Student Care

Attending college is an exciting time of life-changing experiences. While it can be a time where some of the best memories are made, we also realize there are situations that can be difficult to navigate. Some of the symptoms students commonly experience include:

Life changes
Feeling homesick
Anxiety and stress
Relationship concerns
Struggles with self-esteem
Depression
Substance use
Problems with eating and body image
Grief and loss

Hours

Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm

Contact Us

602-639-7007
studentcare.gcu.edu
Student Affairs | Building 26, Second Floor

Campus Resources

Lopes Living Well
Health and Wellness Clinic
Student Disability Services
Residence Life
Spiritual Life
Reset Yoga & Mindfulness

Additional Resources

ULifeline.org: Self-help information with a Self e-Valuator (online assessment), drug database and mental health library.
Help Guide: General self-help organized by topic.
Psychology Topics and Help Center: Resources from the American Psychological Association.

Make an Appointment

For students under the age of 18, the Office of Student Care requires parental signatures on the Student Care Intake and Consent application. Parental signatures must be notarized and include the Notary Public’s Commission Number and Notary Public’s Official Seal.

The Office of Student Care is here to support students make the most of their GCU experience. Follow these simple steps to schedule an appointment in our office:

Step 1: Come to our offices in the Student Life building (Building 26, southeast corner of the second floor) to fill out paperwork. Or, click here to fill out your paperwork and bring it with you to make your first appointment.

Step 2: After your paperwork has been completed, a consultation will be scheduled with one of our providers to navigate which of our services best meet your needs.

Benefits of Student Care

The GCU Office of Student Care offers short-term, solution-focused counseling free of charge to traditional campus students.

Consultation:

Consultation appointments are offered on a first-come, first-served, same-day basis. Your visit is a 30-minute confidential conversation with a licensed professional counselor or graduate intern. During the appointment, the therapist will come to a better understanding of your concerns and how the GCU Office of Student Care may be of most help to you. At the end of this first appointment, a plan will be developed which best meets your needs, and may include individual counseling, group counseling or a referral to another professional in the Phoenix area.

Individual Counseling:

Your individual counseling session is a one-on-one conversation between you and a licensed professional counselor or qualified graduate intern that lasts 45 to 55 minutes. This conversation is confidential for the purpose of support, personal growth and skills to help you cope with life's difficulties.

Group Counseling:

Group counseling is a 45 to 55 minute meeting with peers to discuss common struggles. This group session is facilitated by a licensed professional counselor or qualified graduate intern to offer support and learn new ways of coping.

Referrals:

In certain situations, individuals may require services outside the scope of the Office of Student Care. In these cases a list will be provided of professionals in the Phoenix area.

Individual and Group Counseling Scope of Practice

A short-term counseling model has been incorporated in order to meet the needs of the student body on campus and is provided by licensed mental health professionals and supervised graduate student trainees. As a general rule of practice, students will be seen on a bi-weekly or monthly basis - the specific frequency is determined by the provider of services. Services will be initiated with an initial consultation session with a primary emphasis on group or individual counseling as warranted by the needs of the student. Psychoeducation material will be provided for those students with milder stress management and resiliency needs.

The Office of Student Care services include:

Crisis intervention, safety intervention and consultation
Assessing and/or providing counseling for such concerns as anxiety, depression, loneliness, identity issues, mild alcohol/drug abuse, eating concerns, stress management, relationship needs, family stress, loss, homesickness, collegiate transition and phase of life stressors, personal growth and development, spirituality and improving academic performance
Exploring career options for students who are ambivalent or need guidance with making the best choices for their lives which entails emotional support and guidance as opposed to aptitude assessment which is reserved for formal career counseling
Supporting students who are recovering from sudden traumatic events such as sexual assault, harassment, stalking and Title IX issues
Referred-based supports from Student Affairs or the Behavioral Intervention Team for issues including but not limited to, violations of the community standards, danger to self, danger to others and concerning or disruptive behaviors
Assessing and making appropriate referrals for students who need more intensive therapeutic services with resources in the outside community

Limits to Services:

Long-term counseling: The Office of Student Care does not provide services for chronic acute psychiatric needs that warrant intensive out-patient concerns and case management
Legal and health assessments: The Office of Student Care does not provide services for legal compulsory recommendations with a court of law or criminal probation issues. The Office of Student Care does not sanction service animals or disability concerns that need clearance for issues such as medications or surgical needs
Assessments for employment: The Office of Student Care does not provide assessment services such as suitability for employment for private or governmental bodies (CIA, FBI, military, etc.) or volunteer organizations (Peace Corps, etc.)
Substance abuse assessments: The Office of Student Care does not provide assessment services for substance abuse

To get the most out of a short-term, solution-focused model, students are encouraged to think about their goals and about how they would like to foster change to better their lives. Students are also encouraged to be willing to engage in the work of therapy. With the support of their provider, students will be assisted in completing their established goals for treatment, which may also entail that the student work on appropriate therapy assignments between sessions.

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Crisis Services

Get to Know Our Staff

Christine Pemberton, MA, LPC
Director

Christine has a deep love of relationships and values the times she spends with her family and friends. Christine is passionate about helping her clients achieve a stronger sense of self, reduce anxiety and develop healthy coping skills.

Kristan Farley, MA, LPC
Campus Therapist

Kristan is a pastor, teacher and counselor with a passion for the university population, serving at GCU since 2011. She specializes in helping students find tools to cope with stress, conflict, relationship concerns and the painful circumstances of life.

Lauren Dixon, MS, LAC
Campus Therapist

Lauren has great love for music, laughter and connecting with others on an authentic level. Lauren has had experience in the counseling field working with children, adolescents and adults and is passionate about coming alongside people in their journeys of growth and healing.

Mike Wallace, MA, LPC
Campus Therapist

Mike is a loving father of two children who loves sports, reading and working with people. He has a passion for learning new things. Mike is a firm believer in meeting clients where they are with their concerns by seeing the person first and their condition second. He has 22 years of counseling experience and has learned a lot from his clients.