Office of Student Care
The Grand Canyon University Office of Student Care offers short-term, solution-focused individual, group and crisis counseling to full-time, on-campus students.* Counseling is a professional relationship that helps you clarify issues, discover your true thoughts and feelings and deal effectively with problems. We offer support for students as they enhance their strengths, develop, grow and learn in their personal and academic lives.
Due to the current restrictions related to COVID-19, virtual counseling sessions will be utilized. We would love to support you in your journey. If you need assistance or need to speak with a counselor, call 602-639-7007 or email [email protected].
Our Mission
The mission of the Office of Student Care is to provide quality professional care in an environment that recognizes the inherent value and dignity of each person.
Our Vision
- We demonstrate relational equity with our student population through embracing inclusivity.
- We demonstrate relational equity through investing in the community.
- We demonstrate relational equity through thinking holistically.
*At this time, we are unable to provide counseling services for online and part-time students.
Hours
Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm
Contact Us
602-639-7007
[email protected]
Student Affairs | Building 26, 2nd Floor
Additional Resources
We do recognize that several of our students will need longer term or a more specialized type of care and we have a strong network of community providers to offer. See the list of referrals below.
- BetterHelp: E-counseling platform.
- Talkspace: Connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere.
- Psychology Today: Explore articles on essential topics.
- 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.
The Office of Student Care is here to support full-time, on-campus students as they make the most of their GCU experience. Follow these simple steps to schedule an appointment in our office.
Step 1:
If you are ready to make an appointment you can stop by our office located in the Student Life Building 26 (southeast corner of the second floor) to fill out paperwork. For your convenience, the required forms are linked below if you would like to complete them prior to coming into the office.
The GCU Office of Student Care offers short-term, solution-focused counseling free of charge to full-time, on-campus students.
Consultation:
The first appointment will be a consultation and these appointments are available daily on a first-come, first-served basis. This 30-minute confidential conversation will be with a licensed professional counselor. 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.
After your consultation, potential future appointments may look like the following. Individual and group counseling session are detailed below.
Individual Counseling:
Your individual counseling session is a one-on-one conversation between you and a licensed professional counselor 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 begin 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 4
- 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
- Counseling for online and part-time students:
The Office of Student Care does not currently provide counseling services for online and part-time students. Students must be enrolled as full-time, on-campus students to qualify for counseling 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.
There may be times when you need immediate help. Suicidal thoughts and actions are common among young adults. While not all suicidal thoughts lead to action, these symptoms should be taken seriously and addressed quickly. If you or a friend is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please use the following crisis resources:
- If you believe you are facing an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911 or Public Safety at 602-639-8100.
- If you are experiencing a crisis that is not immediately life-threatening, come to the Office of Student Care and request to see a crisis therapist.
- Crisis therapists are available Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.
- Outside of these hours, please call Public Safety at 602-639-8100.
- If you would like to utilize community resources, call the La Frontera Empact Crisis Line at 480-784-1500 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255.
- EMPACT - Suicide Prevention Line: 480-736-4950
- Public Safety and these community crisis resources are available to you 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
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.
Lauren is a lifelong learner who has a great love for the college population and has been serving the Student Care department since 2016. Lauren values connecting with others on an authentic level and utilizing healthy connection as a conduit for healing, growth and transformation. Lauren teaches yoga and mindfulness classes on campus and enjoys integrating these practices into therapeutic work.
Kristin’s passion is to provide hope and healing to her clients through the counseling relationship. She loves helping students build healthy coping and communication strategies to better manage distressing emotions and improve their connection with self and others.
Nicholas has a heart for both helping students heal and find deeper meaning in their stories. His curiosity, empathy and intelligence help him create a safe space for students to feel known. Nicholas is passionate about travel, reading and culture. Nicholas is also bilingual in Spanish, which lends him a great ability to meet Spanish-speaking students where they are.
Tanner enjoys adventure, competition and reading. Tanner loves engaging with people in a deep and meaningful way. Tanner is passionate about helping others grow, maximize their potential and heal from brokenness.
Kiesha is a firm believer in the power of relationships and connection as a pathway for increased growth, healing and insight. By providing meaningful support and approaching her students with compassion, Kiesha’s goal is to instill hope and peace in her client’s lives. Kiesha is curious about listening to the stories of those around her, finding herself in interesting places, and cultivating creativity in her life.
Bryttney enjoys being active, exploring new ways to be creative and trying new foods. Bryttney offers a safe space for uncensored openness. She helps connect clients with mind, body and spirit in order to “come home to your wholeness.” She also empowers her clients to be authentic in relationships through establishing healthy boundaries.
Kristan has been at GCU since 2011. She loves to see people find their innate value and worth, know they are deeply loved and discover how to live in loving and healthy relationship with others. She is full of hope that we can work through pain to find healing and growth.
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.
Caitlin has always had a love for people and a great appreciation for connecting with others authentically. Caitlin has particular interest and specialty in body-oriented therapies, healing from trauma and helping others affirm their value. She loves being in nature, making pottery/ceramics, practicing yoga and going on new adventures.
Nate is a believer in the restorative nature of authentic human connection. He values being present with others and is inspired by the strength and resilience of his clients. Nate is well-traveled and enjoys photography, sports and studying theology, history and psychology.
Krista is passionate about walking with people through life’s many seasons of challenges, pain, growth and healing. Krista believes the powers of human connection, vulnerability and work are a powerful force of growth in people’s lives. She desires to help others find their passions and purpose.
Ellie is from the Pacific Northwest and is a GCU alumna. She believes that relationships can be grounds for great healing, so her work with clients is focused on compassion and connection. Ellie also uses her experience as a yoga instructor to lead mindfulness-based yoga classes.
Mickele’s primary role as Student Care’s Administrative Assistant is to welcome new and returning students while assisting them with their scheduling needs. She enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors. Mickele has proudly worked at Grand Canyon University since 2018.