Eligibility for Services
Privacy and Confidentiality
Your Responsiblity
Consultation and Outreach
Eligibility for Services
If you are a currently enrolled NMSU main campus student registered for more than 6 credit hours during a regular semester, you are eligible for all services. This includes individual sessions, group participation, and full use of the Career Center services. There are no fees charged to eligible students. Students taking a majority of credits from the Dona Ana Branch are provided services through its Counseling Center.
If you are a currently enrolled NMSU student registered for 9 or more hours in any given semester on the main campus, you are eligble for all Counseling Center services. If you are enrolled less than nine credits on main campus you are eligible for up to five (5) sessions as well as group, and career servives. Less than six (6) credits, you are eligible for up to three sessions, and career and group services.
There are also limits to the total amounts of services that can be received by any one individual while they're a student at NMSU. Additional sessions may be requested for extenuating circumstances.
If you have further questions please ask the front office, your counselor, or the Director of Counseling and Student Development.
Privacy and Confidentiality
The state of New Mexico legally recognizes that communication between a counselor and his/her client is privileged and confidential. We will not disclose your contacts with us to your spouse, your parents, professors, or anyone else. There are few narrow exceptions; if you are in imminent danger to yourself or are a significant danger to someone else, we have an obligation to break confidentiality to protect you or others. You records can also be subpoenaed in instances such as your claiming emotional damages in a lawsuit. If you are abusing children or vulnerable adults or inform us concerning someone who is then we have a legal responsibility to report this to the proper authorities. Such a report could potentially lead to disclosure of your being a client and require testimony concerning the suspected abuse. If, as part of an employment process or security screening you sign a release of records form, we will ask that you sign our own form to ensure that you are freely and knowingly releasing a brief summary of your contact with us. We also reserve the right to consult with your treating physician at the NMSU Student Health center when professionally appropriate.
Your Responsibility
Please notify us 24 hours in advance when canceling appointments. Missed appointments will be counted against your annual allotment. Two consecutively missed appointments may result in the closing of your file, and future requests for services will require the approval of your counselor or the Director of Counseling and Student Development, and a monetary deposit.
For counseling services to be helpful, we need your compliance with agreed-upon treatment plans. Should you choose not to do so, we reserve the right to discontinue services. If you believe that our services are not meeting your needs, please discuss this with your counselor or the Director of Counseling and Student Development. If you would prefer a different counselor please inform your current counselor or the receptionist.
Consultation and Outreach
Our professional staff members are trained to assist with the development of positive group functioning as well as problem resolution within groups. A special program of structured activities can be designed to help foster cohesion and positive communication or to help resolve internal conflict. The Counseling Center attempts to meet the emotional and mental health needs of the campus community by reaching out to those who may not seek counseling services. Our outreach activities range from educational to clinical. Some examples are: Stress Management Communication Skills Career Planning Dealing with Diversity Bereavement/Grief Human Sexuality