Student Counseling Services (SCS) is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Services Building.
We are open from 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday Fall/Spring Semesters.
We are closed on all university holidays but are typically open during breaks and summer 7:30AM-4PM.
To get started with counseling or other SCS services, please call 515-294-5056 during SCS business hours to schedule an initial appointment. Prior to the initial appointment you will complete paperwork. During the initial appointment you will met briefly with a counselor to to get connected to the services that best meet your needs.
What to Expect During Your Initial Meeting
During your initial appointment you will meet with a counselor for 20-25 minutes. We will ask you questions about your current situation and safety. Please understand that the initial appointment is a brief meeting and is not a therapy session. The purpose is for us to understand your needs, so that we can refer you to appropriate resources such as groups and/or workshops, brief therapy here, or referral to an outside counseling agency. Because of the brief nature of the meeting, the counselor will focus on your most urgent concerns.
Student Counseling Services (SCS) is committed to offering students the best possible service and will discuss those options that we believe will best meet your needs. Thank you!
NOTE:
Student Counseling Services provides a variety of resources and services to support student mental health needs. Demand for services varies at different times throughout the year and we currently have a wait for individual counseling. In the meantime, consider trying out one of these great resources available to all ISU students:
- Therapy Assistance Online (TAO): A free, confidential self-help tool to help navigate mental wellbeing. Brief, interactive sessions help you gain self-awareness to achieve your wellness goals.
- Biofeedback: A program that helps you observe the body’s stress reactions and learn to change the response to help with greater relaxation, focus, and healthier coping strategies
- SCS YouTube Videos: SCS staff have created videos on a variety of topics including mindfulness, relaxation, grief, managing emotions, and self-compassion.
Telehealth Options: If you are interested in accessing more immediate individual counseling support, there are many different companies that provide telehealth services that may be a good fit for your needs. Click here to learn more.
Crisis Information: If you are in crisis, click here for additional resources.