Counseling
About the Counseling Center
Early intervention is the best predictor of success. The Counseling Center provides primarily short-term services to help UMaine Machias students develop improved coping skills to address emotional, interpersonal and academic concerns. We ensure strict confidentiality. Mental-health based outreach and education is offered throughout the academic year.
Location
Torrey Hall, Room 229-B
Hours of operation
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Counseling Center is in operation during the academic year (September–May).
If classes are canceled or delayed due to inclement weather, the Counseling Center is also closed or will have a delayed opening.
How to schedule an appointment
Students have the option of either meeting in person or teletherapy (via Zoom) for their appointment. Teletherapy allows students, located anywhere in Maine, to access counseling services. The initial appointment is an opportunity to talk confidentially about immediate concerns and reasons for scheduling the appointment. An assessment is completed to determine what services and/or resources would be most helpful. Some students find that talking with a counselor once is sufficient to resolve an immediate concern. If further counseling would be beneficial, additional appointments may be scheduled and/or a referral to another community resource may be made.
Currently enrolled students are eligible for free counseling services
Meet the Counselor
Stacey Cherry, licensed professional clinical counselor, is the mental health counselor in the Counseling Center at UMaine Machias. A native of Washington County, she completed her undergraduate degree in behavioral science at the University of Maine at Machias in 2000. She earned a master’s degree in psychosocial rehabilitation from the University of Southern Maine in 2007. She had hoped to become a university counselor ever since she was a student at UMaine Machias and is pleased to serve in that capacity at her alma mater. Stacey is passionate about working with the college population. She views the “college experience” as a period of time when many life changes happen. It is a time for discovery and growth, and also a time when increased stress can cause one to develop a mental health condition. She views her role as a guide, working collaboratively with students toward mental health wellness goals, and teaching skills to help students cope with whatever comes their way throughout their lifespan.
Concerned about a friend?
Students are welcome to contact the Counseling Center in person or over the phone to express concerns about a friend. The Counseling Center will reach out to the friend regarding the student’s concerns and will not release the student’s name. The student’s confidentiality will be maintained.
Issues commonly addressed
Referrals for private therapy
If concerns exceed the scope of the Counseling Center’s short-term counseling focus or if recommended resources are not available at UMaine Machias, students are referred to private therapy or other appropriate community resources, the cost of which are not included in student fees. Student health insurance or other comparable insurance plans may reimburse part of those costs. Additional options may be available to help defray costs if a referral for private therapy is made.
Finding providers through a health insurance company
Most insurance companies have lists of their in-network providers on their websites. You can also get information about such providers by calling the phone number on your health insurance cards. You may need to know the specific plan to identify providers that you can see. Because of this, checking these sites can be particularly helpful:
Students, staff, and parents, may find useful some of the resources listed below.
Email and Phone Policy
Electronic mail (email) is not a safe means to transmit confidential information. If email is used as a means to communicate there is an inherent risk to confidentiality. Because confidentiality cannot be insured, and because of our belief in the importance of face-to-face contact, we discourage clients from communicating with their counselors on email. Changes in appointments can be made by phone, and with your permission by email. However, general therapy concerns should be discussed in person with your counselor.
Grievance Procedures
Clients have the right to discontinue services at any time. To ensure continued improvement of our services, we respectfully request notification of any concerns directly to the counselor, or to the Dean of Students. The practice of Counseling is regulated by the Department of Professionals and Finance Regulations, and complaints may be registered by contacting:
Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207.624.8626
Confidentiality
Information shared by you in individual or couples counseling sessions, or through testing, will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. Likewise, all participants in group counseling are asked to keep information shared by group members confidential. While information will not be released by Counseling Services staff outside the Counseling Office without your written permission, this counselor may confer with a clinical supervisor to be sure to make appropriate referrals and to improve the quality of services to you. The exceptions to the rules of confidentiality, as required by state law, include the following situations:
Should any of the above situations arise, your counselor will speak with you regarding these issues unless doing so would present undue threat of harm to the client or clinician.