculty, and Staff

• A residence hall floor where eating disorders is a concern
• A campus office that needs to work through a multicultural issue
• A peer-counseling group that would like communication skills training
• A group of faculty members who would like to discuss ways of reaching out to students in distress
• A student organization whose members are stressed out

What do they all have in common? They could all call us for back-up! In offering consultation services to the Barnard community, the Furman Counseling Center is offering to come to you -- your residence hall floor, your organization, your office, your club, your department.  Through our consultation work, our goal is a community whose members work better together and take better care of each other.

If you think that we might be able to collaborate with a group that you're part of, just give us a call at (212) 854-2092.

OUTREACH 

The Furman staff provides outreach services, including workshops and trainings, for students, staff, and faculty in the Barnard community. We also consult and collaborate with different student groups and campus resources to help promote and address wellness issues across campus. In all that we do, we aim to highlight the importance of psychological and socio-emotional wellness on success and well-being.

BIOFEEDBACK

Biofeedback is a technique that teaches you how to control your body's reaction to stress. When we are stressed our breathing and heart rate may become irregular and stress hormones are released. During biofeedback, you're connected to a sensor that helps you receive information (feedback) about your body (bio). This feedback helps you focus on making subtle changes to your breath and your thoughts to control your heart rate. This can help you achieve a feeling of calm and decrease the release of stress hormones. With practice, you will be able to change your breathing and heart rate anytime you find yourself anxious or stressed to help you relax immediately.

How do I know if Biofeedback could help me?

If you are currently seeing a counselor at Furman, tell them you are interested in learning more about biofeedback and together you will decide if this program would be beneficial for you. If you are not currently seeing a Furman clinician, just call the front desk at (212) 854-2092 and tell them you are interested in scheduling an appointment to learn more about the biofeedback program.

What are the steps for starting biofeedback training at Furman?

1. Schedule a 30 minutes Biofeedback Orientation with a Furman clinician. During this meeting you will discuss how biofeedback may be able to benefit you. You will get to see how the program works and have an opportunity to try it out! During the orientation session you can ask any questions you may have about biofeedback.

2. After you have completed your Biofeedback Orientation meeting you will receive a Biofeedback Lab Access Card. This card allows you to enter the biofeedback lab (located in the Furman Counseling Center 100 Hewitt Hall and Well Woman office in 119 Reid Hall) during Biofeedback Lab Hours to practice on your own.

3. To receive maximum benefits from biofeedback training you should expect to visit the lab at a minimum of 6-10 times, with each biofeedback session lasting approximately 20 minutes. In between sessions, you can practice the breathing technique that you learned during orientation. Also, no need to schedule time in the biofeedback lab. Just drop in anytime during the open hours below with your access card!

 Relaxation & Biofeedback Room Hours: Temporarily suspended

Barnard's Mental Health Coverage

The OPTIONAL Barnard Student Health Insurance Plan is effective on August 22nd, 2024 and terminates on August 21st, 2025. More information on this plan can be found here: 

Deductibles: $300 In-network non office visits, $500 for Out of network

Inpatient: 20% coinsurance in network 40% coinsurance out of network

Outpatient: Requires $40 co-pay for In-network not subject to deductible, out of network 30% coinsurance

For Alcohol Abuse & Chemical Dependency

Inpatient: 20% coinsurance per admssion after dedutible, 40% coinsurance per admission after deductible for out of network 

Outpatient office visits: Requires $40 co-pay for In-network not subject to deductible, 30% coinsurance after deductible if out of network. 

Opioid Treatmen program: In network covered in full. 30% coinsurance after deductible. 

USING YOUR AETNA STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE

FOR THERAPY/MEDICATION MANAGEMENT OUTSIDE BARNARD

• You need a referral from the Furman Counseling Center Staff recommending you to a therapist or psychiatrist in the community in order for the insurance to work. They will provide you with the treatment provider's information. They will also go on-line and register this referral with Aetna Student Health.
•  Most mental health practitioners prefer you to pay at time of service, and then submit to your insurance for reimbursement.  A few providers will agree to wait for the insurance payment.

IF YOU OPTED OUT OF THE STUDENT HEALTH AETNA PLAN

Here's some guidelines to help you find out your family/parent's insurance coverage.

N.B.  Getting your money back from the insurance company will take organization and persistence.  Make an “Insurance” file now to keep copies of all documentation.

• Call the number on your insurance card.  Ask them the following questions: 

A: Do I have outpatient mental health coverage? 

B:  What is the coverage for in-network providers[1]?

C:  What is the coverage for non preferred providers?

D:  What is the yearly maximum benefit ( # of visits/$ amount)?

E.   Is there a deductible (amount you pay before insurance kicks in)?

2. If you have mental health coverage, and want to use your in-network benefit, obtain a list of providers for NYC, and bring it to your next appointment. We will pass the list around our staff so they can identify people they recommend.

3. For most therapists or psychiatrists who are out-of-network, you will need to pay them each month, then apply for your reimbursement.

4. You need to send their bill and possibly a claim form to your family insurance.  (Check if they require a claim form which you may be able to get off the internet.) 

[1] “In-network providers” refers to therapists/psychiatrists who have contracted with your insurance company to work for a set hourly fee.  A co-pay is usually a set amount you pay per session.  Partial payment means that you will pay a certain percentage of that provider’s fee.  “Out-of-network providers” refers to people not under contract with your insurance.