UMKC Counseling Services provides a wide range of psychological services including counseling, psychological assessment and crisis intervention.

Psychological counseling or therapy is a process where one can identify, manage and even reduce emotional concerns and symptoms.  This is accomplished through the assistance of mental health professionals in either a group, individual or relationship counseling setting or even through a workshop.   Counseling is confidential and quite effective.

We provide counseling, psychological assessment, crisis intervention, drug and alcohol prevention, consultation and referrals, as well as several outreach and prevention endeavors targeting a wide range of mental health concerns.  We serve enrolled students at UMKC.

How do I begin?

You must be a current UMKC student and reside in the states of Kansas or Missouri. Call UMKC Counseling Services at 816-235-1635 to schedule an Initial Consultation appointment with one of our mental health professionals.

  • We ask that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled Initial Consultation appointment in order to complete required paperwork in advance.
  • You will meet with a mental health professional for approximately 25 to 30 minutes to discuss what has brought you to counseling and to determine what may be most helpful as you move forward.
  • During the Initial Consultation appointment, the counselor may ask questions that do not seem directly related to your initial concern. Your answers to these questions provide important information that helps your counselor to get the “big picture” of how you are doing.

The counselor who meets with you for your Initial Consultation appointment may recommend joining one of our groups or a workshop series, participating in individual or relationship counseling or connecting with campus and community resources. If you pursue the recommended services here at our agency, you may or may not be matched with the mental health professional you spoke with during your Initial Consultation appointment.

What will happen in counseling?

  • Your counselor will assist you with understanding your concern, clarifying treatment options and determining what will be most helpful to you as you move forward.
  • Counselors can help you express thoughts and feelings, while also pointing out a different perspective you may not have considered.
  • They may provide information or suggestions, but generally, they do not give direct advice or try to make decisions for you.
  • Your counselor can assist you in defining appropriate goals.

The amount of effort you put into the counseling process will directly impact your level of satisfaction and success with the counseling process.

Service Limitations

UMKC Counseling Services may refuse or limit treatment, including assessment services, due to any of the following reasons:

Limitations
  • Individuals who demonstrate a serious lack of motivation or engagement in treatment, as evidenced by poor attendance to appointments, lack of follow-through on recommendations or who are unwilling to address the disorder in question
  • Individuals who are already receiving counseling services from another provider and do not end that treatment
  • Individuals who are seeking counseling as a requirement of a class and who are not otherwise
    motivated for or are in need of treatment
  • Individuals who need more intensive or extensive treatment than can be provided at Counseling Services (e.g. multiple weekly appointments, uninterrupted long-term care, and/or frequent between session supports).
  • Individuals with a history of longstanding, seriously maladaptive interpersonal behaviors that result in severe relationship problems which hinder effective work in session
  • Individuals with a recent history of numerous suicide attempts, severe self-injury or multiple
    psychiatric hospitalizations
  • Individuals with significant or chronic disordered eating symptoms which require intensive outpatient or residential treatment and whose symptoms pose medical danger
  • Individuals with significant or chronic substance use which requires intensive outpatient or residential treatment, detox, or hospitalization or whose symptoms pose medical danger
  • Individuals whose needs fall outside the clinical expertise of the Counseling Services staff
  • Individuals with active psychotic symptoms at risk for progressive deterioration of functioning and in need of intensive treatment for stabilization
  • Individuals who engage in inappropriate, harassing, menacing, threatening or violent behaviors toward Counseling Services staff or visitors of the Counseling Services Office
  • Individuals who are only seeking documentation for SAP Appeals and/or withdrawing from classes who do not already have an established relationship with the Counseling Services Office
  • We do not provide any services or documentation for overall legal concerns (except if records are requested) which can include but are not limited to the following:
    • Court Mandated Treatment
    • Emotional Support or Service Animals
    • Child Custody/Parenting/Adoption
    • Excuse or Clearance for Employment
    • Disability Claims (e.g. Social Security, Short Term Disability)
    • Employment and/or Military Fitness

If Counseling Services cannot provide treatment, appropriate community referrals will be made.