Any student interested in engaging in UCC services or seeking support for the first time should utilize our Drop-In Services by visiting or calling the UCC at 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Students will be asked to first complete paperwork online before meeting with a clinician to discuss your unique needs and develop a personalized care plan. Students have the option of meeting with a clinician in-person or virtually.
- 24-Hour Crisis Response
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If you are in distress, please contact 412-648-7930 at any time to speak directly with a clinician.
For urgent mental health concerns or crises, please contact re:solve Crisis Network at 888-796-8226 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.
If you are in an emergency situation and immediate assistance is needed, please call 911.
- Drop-In Services
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Any student interested in services at UCC or requiring support for an urgent or crisis situation may visit or call the UCC at 412-648-7930 any time during drop-in hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm) to speak with a clinician. No appointment is necessary. Virtual options are available.
- Ask a Therapist
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Formerly known as Let's Talk, Ask a Therapist is a drop-in service that offers informal, confidential consultation with a clinician from the University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center. These are free for all enrolled University of Pittsburgh students. Students often use Ask a Therapist to get support with a specific problem and/or to learn more about services at the University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center. Consultations are typically 10-15 minutes long and are offered in-person or virtually.
Sign up for a consultation service
While Ask a Therapist clinicians are UCC staff members, it is not a substitute for traditional mental health counseling.
- Self-Enrolled Self-Help Tool
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Self-Enrolled Self-Help: Therapy Assistance Online
Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) Self-Help is a confidential online library of interactive educational materials and practice tools to help you better understand and manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.Learn more about Self-Help & Wellness Tools.
- Wellness Workshops
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The UCC provides a number of workshops throughout the academic year for interested students. Please visit our Events page for more information.
- Group Counseling
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Group counseling is an effective way to address issues common among college students. Groups are facilitated by clinicians and provide a safe environment to discuss problems with others who are dealing with similar concerns. A variety of groups are offered every semester to address the unique needs of our students.
The UCC is happy to offer a number of groups every semester. Please visit our Group Counseling page for additional information.
- Individual Counseling
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The UCC utilizes a short-term model for individual counseling. Duration and frequency of individual counseling is determined by student's unique needs.
If you are interested in engaging in individual counseling at the UCC, please utilize our Drop-In Services by visiting or calling the UCC at 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Virtual options are available.
- Care Coordination
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UCC Clinicians are available to assist students in connecting to on- and off-campus resources based on request or need. If you are interested in Care Coordination services, please utilize our Drop-In Services by visiting or calling the UCC at 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Virtual options are available.
- Couples & Relationship Counseling
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This service is available to individuals of all gender identities, sexual orientations and relationship orientations who are involved in an ongoing, committed relationship. All members must be an enrolled student at the University and currently registered for classes to be eligible for services.
If you are interested in Couples & Relationship counseling at the UCC, please utilize our Drop-In Services by visiting or calling the UCC at 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Virtual options are available.
- Gender Affirmation Support Services
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To some trans and gender non-conforming students, working with a clinician that shares one or more of their identities is key to promoting a sense of safety. When possible, we do our best to honor these requests.
To support students seeking medical transition, dedicated clinicians from the UCC collaborate with campus and community medical/physical health partners as the Gender Affirmation Team (GAT) to provide emotional and physical health care consistent with the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines.
If you are interested in Gender Affirmation Support Services at the UCC, please utilize our Drop-In Services by visiting or calling the UCC at 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Virtual options are available.
- Substance Use Services
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Individual and group therapy services are available for all interested students. If you are interested in Substance Use Services at the UCC, please utilize our Drop-In Services by visiting or calling the UCC at 412-648-7930, Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Virtual options are available.
- Outreach
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The University Counseling Center provides a wide range of outreach programs and services to support student well-being, including workshops, consultations, peer support spaces, outreach requests, and trainings. Learn more about UCC Outreach services.
- Psychiatry Services at Student Health Services
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Psychiatry services are offered to students through Student Health Services.
- Connecting with an Off-Campus Provider
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ThrivingCampus is an online directory for Pitt students to access a list of off-campus, licensed mental health clinicians, whom provide outpatient services for students. The website includes various guides and resources that assist students through the process of securing off-campus care. Visit ThrivingCampus and connect to an off-campus, outpatient provider.
You can also visit the Psychology Today directory of mental health providers in Pittsburgh.
- Higher Education & Assessment Response Team (HEART)
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The Division of Student Affairs has implemented the Pittsburgh Higher Education Assessment and Response Team (HEART) which provides an immediate response, initially with police, to welfare checks initiated by members of our university communities to support students in distress. Learn more about HEART.
- Togetherall Online Peer-to-Peer Support
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All Pitt students can access Togetherall, a free and anonymous peer-to-peer online community specifically for mental health and well-being concerns. Togetherall is available 24/7 and is monitored by trained clinicians.
Whether you’re feeling down, struggling to navigate stressors or just need a safe place to share your feelings, the Togetherall community can help you connect with others that have similar experiences and learn to better manage your mental health. Visit the Togetherall website to sign up. - Peer Support Communities
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The University Counseling Center hosts a variety of Peer Support Communities to provide a space for students to create new relationships, strengthen their support network at Pitt, and discuss common topics of concern with like-minded peers.
Scope of Services
UCC services are provided by a multidisciplinary staff of licensed mental health professionals including clinical social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, and advanced graduate trainees in various mental health disciplines. The UCC offers a variety of culturally responsive mental health services to a large and diverse student body utilizing a personalized care model.
The Personalized Care Model utilizes a multimodal approach to help students connect with available resources, supports and services that appropriately match their needs. This model strives to:
- Ensure access to care by providing a wide range of services & programs
- Build upon and utilize students’ strengths & resources
- Increase students’ resilience and overall wellness
Eligibility of Services
All students (undergraduate and graduate) enrolled at the University, registered for classes and having paid the Wellness Fee, are eligible for our services. Faculty and staff are eligible for consultation and outreach services only. Services are free for enrolled students. Please note: psychological assessment services are offered for a fee.
During the summer, University students not registered for classes during the summer term, but who were registered for classes the previous spring term and plan to register for classes for the fall term and who have paid the Summer Wellness Fee, are eligible for services. Please note that we do not accept referrals for court-mandated assessment or clinical services.
Common Presenting Concerns
Common presenting concerns at the UCC include:
- Mild to moderate anxiety and depression
- Adjustment and developmental concerns
- Interpersonal concerns (friends, family, roommates, romantic partnerships)
- Self-esteem concerns
- Concerns related to the transition to college
- Identity development related to various dimensions of identity (sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, gender, etc.)
- Acute concerns related to sexual violence/misconduct (i.e. sexual assault-rape, harassment, dating violence and stalking)
- Mild to moderate substance use concerns
- Academic, employment and career related concerns
Documentation Requests
We do not provide documentation to support a reduction in academic course load, academic accommodations, withdrawal from classes, or grade adjustments (e.g., I or G grades) to new clients. If you require such documentation, you are advised to obtain letters of support from mental health professionals or medical providers who have been involved directly in your mental health care for the relevant time period. We may provide documentation regarding your mental health only when you have been receiving on-going treatment at the UCC during the relevant time period.
We also do not provide documentation for Emotional Support Animals.