By Beth Przybylski  

Are you a current student at the University of Louisville and ready to receive counseling services? If so, then look no further than the U of L Counseling Center. The center provides students with short-term counseling. Their goal is to promote a healthy campus environment that maximizes academic success and student retention

All enrolled undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students can utilize its services; it serves both the Belknap campus and the Health Sciences campus. The health fee in your tuition covers these services and therefore, there is no extra charge.  

Various services are offered, including individual, group, couples therapy, crisis intervention and outreach support.

The Director for the Counseling Center, Geetanjali Gulati, Psy.D., HSP, said they also provide psychological testing.

“This is an area that we are growing in rapidly because students are becoming aware of learning disorders and disabilities, accommodations, and the possibility of getting some assistance with those issues,” said Gulati. “For this testing, there is an additional cost separate from the health fee. The cost varies and is based on income.”

Call the counseling center during regular business hours for additional details.  

The university has significantly increased access to care recently, launching proactive programs and hiring more staff.

“I did receive an additional position due to the SGA agreeing to add that position. So, we have expanded our services. Currently, we have 17 total positions,” Gulati said. 

Students will see counseling services advertised around campus often. Some examples of these outreach events include being asked to set up a table at different events, being a part of a mental health panel and staff from the counseling center may come and speak to your class. 

Campus counseling initiates a lot of outreach. The “Mental Health and Wellness Week” occurs once every semester. This fall it will be Oct. 27-31, said Gulati.

Multiple events across both the Belknap and Health Sciences campuses will take place during this time.

Mark your calendars

A mental health fair will occur on Wednesday, Oct. 29. This is the center’s biggest event and their best way to reach students.

“Last year, for the spring semester it was attended by over a thousand people (students and staff),” she said. “That is because we have a lot of giveaways [and] mental health related activities so students can learn how to take care of themselves; aroma therapy, message therapy, puppies, poetry reading/writing, music, food will be provided, free t-shirts, and so on.”   

Finding support

There are groups for graduates, those with anxiety and depression and an art therapy group. Artistic skills are not needed to attend, it is more like an interpersonal process group.  

There are walk-in hours when the University is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Counselors are available in-person and online via telehealth. 

The center has contracted with a company to answer the main telephone number after hours. This after-hours crisis line is answered by licensed clinicians. When calling this line, students press option #2, the phone is answered on evenings, weekends, holidays and during workdays it is answered by employees on site.

Gulati reiterated that accessibility is not an issue.

“There is a lot of talk and rumors that the counseling center currently is on waitlist, and students cannot get an appointment,” Gulati said. “I want to say that is not true because we have additional staff and student trainees and we have plenty of spots available. Students, just reach out by calling us.”

Campus Counseling Contact Information:  

For Belknap and Health Sciences campuses call (502)852-6585 (available 24/7).

Photo courtesy / Dr. Geetanjali Gulati, director of U of L Counseling Center