The Counseling Office is dedicated to providing support and programs to help students achieve their full potential across all aspects of college life. It offers confidential short-term individual or group counseling for personal, academic, or adjustment issues, and features student wellness programming that addresses physical, social, emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and environmental wellness.
The office operates from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, contact the student wellness office manager at ext. 2157 from any campus phone or by texting the health text line at 417-765-0343. Please specify if your needs are urgent for immediate assistance. For crisis intervention outside office hours or on weekends, reach out to an R.A., the hall director on duty, or a member of PEP via the emergency on-call number. The Counseling Office is located in the Student Wellness Center at the corner of Austin and Tower Streets, west of Robertson Hall.
Counseling Services Confidentiality
Counseling Services maintains records separately from general Health Services and adheres to professional and ethical standards of confidentiality applicable to licensed counseling professionals.
Information shared in counseling sessions is not disclosed to other College offices, including Athletics, except:
- With the student’s written consent
- When required by law
- When there is a significant concern for the safety of the student or others
Peer Empowerment Program (PEP)
Peer Empowerment Program (PEP) members, known as peer listeners, include sophomore, junior, or senior students who have been selected and trained to listen to fellow students. PEP members receive extensive training prior to the beginning of the academic year from the director of health and counseling services. Members are trained in issues including communication, conflict resolution, mental health issues, stress management, crisis intervention, referrals, diversity, and wellness programming. Peer listeners are available to offer free, confidential support for residential or commuter students.