Student Support and Services


UNIVERSITY COUNSELING CENTER (UCC)

The University Counseling Center (UCC) offers as broad a range as possible of several key student focused, short term, episodic services such as counseling, assessment, consultation, and outreach (f2f and virtual). Our mission is to work to empower college students as capable adults for their own well-being, to maturely choose how, when, what, and even if to address certain behaviors that may negatively impact their academic performance and quality of life. Our services are designed to support students as they adjust to notable challenges and transitions as well as to help faculty, administration, and staff function more effectively in their work with all UHV students. Through our endeavors we support the educational mission of the University of Houston-Victoria and facilitate mutual respect and understanding among people of diverse backgrounds.

Currently enrolled UHV students in Victoria and at the University of Houston Sugar Land (UHSSL) and University of Houston System Cinco Ranch (UHSCR) can use counseling center services on each or any of these campuses. Please see www.uhv.edu/counselingcenter to make an appointment and learn more. The Director of Counseling is available for ensuring student service needs as well as assisting faculty, staff, and administration
with referral and other consultation needs on each of
these campuses.

Non-Crisis & Crisis Referrals to the UHV
Counseling Center

Referrals for consultation, assessment, and counseling services are made in several ways. In order of frequency, these typically are:

  • Student referrals of self and peers,
  • Faculty, staff, and administrator referrals of students,
  • In certain circumstances, mandated referrals for assessment or even counseling in rare circumstances may be initiated by the Director of Student Life & Services or their designee for any/all UHV students and/or any Head Coach according to UHV and/or team policy. A head coach can only mandate a student athlete on his/her NAIA team or squad.
  • Caveat: No one may mandate a victim of sexual assault, stalking, dating/domestic violence for treatment or psychological assessment against his/her will.

Non-Crisis Student Referrals of Self or Peers

Non-crisis referral is the most common source of those seen in university counseling centers throughout most of the world. Theses referrals often happen when…

  • The student and/or those around her/him notice distinct changes in her/his behavior, memory, ability to focus or concentrate, and/or unwanted strong emotional reactions that interfere with day-to-day functioning at UHV. These often include notable depressive symptoms; excessive worry; anxiety; as well as family or other significant relationship problems on top of significant stress from college and/or work.
  • You feel or notice disruptive changes in yourself or your friend’s hygiene or mood.
  • Continuously repeated requests for special treatment; consideration, or second chances in love, school, and/or work are asked for by you or those around you.
  • Caveat #1: Again, it is not uncommon to feel and think there is a major crisis underway when in fact the problem may be at a pre-crisis level or vice versa.
  • Caveat #2: Unsurprisingly, early versus delayed actions yield the very best outcomes(!).
  • Caveat #3: However, please note that in any non mandated referral, unless a waiver of release is signed, no third party notification of referral outcome or results can or should be expected, according to law and professional ethics.
  • Student Mental Health (MH) Crisis Referrals of Self or Peers

True major mental health crises or emergency referrals by students also happen. Students should find help on/off campus when:

  • S/he/they become aware of gross disorganization, confusion, extremely erratic and potentially dangerous behavior that is expected to happen, is in progress, or has just happened.
  • Contacting campus security or local police is the first *best* step in an emergency referral. Campus security will notify the Associate VP of Student Affairs, the Director of Student Life & Services, and/or the Director of the University Counseling, and/or other emergency responders or units, as necessary.
  • University Counseling Center stands ready to assist those affected by the a friend or family member’s mental health emergency through both community outreach and clinical follow ups.

MH Consultations or Student Referrals by Faculty, Staff, and Administrators

All UHV faculty, staff, and/or administration may seek free consultation with the Director of the University Counseling Center regarding short term, episodic student mental health concerns.

Consultees making a student referral to UCC are instructed on how to best make a referral according to urgency of the case. See UHV powerpoint: How to Recognize and Assist Disruptive or Disturbing Student Behaviors. This may include, but is not limited to, 1) asking the student to come to the center to make an appointment, 2) calling the center from your office phone with student consent and letting the student make an appointment for him/herself, or 3) in serious conditions, with student consent, walking with the student to the center to support her/him in making an appointment.

Often, when a student in distress does not self refer, nor is referred by her/his peers, faculty, staff, administration, and others in the community or student’s life often become involved in getting and making a “good referral,” that “sticks” and results in the student reporting for and receiving the appropriate help on either and/or off campus, as needed.

Note #1: Referrals for services for students are always most successful when and where an appropriate professional relationship exist.

Note #2: Due to Texas Health & Safety Code 611, referrals received from any source *without* a signed student waiver *cannot be discussed* with the individual making the referral, unless s/he is law enforcement or a health professional, and the student is in imminent harm or danger, as defined therein.

Mandated Referrals by the Student Affairs Executive, or Head Coach (For Athletes on Her/His Team)

Uncommonly, a student may be referred by the Director of Student Life & Services regarding his/her willingness or ability to perform adequately and/or conduct themselves appropriately as a university student. Also: Head coaches of a recognized athletic team at UHV may independently choose to mandate her/his team members for assessment, or in rare cases treatment, for serious or repeated team rule violations.

The UCC is a neutral party and carries no disciplinary or administrative role in a mandated referral. According to UHV policy, only the above or her/his designees can order a mandated assessment or mandated treatment, any/all others cannot, should not, and will not be recognized.

Students in all mandated assessment and/treatment cases will be advised by the UCC Director or staff when it is in the student’s best interest to sign a waiver of release between the Counseling Center, the Student Affairs executive, and/or the Head Coach of her/his sport. Notwithstanding, students may choose to do so or not at will.

A student so referred will also be informed that s/he/they may opt not to sign a waiver or attend as required; however, it should be noted that this decision could negatively impact the student’s matriculation, scholarship, etc by those referring.

  • Caveat: No one may mandate a victim of sexual assault, stalking, dating/domestic violence for treatment or psychological assessment against his/her will.

Miscellaneous ADA/504 Caveat re: Mandated Assessments/Treatment

ADA/504 requires that all students with or without a documented disability on file with Disability Services meet all university student code of conduct. No visible or invisible condition releases any student from full compliance with the UHV Student Code of Conduct; and/or established Team Rules, if the student is an athlete.