Psychiatric Counseling for Students
The Psychiatric Counseling Service for Students, directed by Heather Goodman, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, provides confidential, free counseling for students, spouses, significant others, or couples. Students and spouses interested in obtaining counseling may call Dr. Goodman's office at 713-798-4881. An appointment will be made to see her or another BCM faculty psychiatrist, or other professional, usually within two or three days. The telephone line has a 24-hour answering service. Through the service, consultation, counseling (including marital counseling), crisis intervention or psychotherapy up to 12 sessions are provided free of charge.
Information given to the counselor will be treated as confidential. It will not be available to the administration, faculty, or any committee of the College. With the permission of or at the request of the student, limited information may be given. No claim will be made against medical insurance.
The counselor will not participate in any academic decision concerning students. If a psychiatric evaluation is requested by the school administration to aid in decisions concerning admission, leave of absence, disciplinary issues, etc., such matters will be referred to psychiatrists who do not serve as counselors.
In the event of a psychiatric emergency or when a faculty psychiatrist cannot be reached immediately, a student may go directly to The Methodist Hospital or Ben Taub General Hospital emergency rooms.
For extended treatment of psychiatric problems requiring hospitalization, a student may be referred to other specialists in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences or to one in the community. For psychiatric treatment in these instances, there will be fees which will come under the provisions of the student's health insurance policy and the student's own resources. One option among these is the Baylor Psychiatry Clinic, where a student or spouse can be seen for ongoing psychotherapy by a Psychiatrist resident at the clinic's minimum fee. In addition, if a student needs ongoing psychotherapy in order to remain enrolled and cannot afford to pay for it, Baylor will pay for the treatment-which will be provided by a voluntary faculty psychiatrist as often as once a week for up to one year. This will be available only to a few students at a time and will be determined on the basis of financial need.