Overview
The UT Student Counseling Center (SCC), a department within the Division of Student Life, is the university’s primary facility for personal counseling, psychotherapy, and community intervention. It provides direct service to students and to spouses or partners of students in conjoint therapy.
The Center is a pleasant place to work. Staff relations are friendly and informal. This informality is balanced by an atmosphere of serious professional concern for clients, for programs, and for trainees.
Commitment to Diversity
Our Commitment to Diversity: Each staff member is committed to providing assistance that is culturally-sensitive and affirming to our diverse clientele, which includes students of color, international students, LGBTQIA+ students, students of all gender identities and expressions, veterans, students with disabilities, and students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and with varying religious/spiritual beliefs.
Services
Staff members provide a variety of services for students, faculty and staff. Presenting problems range from mild situational stresses to acute psychiatric conditions and chronic dysfunctions.
Services available to students include drop-in consultation, psychological assessment, crisis intervention, psychiatry, and individual, couples and group therapy. The psychiatric clinical nurse specialist also teaches a weekly psychopharmacology seminar for interns. Student Health, Mental Health services and the Student Counseling Center are located in the same building. Services are provided on a time-limited basis except in case of emergency or urgent care approved through the Center’s Case Review Committee. Session limits do not apply to group therapy.
Referrals
Referrals are made to other agencies both on and off campus. The Center maintains close ties with Student Health Center (SHC). Center for Career Development has an extensive career library, computerized career exploration programs, and the computer administered Strong Interest Inventory. The Department of Psychology operates the Psychology Clinic, a training clinic on campus for the clinical psychology graduate students. Fees are based on a sliding scale. Psychotherapy services are available to students and non‑students; and children and couples are also seen there.
A protocol for helping distressed students was developed as a guide for staff and faculty in helping distressed or distressing students. The Case Management Team was formed and meets on a regular basis to assist students at risk. The team is co-chaired by the Student Counseling Center and the Center for Health, Education & Wellness. Members of the committee include representatives from Disability Services, Student Health Center, Student Conduct and Community Standards, UT Police Department and other key offices on campus.
Student Counseling Center Facility
The 109,242-square-foot facility houses the Student Health Center on the first floor and the Student Counseling Center, along with the psychiatric staff, on the second floor. The facility includes private offices for all senior staff members, interns and graduate assistants, a spacious reception and waiting room area, conference rooms, group rooms and much more. Each intern office is equipped with a personal computer, and a centralized video recording system.
Accreditation
The University of Tennessee Student Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) and is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). and the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA). The Internship Training Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Our next APA site visit is scheduled for 2025.