Short-term individual counseling services at the CWC are based on the individual needs of students and availability of services. The CWC defines short-term counseling as a maximum of 12 sessions, but you and your counselor will evaluate whether you would need to use all of those sessions or less, based on your concern. To learn about receiving this service, you will participate in a 20-30 minute consultation meeting.

The CWC’s counselors are here to listen to you, help you explore your thoughts and feelings, and assist you in developing the skills and perspectives you desire.

On this page you'll find information about the CWC's approach to individual counseling services, as well as tips to get the most out of your time as a CWC client.

About Short-Term Individual Counseling

In short-term individual counseling, you meet either via Zoom or in-person with a CWC provider, focusing on specific, manageable goals. For example, learning coping skills for times of uncertainty, developing self-help strategies for anxiety, or determining academic priorities while living at home. We recommend you think about some specific, manageable goals prior to starting individual counseling. All sessions conducted via Zoom are in a private and secure setting. Follow this link to learn about using Zoom at UF.

UF students residing out-of-state can call the CWC at 352-392-1575 and receive specialized help locating counselors in your area from our Case Management Team.

Students can also identify off-campus resources through the ThrivingCampus database available to all UF students.

Frequency & Attendance

You and your counselor will work together to determine how many individual counseling sessions would be appropriate for you based on your needs and the CWC’s resources. Typically, a plan is outlined at the start of your counseling and is reassessed and adjusted as counseling unfolds. We provide short-term individual counseling but can also help you connect to longer-term counseling, either through our group counseling program or a referral to counselors in the community.

Assessment & Goals

These are your goals for individual counseling—what you want to address or accomplish through counseling.

Your counselor will collaborate with you to establish these goals and will talk honestly with you about what is realistic to tackle in short-term individual counseling. Identifying goals helps you be intentional about what's most important to address. Topics may include significant events, personal challenges, changes in your feelings or behaviors, or progress you have made.

Much of the growth that happens during individual counseling actually occurs between sessions.

During this time you’ll have an opportunity to apply what you have been working on, practice new ways of coping, and try out new strategies you’ve discussed with your counselor. Your counselor may ask you to complete a specific task and bring the results to the next session, practice a new skill, or reflect on a topic between sessions.

Addressing Culture & Identity

To make sure your counseling sessions are effective, we need to understand your personal experience.

Whether we are conscious of it or not, identities and cultures—both our own and others’—impact our lives. We encourage open discussion about how cultures and identities influence your experiences in and out of counseling sessions. We also understand that counselors and students may come from similar or different backgrounds, and we use this awareness to help address any impact that these backgrounds can have on the counseling process.

Providing Feedback to Your Counselor

We encourage you to regularly provide feedback to your counselor about what is and isn’t working for you in individual counseling.

We recognize that it may be difficult to give feedback when something isn’t working. CWC counselors strive to be aware of interpersonal dynamics in counseling relationships, and we are very open to your feedback. This feedback serves as a valuable opportunity to learn alongside you and better support you in achieving your goals.

Ending Counseling

Progress toward your goals is an ongoing conversation and process. Part of this process is determining when to end or take a break from counseling.

This does not necessarily mean that you have met all your goals, and growth and challenges continue when counseling ends. If you feel ready to stop or take a break from counseling, please let us know. Talking directly about ending counseling can be a valuable opportunity to discuss strategies for maintaining progress.

Your counselor may also suggest (based on assessment of progress towards your established goals), that you take a break from individual counseling, try group counseling or workshops, or see an off-campus counselor who might better fit your needs. Off-campus counselors can provide longer-term individual counseling and often have greater flexibility in scheduling.

Crisis Support is available 24/7.
Call us at 352-392-1575 for a Crisis Consultation.

MORE ABOUT CRISIS SUPPORT

Short-Term Individual Counseling

TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OUT OF Short-Term Individual COUNSELING