University Counseling Center
The University Counseling Center provides free access to mental health specialists for all students in the University community. While not a replacement for mental health care covered by your insurance, the counseling center can provide services for students—including assessment, counseling and psychotherapy (individual, group, and couples), and psychiatry—on a short-term basis in addition to offering acute care and crisis intervention. Sexual assault services and substance abuse programs also are available. The counseling center employs a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, and advanced graduate trainees in various mental health disciplines.
The counseling center offers a variety of workshops and general therapy groups, including support groups for dissertation writers, international students, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and graduate students, among others.
Call 412-648-7930 or stop by the Wellness Center in Nordenberg Hall, 119 University Place.
Clinical Psychology Center
The clinical psychology center is the training clinic for the clinical psychology graduate program. Outpatient psychological services are provided at reduced fees based on income. Advanced graduate students, who are supervised closely by licensed faculty psychologists and other clinicians, provide a wide variety of treatment approaches, including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and family systems psychotherapy.
Mental Health Self-Evaluator
Mental health is a key part of overall health. Brief screenings are the quickest way to determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a mental health professional. This online program is completely anonymous and confidential, and immediately following the brief questionnaire, you will see the results, recommendations, and key resources.
Center for Creativity
The work of graduate school is inherently creative: Students make things (experiments, proposals, articles) as they engage in research. Visiting the Center for Creativity (C4C) helps students to visualize research or challenges differently. C4C: The Workshop offers a no-stakes arena in which to play, to try new or interesting things without the pressure to produce something professional and “defensible,” or to reduce stress on your own or in a group session led by C4C or University Counseling Center staff.
Center for Mindfulness and Consciousness Studies
The Center for Mindfulness and Consciousness Studies provides graduate students with resources and programming on mindfulness.
Stress Free Zone
At the Stress Free Zone, graduate students can learn and regularly practice evidence-based mind/body stress-reduction skills. These skills are primarily taught through mindfulness meditation, a form of attention training that involves an intentional, nonjudgmental observation of the present moment. Students can participate via walk-in services, regularly scheduled classes, and special workshops on topics ranging from meditation practices to chiropractic care for stress.
External Resources
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The Western Pennsylvania chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) covers 20 counties. AFSP does not provide mental health or crisis services. Rather, it focuses on eliminating the loss of life from suicide by delivering innovative prevention programs, educating the public about risk factors and warning signs, raising funds for suicide research programs, and reaching out to those individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
Resolve Crisis Services
Resolve is a 24-hour, 365-day crisis service that is free to all Allegheny County residents. Its mantra is that everyone defines their own crisis. The crisis team provides counseling and support, referrals, and intervention services for adults, teens, and their loved ones. The 24-hour hotline is 1-888-7-YOU-CAN (1-888-796-8226). The walk-in center is located at 333 North Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208.
Allegheny County Warmline
The Allegheny County Warmline is a peer-operated telephone support service and advocacy network. Telephone lines are open every day from 10 a.m. until midnight. Telephone support specialists are specially trained to provide support as well as referral information to residents of Allegheny County who are 18 years of age or older. The phone number is 1-866-661-WARM (9276). Services are free, and all information will remain confidential.
Note: The Warmline is not a crisis line. In the event of a mental health crisis or emergency, contact Resolve crisis services or the University Counseling Center.