Importance of Counseling and Wellness:

For loved ones who have a diagnosed mental health condition, attending counseling has been shown to promote stability, quality of life, and overall well-being. Counseling can help build resiliency to cope with life’s many stressors. For school-aged children and young adults, mental health goes hand in hand with learning. When students are feeling anxious, depressed, or in distress, they often struggle to focus and engage in their schoolwork and homework. The impact of promoting mental health can also be seen in regards to having greater ease in making friends and maintaining relationships.

For children and young adults who do not have a diagnosed mental health condition, counseling can still be a helpful part of one's routine. Working with a counselor provides children and young adults with access and dedicated time to working with a supportive person who can help process life's ongoing stressors and changes.   Having this additional support person can also reduce the stress that a parent or sibling feels if they are typically in the role of “therapist” to their loved one. Learning about coping skills and strategies is a part of what’s worked on in therapy, and these skills can be used over the life course.

Link to local wellness and counseling resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kVu49WCUwa-0wbDSCoUx1rXdVJkZtyUe3IXM3sr8aSo/edit

There are also referral lines that can be helpful when you want to find a therapist with a particular specialty, in a specific location, or who accepts an insurance that other practices may not accept. When you call, you will speak with a resource and referral counselor and you will be asked to complete a confidential intake. You will be asked for some basic contact information, information about yourself or your child, your insurance information, your or your child’s availability to meet with someone, and general information about what you are concerned about. The length of time to complete the intake varies but should take about 15-20 minutes.

 Popular referral lines include:

William James Referral Line (Phone)
888-244-6843 (toll free) Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Social Work Therapy Referral Services (Phone)
617-720-2828, 800-242-9794

Psychologist Referral Service (Online)
https://locator.apa.org

Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Recovery Education (https://cpr.bu.edu/living-well/services/health)
The Recovery Education Program at Boston University's Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation is an adult education program that offers students the opportunity to choose a range of wellness courses support their rehabilitation and recovery efforts. This program is designed to strengthen and broaden the student’s knowledge of the physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual practices that will enhance their readiness for personal change and role recovery.