Counseling Center

Crisis and Emergency Services

Emergency services are available 24/7.
If you are experiencing a crisis:

• Call Gardner-Webb University Police at (704) 406-4444
• Or call the after-hours crisis line at (704) 406-2599
• You may also dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Mission

The mission of the Counseling Center is to meet the developmental and emotional needs of students within a Christian community. The Counseling Center supports the mission of the Student Development Division to accomplish the University Mission.

The Counseling Center maintains its student-centered focus by providing a comprehensive guidance and counseling program to assist students in accomplishing personal and academic goals.

The following goals are satisfied to support the mission of the Counseling Center:

• To provide individual, group, couple, and family counseling to students who may be experiencing psychological, behavioral, or learning difficulties
• To provide compassionate care and empowerment for life long wellness
• To provide support of a culture that provides honesty, integrity, and respect for all individuals and supports learning
• To provide programming focused on the developmental needs of college students to maximize their potential for academic and personal development
• To provide consultative services to various components to help foster an environment supportive of the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical development of the students
• Select and utilize a variety of assessment services to identify student needs

Counseling Services

The Gardner-Webb Counseling Center is committed to providing high-quality, accessible support to all students. We offer short-term individual, group, and couples counseling, available in person at our Boiling Springs campus or via telehealth (within the state of North Carolina). All sessions are offered at no additional cost to enrolled students.

To maintain the effectiveness and availability of our services, individual sessions with full-time counselors are limited to 12 per student, per semester.

Continued Care Beyond 12 Sessions
Students who need additional support beyond this limit are expected to participate in monthly group sessions facilitated by counseling interns. These groups provide meaningful, ongoing care and are required for continued access to individual counseling. A limited number of excused absences are permitted each semester.

Counseling interns are also available for individual sessions and can support students with ongoing or less acute needs. Sessions with interns are not subject to a session limit.

To help ensure that appointment times are used effectively, we ask that students cancel or reschedule appointments at least 24 hours in advance. Missed or late-canceled appointments will count toward the 12-session limit. Exceptions may be made in cases of emergency.

Confidentiality
Counseling services are confidential, in accordance with legal and ethical guidelines. Your privacy is protected, with limited exceptions related to safety or legal obligations. Your counselor will review confidentiality policies with you during your first appointment.

Hours and Appointments
The University Counseling Center is located in Tucker Student Center and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Appointments can be scheduled by phone or in person.
To schedule an appointment, call (704) 406-2729 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Confidentiality

The code of ethics of the American Counseling Association serves as a guide to all counselor-client relationships. Communication between counselor and client is considered confidential. We cannot discuss the particulars of a student’s situation with others or even the fact that counseling is being provided, without the students consent.

If you need information concerning a student’s contact with the Counseling Center, that can best be obtained directly from the student. If you request information from us regarding a student’s contact with the Counseling Center, we will ask the student for permission and abide by the students decision.