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Overview
Counseling & Psychological Services (C&PS) delivers quality mental health services to full-time undergraduate students that are confidential and no additional cost to students. We provide individual and group psychotherapy by professional psychotherapists to help students navigate adjustment issues, relationship problems, family issues, emotional distress, and other challenges. We offer graduate students a single session for triage and referrals to the surrounding community.
We are committed to creating an environment that recognizes the inherent value and dignity of each person. In these times of increased racial and cultural tension, C&PS seeks to continue to provide a safe space to support all students and to assist in fostering a climate where all are heard and feel welcome.
Counseling & Psychological Services utilizes a collaborative, solution-oriented approach to counseling and mental health treatment. We focus on the changes students wish to make in their lives while understanding their presenting concerns in the context of current stressors and relationships, history, and the intersection of their identities with the sociopolitical climate.
Mission
Mission
The general mission of the Counseling & Psychological Services is to facilitate each student’s fulfillment of their fullest potential – intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and socially, as envisioned by the Mission Statement of Fairfield University. Mindful of the Jesuit tradition which emphasizes respect for the individual both as a unique person and as a member of the University community, Counseling & Psychological Services commits to the following goals:
- The provision of services of superior quality to individual students who may be experiencing psychological, emotional, or behavioral difficulties
- The provision of programming addressing the developmental needs of students to benefit from the academic and social environment of the University community
- The provision of consultation to faculty members, administrators, and/or other university staff persons concerning the psychological health needs of students
- The provision of consultative services to the University community at large to maximize the potential of the University environment as beneficial to the intellectual, spiritual, physical, and social development of the student while respecting and supporting cultural pluralism
- The maintenance of appropriate knowledge of legal, ethical, developmental, and clinical issues and standards as applied to a university mental health setting
- The maintenance of professional standards of practice consistent with those set forth by the American Psychological Association and the International Associations of Counseling Services, Inc. and the ethical codes of individual clinician’s discipline
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion
Fairfield University is committed to supporting and sustaining an educational community that is inclusive, diverse, and equitable, and we embrace these values as being critical to an individual's development, learning, and success. Counseling & Psychological Services' policies, procedures, activities, relationships, and interactions with each other and individuals and groups in the campus community are consistent with these values. We are committed to celebrating the diversity that gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, age, religious orientation, social class, appearance, abilities, and other differences bring. Furthermore, we are committed to confronting prejudice, discrimination, and oppression.
Our Services
Individual Counseling
Fairfield University Counseling & Psychological Services offers confidential, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, substance abuse treatment, psychiatric evaluation, and referral to local mental health providers. The members of the professional staff are licensed psychotherapists who provide confidential, short-term psychotherapy to undergraduate students. The psychotherapists are trained in many modalities of therapy including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-focused Therapy, Brief Interpersonal Therapy, Strength-based Therapy, and Insight-oriented Therapy.
Groups & Workshops
Counseling & Psychological Services offers a number of identity-based groups, support groups, and skills-development workshops that are available throughout the week. If you are interested in meeting with a group leader to see if it’s a good fit, please schedule a group screening appointment.
Crisis Intervention
In addition to ongoing counseling appointments, Counseling & Psychological Services is available for immediate crisis intervention for Fairfield University students. Our office is located in the Wellness Center at the Jogues Hall traffic circle. For more information or immediate assistance, come to C&PS. For psychological emergencies that occur in the evenings or on weekends, students should contact the Department of Public Safety and an officer will meet the student at their location. The officer provides support and will contact the on-call counselor if indicated. The counselor-on-call will typically reach out to a student in need within 30 minutes from the time they are contacted.
Substance Misuse
Fairfield University offers a variety of resources to address substance misuse issues. Orientation for first-year students includes presentations about substance misuse, healthy choices, and campus resources. Prior to coming to campus, first-year students are required to complete AlcoholEdu, an online alcohol education program.
Fairfield University provides educational classes, clinical assessments, and treatment modalities including, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and 12-step approach.
The University hosts Alcoholics Anonymous and ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) meetings on campus and offers individual and group counseling, as well as, psychiatric treatment.
For students in recovery, the University provides a Recovery Lounge to socialize and study. The lounge is a private area with a flat screen TV, library offerings, coffee, and snacks for the students. The University has a Recovery House, both unmarked and close to campus. This is the latest initiative in Fairfield University's efforts to support students in recovery.
Collegiate Recovery Program
The Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) at Fairfield University offers a nurturing, affirming, and substance-free environment for students in recovery. Together, students learn how to balance their education with their recovery and pursue their academic, personal, and professional goals.
The program is overseen by an Advisory Board that promotes healthier choices and substance-free living.
CRP services include:
- Recovery housing
- Group counseling
- Academic success support
- AA 12-step meetings on campus and transportation to meetings off campus
- Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) meetings
- Family orientation (support services)
- Career counseling
- Community resources
- Recreational activities (golf, rock climbing, movies, athletic events, bowling)
- Community service opportunities
- Intramural basketball team
- Sober wellness programming focused on mind, body, and spirit
Additional Information
Counseling & Psychological Services is located in the Wellness Center at the Jogues Hall drop-off circle. We can be reached at 203-254-4000 x2146 during regular business hours or by emailing counseling@fairfield.edu.
Additional information about our services, online resources for students (including Kognito & Togetherall), appointment scheduling, and resources for staff and faculty, can all be found on our department’s Wiki.