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Let’s Talk: Mental Health Office Hours

What is it?

The Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours program provides informal, confidential consultation with therapists from SHaW. The service is free of charge and offered on a first come, first served basis. More info like dates, time and location can be found here.

Clinicians provide support, coaching, and connect students to other campus resources as needed. Although therapists provide this service, it is not a substitute for formal counseling. The Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours program is also not suited to treat mental health emergencies; students who are experiencing a mental health crisis should see Crisis Support or Immediate Support Resources.

Who is it for?

Students who may benefit from attending a Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours session include:

  • Students who want help connecting to resources but are unsure where to begin
  • Students who are looking for advice on a non-clinical issue
  • Students who are unsure about therapy and are curious about what it is like to talk to a therapist
  • Students who may have concerns about the mental health of a friend and seek advice on how to support their friend
    • If a student is not an imminent risk, and is refusing your support in contacting our office, you may also consider contacting the UConn Student CARE Team.

How is this program beneficial?

Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours creates space for students to seek immediate support for non-crisis concerns. By doing so, we support students in need before they reach the level of crisis. Furthermore, Let's Talk contributes to our social justice mission by reducing barriers to mental health services for student populations who are less likely to seek formal mental health treatment.

*The Let's Talk & Consultation service is inspired by Cornell University’s Let’s Talk program.

Check Out the Live Schedule Below.

Mondays Let’s Talk

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Student Union room 410

 

Time: 11:15 am to 12:15 pm

 

Fumi Sowah, LCSW

 

All undergraduate and graduate students.

Location: SHaW Hilda May Williams

Time: 2 pm to 3 pm

Fumi Sowah, LCSW

All undergraduate and graduate students.

Tuesdays Let’s Talk

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Asian American Cultural Center, located in the SU room 431

 

Time: 1 pm - 2:30 pm

Sijia (Michelle) Chen, M.S.Ed

Sija Chen

All undergraduate and graduate students.
Location: Wilbur Cross room 110

 

Time: 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Ashley Smith, M.A.

Ashley Smith

All undergraduate and graduate students.

Wednesdays Let’s Talk: Virtual Hours

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Virtual

 

Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

 

Schedule an appointment by calling 860-486-4705

 

Graciela Quinones-Rodriguez, LCSW

 

All undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Thursdays Let’s Talk

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Student Union room 416A

 

Time: 9:30 am - 10:45 am

 

Heather Kocum, LPC

Heather Kokum

 

All undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Fridays Let’s Talk

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: SHaW Arjona 4th Floor

Time: 11 am to 12 pm

 

Providers rotate weekly! Check out more of our mental health providers.

 

All undergraduate and graduate students.

 

UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR STUDENT ATHLETES:

Mondays Let’s Talk for Student Athletes

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Fieldhouse room 44

 

Time: 12 - 1:30 pm

 

Chelsea Morales, PsyD

Chelsea Morales

 

All NCAA Student-Athletes

 

Live Schedule:

https://events.uconn.edu/live/json/v2/events/response_fields/location,image/date_format/%25F%20%25j,%20%25Y/group/Student Health and Wellness/tag/let's talk/start_date/today/end_date/6 months/
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, October 9
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, October 10
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, October 11
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, October 14
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, October 14
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, October 15
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, October 15
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, October 16
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, October 17
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, October 18
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, October 21
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, October 21
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, October 22
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, October 22
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, October 23
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, October 24
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, October 25
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, October 28
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, October 28
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, October 29
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, October 29
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, October 30
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, October 31
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, November 1
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 4
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 4
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 5
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 5
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, November 6
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, November 7
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, November 8
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 11
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 11
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 12
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 12
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, November 13
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, November 14
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, November 15
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 18
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 18
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 19
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 19
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, November 20
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, November 21
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, November 22
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 25
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, November 25
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hilda May Williams Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 26
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, November 26
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Wednesday, November 27
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Online
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, November 28
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Friday, November 29
11:00am - 12:00pm
Arjona Building
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Monday, December 2
11:15am - 12:15pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, December 3
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Student Union
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Tuesday, December 3
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Wilbur Cross
Let's Talk: Mental Health Office Hours
Thursday, December 5
9:30am - 10:45am
Student Union

Mondays Let’s Talk for Student Athletes

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Fieldhouse room 44

 

Time: 9 - 10:30 am

 

Chelsea Morales, PsyD

Chelsea Morales

 

All NCAA Student-Athletes

 

Mondays Let’s Talk for Student Athletes

 

Office Hours: Providers will rotate every week: Open to:
 

Location: Fieldhouse room 44

 

Time: 12 - 1:30 pm

 

Chelsea Morales, PsyD

Chelsea Morales

Samantha Morris, PsyD

Samantha Morris

 

All NCAA Student-Athletes

 

Thursdays Let’s Talk for Student Athletes

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Fieldhouse room 44

 

Time: 4 pm - 5:30 pm

 

Samantha Morris, PsyD

Samantha Morris

 

 

 

All NCAA Student-Athletes

 

Thursdays Let’s Talk

 

Office Hours: Provider: Open to:
 

Location: Student Union room 416A

 

Time: 9:30 am - 11 am

There will be no session with Caroline on November 16th

 

Caroline Farnham, LCSW

Caroline Farnham

 

All undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Location: SHaW Hilda May Williams

 

Time: 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm

 

Ashley Smith, M.A.

Ashley Smith

 

All undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Let’s Talk FAQ’s

What is Let’s Talk?

Let's Talk is a program that provides easy access to informal consultations with clinicians from SHaW. It is on a drop-in basis, or you can schedule an appointment online. There is no fee.

Who should visit Let’s Talk?

This service is open to all UConn undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Let's Talk is the best fit for the following people:

  • Students who have never been in counseling before, are not sure if it is right for them and wonder what it's like to talk with a clinician.
  • Students who are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a clinician.
  • Students who have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with someone.
  • Students who are interested in learning more about what campus resources are available to them and how to access them.

Who is Let’s Talk not a good fit for?

  • Students with an immediate or urgent concern.
  • Students who already know they want regular therapy.
  • Students who don’t want to wait for their next appointment at SHaW (these students should contact SHaW-MH instead to seek an earlier time.)
  • Students seeking specialized services, such as psychiatry.

What happens at a Let’s Talk visit?

Appointments are first-come, first-served and are about 15-20 minutes. Usually there is not much of a wait. Rarely, a clinician might be full during the Let’s Talk hours.  If this is the case, we encourage you to try again the next day.  The clinician will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

How is Let’s Talk different from therapy at SHaW?

Clinicians at SHaW provide ongoing therapy, which usually consists of weekly or bi-weekly 45-50 minute appointments. Let's Talk is not formal therapy: it is a drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a clinician from time to time.

I think I have a problem that would benefit from therapy, but I don’t know anything about therapy. Would going to Let’s Talk help me figure out what to do?

Absolutely. The Let's Talk clinician will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help.

I’m scheduled with SHaW for an appointment a week from now. Can I stop by Let’s Talk in the meantime?

If you believe you need to be seen sooner than the appointment you were given, it's best to call SHaW directly (860-486-4705) and explain your situation.

I called SHaW and they recommended a referral to a therapist in the community. Can I go to Let’s Talk instead?

Since regular counseling visits are not available at Let's Talk following up with the referral is a good idea. If you have any trouble with the referral, contact SHaW for assistance.

I’m currently seeing a therapist at SHaW and would like to talk to someone sooner than my next appointment. Can I go to Let’s Talk?

If your next appointment is not soon enough, it's best to contact your counselor directly to see if they can see you sooner. If it is an urgent situation or you would like to talk to someone same-day, call SHaW to connect with BeWell@UConn or an on-call clinician.

I’m currently seeing a therapist at SHaW and am not happy with how things are going. Can I got to Let’s Talk instead?

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk directly with your clinician. Clinicians are eager to get your feedback, positive or negative. Oftentimes an open conversation about your concern helps smooth out any wrinkles. If, after talking with your clinician, you prefer to transfer to someone else, just ask your clinician directly or call SHaW and request a change.

What else do I need to know?

Although Let's Talk clinicians are professionals, Let's Talk is not a substitute for psychotherapy or formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let's Talk clinicians provide these consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it's like to speak with a therapist. Your Let's Talk clinician can help you determine whether formal therapy at SHaW would be useful for you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.

Let’s Talk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?

Conversations with Let's Talk clinicians are confidential, with a few very rare exceptions. Clinicians may need to share information in an emergency when there is an immediate threat of harm to self or others. Clinicians are required by law to report when a minor, elderly person, or someone otherwise incapacitated and unable to act on their own behalf is being abused. Let's Talk clinicians keep brief written notes of their contacts with students, and in the event that there is an emergency, or a student is referred to SHaW, other staff may see that a student spoke with a Let’s Talk counselor.

Finally, these notes can be released in the unlikely event of a court order. Let's Talk visits are never noted on a student's official university record.  We don't want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let's Talk counselor.

 

The Let’s Talk program at UConn is based in part of the Let’s Talk program at Cornell University.  With permission, some of the material from this webpage has been duplicated from the Cornell Let’s Talk website.