Counseling and Psychological Services

College can be exciting, but it can also come with challenges such as academic pressure, stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, homesickness, and balancing multiple responsibilities. Individual counseling provides a confidential, supportive space where students can talk openly with a trained professional, develop healthy coping strategies, and gain tools to navigate life's challenges.

By taking advantage of counseling services, students can improve their mental well-being, strengthen their resilience, enhance their academic performance, and build skills that support both personal and professional success. Whether you're facing a specific concern or simply want support in reaching your goals, individual counseling can help you thrive during your college experience and beyond.

Appointments

Call Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (678) 839-6428  to make an appointment. For your first visit, please allow 45-60 minutes to fill out our computerized intake form and have a brief check-in with a Licensed Professional Counselor to determine the best services for you.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis during hours, please visit Row Hall 123 for immediate care. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis after hours, call CAPS and select option 2 to be connected to the on-call counselor.

Register/Login to UWill and choose a therapost based on your preferences including availability, issue, gender, language, ethnicity, specialty. You can also choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night, and weekend availability. Access is quick and easy. You can register and book your first session in just minutes using your school email. Uwill is private, secure, and confidential.

What is Group Counseling?

Group counseling involves a small group of people (usually 6-10) who meet together weekly, along with one or two trained members of the Counseling and Psychological Services staff, to talk about their struggles and problems. These groups can take a variety of forms. Some focus on a specific topic or problem, while others address a number of different concerns.

What makes Group Counseling work?

When people come into a group and interact freely with other group members, they tend to recreate those difficulties that brought them to counseling in the first place. Under the skilled direction of the group facilitators, the group is able to give support, offer alternatives, or gently confront the an individual. In this way, the difficulty is resolved, alternative behaviors are learned, and the individual develops new social skills or ways of relating to people. Group counseling has been found to be a very effective means of treatment and, in some cases, the best form of treatment for a particular individual or a particular type of concern.

What are the benefits of Group Counseling?

In a group, you can learn more about how you are perceived by others and experience a sense of acceptance and belonging. Discover that you are not alone in the difficulties you are experiencing. Hear ideas from others, which enhance your ability to make decisions and solve problems. Benefit from the experience of being helpful to others. Learn to constructively express your feelings and ideas to others. Gain encouragement by observing the successes of others.

Group Counseling Offerings

• Come Experience Expressive Art Therapy - Where writing, movement, and visual art come together to help you process emotions, reset your mind, and connect with others. Thursdays at 2 P.M.
• College life can be a lot-classes, relationships, stress, and everything in between. DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills are all about giving you real tools to handle it. This group is open to all students who want to grow, find peace, and take control of their mental health. Fridays at 1 P.M.

Psychiatric counseling support students who may benefit from medication as part of their mental health care. Following an evaluation, psychiatric providers can assess symptoms, discuss treatment options, prescribe medications when appropriate, and provide ongoing medication management and follow-up care. Psychiatry services may be used on their own or alongside counseling and other wellness supports. Students can access psychiatric care through the Counseling and Psychological Services referral process.

Our goal is to provide and connect a wide array of services to student-athletes who may not otherwise be aware of them.

After a brief conversation, we will match your needs with the appropriate services. These services include career counseling, nutrition guidance, counseling services, as well as group presentations on a variety of topics or a custom topic to meet a specific needs.

Counseling practicum and internships for Master’s, Specialist and Doctoral level students in Psychology or Counseling and Educational Psychology are available with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Positions are limited and available on a competitive basis.  A minimum of a 2-semester commitment is required. Email counseling@westga.edu if interested.

24/7 Mental Health Resources

• Sharpen Minds - Free mental health resources that are customized to UWG students
• Headspace - Learn to meditate and reduce stress or depression
• SuperBetter - Build resiliance, stay motivated, and keep optimism
• Wysa - A chatbot that helps you cope in fun conversation
• PTSD Coach - Help for those recovering from trauma

Relaxation Room

The Relaxation Room is a safe space where you an relax, recharge, meditate, and take a break. This room has various tools in it to help you reset and be present with yourself including but not limited to sand garden, relaxing music, journals, pens, blankets, diffusers, and more.

This room is walk-in available and operates when the Counseling and Psychological