Our Philosophy

The college years are a time of transition and growth for students, which is both exciting and demanding.  The Counseling staff at Saint Michael’s College are here to assist current full-time, undergraduate students in their development.

We are committed to witnessing and honoring the identities and experiences of our diverse student population.

Our work with students includes:

  • active, non-judgmental listening
  • clarification of presenting problems or concerns
  • emotional and psychological support
  • challenging harmful and self-defeating behaviors
  • encouraging cognitive understanding and self-compassion
  • providing information and guidance
  • working on a healthy resolution of the situation
  • noticing and enhancing student strengths
  • developing self-esteem, self-confidence and identity
  • forming healthy, mutually enhancing relationships
  • integrating past influences with present development and identity
  • developing mature adult relationships with family and friends
  • learning about and respecting self and others
  • making important decisions about life beyond college

We are goal-focused and collaborative in our approach to our work with students.  We aim to help students improve their lives by focusing on the changes they want to make.  We hope to provide immediate, meaningful care focused on what your needs are right from the very first session, and we have a range of follow up options available for you to choose based on your unique situation.

We strive to provide as many clinical services to our current full-time undergraduate students as possible.  Because we have a limited number of clinical hours available  and there are some needs that are beyond our scope of practice, we cannot provide counseling services for the following populations or situations:

  • Alumnae/i,
  • Students studying away from the College (international or domestic exchange),
  • Graduate students – we do make an exception for international graduate students who may not be able to access services off campus,
  • Clinical services to staff or faculty;
  • Long-term counseling;
  • Specialty care for specific disorders like eating disorders, OCD, etc;
  • Intensive substance abuse treatment;
  • Intensive outpatient treatment;
  • Testing for learning disabilities and/or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
  • Assessment and documentation for service or emotional support animals;
  • Forensic evaluations;
  • Neuropsychological evaluations;
  • Court ordered treatment, treatment that is the stipulation of probation, and mandated treatment;
  • Evaluations for attorneys or courts related to difficulties such as alcohol infractions (e.g., driving under the influence) or other domestic matters such as parents seeking custodial authority of a student;
  • Services to students who are not medically stable or require intensive medical treatment.
  • Mediation for on campus proceedings

Although we do not provide these services, you can either meet with one of us to help connect you to an off-campus provider, or you can go to: smcvt.thrivingcampus.com