Counseling Services
The Health and Wellness Centre (Location: C109, where both Health Services and Counseling Services are Located) offers a broad range of health services, counseling services and wellness programs for students to promote their well-being, leading to improved academic and personal learning achievements.
Counselling Services
The Mohawk College Counselling team supports academic success by providing options to explore and understand challenges that impact personal well-being and mental health.
Counselors are available who approach their practice from an Indigenous or Intercultural perspective. Our Intercultural counselor is committed to offering services in a culturally-sensitive approach to meet the diverse needs of International students. The Intercultural counselor seeks to respect cultural differences and extend services that are culturally acceptable to the students.
Through our free and confidential service, students gain access to a team with expertise in personal, academic, career, and mental health counseling. Our team of registered counselors empowers students to use their strengths and resources to succeed both academically and personally.
Counseling Services understands that all the information you share with us is private and will not disclose the information to others without your informed consent. There are some exceptions to confidentiality in counseling.
We are required to disclose confidential information to parties (which may include regulated health professionals, friends, parents/guardians or caregivers, and other Mohawk staff) if any of the following conditions exist:
⬧ You are an imminent danger to yourself or others
⬧ There is a threat to safety and welfare of a minor (Under 16 years of age).
⬧ Your file is subpoenaed as part of a court proceeding.
⬧ You disclose inappropriate sexual contact by a regulated health care provider
Scope of Practice Statement
Counselling Services provides confidential counselling to explore and understand challenges that impact personal well-being and mental health while you are enrolled as a student at Mohawk College. Counselling services provides short-term, goal directed counselling to support student academic and personal success.
Common concerns addressed in short-term counselling may include:
- Adjusting to college life or Canadian culture
- Anxiety and depression
- Career and education planning
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Conflicts with family and friends
- Coping with a break up
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Grief
- Stress management
- Study skills
Counselling services are ideal for recent issues or issues that are expected to resolve relatively quickly. If you are experiencing difficulties of a long-term nature or if you have engaged in ongoing therapy in the past, it is likely Counselling Services will provide support to help you establish a relationship with a provider in the community to ensure you have access to mental health support that is not limited.
Services provided
- Short-term individual counselling by drop-in, a limited number of pre-scheduled appointments are available
- Group skills development programs
- Brief crisis supports and referral
- Referral to community treatment programs
- Short-term case management
- Wellness checks, as determined by student need
- Outreach & consultation to College faculty, department or groups on mental health and personal well-being topics
Wellness Skills Programs
These programs offer students the opportunity to work on supporting their wellness in a group context. Some groups are single session and others provide students with a number of sessions, working with team members from Student Wellness and Counselling. These sessions equip students with wellness skills and strategies, and also connect students to campus and community resources. Programs are based on interest and may be taken multiple times if needed.
We offer focused groups to support International students to address their unique issues related to adapting to a new country, coping with loneliness and managing cultural shock.
All programs require registration, unless marked as a “drop-in”. All programs are run by Registered Counsellors and Social Service Workers. Register at counselling@mohawkcollege.ca. Specific dates, times, and locations will be provided at time of registration. Please let us know in advance if you require accommodations.
Online Appointment Support
Visit our eBooking portal. You can now book and manage your virtual counselling appointments through our eBooking page. Visit eBooking
Below are instructions to support the success of your online counselling appointments. We encourage you to contact our Front Desk if you experience any challenges.
Email: counselling@mohawkcollege.ca
Phone: 905-575-2211
Connect to Wellness
Through our Connect to Wellness Program we provide a wide range of counselling and wellness resources for students. Different options meet the needs of different students. Students new to Counselling will meet with the Intake Counsellor to explore options designed to match them to the right services and supports. Some students may benefit from more than one service or from different services at different times.
Initial Consultation
Our Intake Counsellor works together with students to match them to the right services at the right time. Services may be though Mohawk College Counselling Services or through community referrals.
Community referrals for support can be made through Intake or the Wellness Care Coordinator. This may include community mental health and wellness resources or social service programs.
Some services are outside of our scope of practice or extend beyond our scope of care. Examples include:
- Intensive outpatient therapy (ie regular scheduled individual sessions occurring weekly for an extended period of time)
- Counselling for the purpose of formal documentation (including but not limited to proof of mandated treatment or psychological readiness/stability for medical procedures)
- Counselling to students who are not currently enrolled in classes due to graduation, withdrawal, or dismissal from the college.
While we do provide brief crisis intervention services, we do not provide intensive services for students experiencing ongoing suicidal, homicidal or chronic psychiatric, eating disordered or addiction issues. These concerns need to be addressed by a mental health agency, hospital (in or out patient) or other professionals in the community. As Counselling Services is not staffed or designated a crisis care setting, students experiencing a mental health crisis are referred to St. Joseph’s Health Centre Emergency Department or COAST. Services are available from Monday to Friday from 8:30-4:00. The Complex Care Navigator, as part of their role, may be available during business hours to provide support and follow-up in the case of student crisis.
Counselling Services does not regularly contact students who are not clients with the intention of encouraging them to seek services.
Community Referrals
When your needs fall outside the scope of practice of Counselling Services or when community resources best fit your current needs, Counselling Services will support you through the process of getting connected. We will help to identify referral options selected specifically for your personal situation.
Eligibility
Eligibility for services is dependent upon available resources and student enrollment status. Through Connect to Wellness, Student Wellness & Counselling Services offers a wide-range of programs to meet the needs of all students. Individual counselling is limited to Mohawk College students enrolled in a full time post-secondary program from day one through date of program completion.
Cultivating Skills
Work with a specific counsellor on a regular basis to focus on developing skills to support your personal and academic wellness. Programs are offered in group format and different topics are covered throughout the fall and winter semesters based on student need.
Counselling & Collaboration
Counselling Services provides brief individual counselling to address challenges impacting student success and wellness. To help meet student needs, Counsellors work collaboratively with community agencies, family physicians, Accessible Learning Services, and the Health Centre.
The Counselling team also offers wait list support while students are waiting for outpatient psychiatric/mental health services.
Crisis Care
Counsellors are available to support students in crisis, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4 pm. This may include individual support, wellness check-ins, or referrals.
Students with complex needs may follow up with the Wellness Care Coordinator, who does check-ins and provides practical support to students who are already engaged in multiple community resources.
Health Services (please see the Chapter in Health Services for more information)
The Health and Wellness Centre (C109) has a range of health professionals to provide students and employees with personal, confidential, health services that meet your health care needs which includes:
- Tuberculosis Skin testing
- Immunizations
- Sexual and reproductive health consultation
- Physician appointments
On-campus physician appointments are available through the Health & Wellness Centre.
Physician services include:
- Physical examinations
- Pain assessments
- Rash/skin conditions
- Sexual health
- Cold/flu symptoms
- Prescription refills
For International students, health insurance is offered through Mohawk College’s insurance provider, Guard.me. We accept Guard.me insurance to consult with the physician at the Health and Wellness Centre. Visit Guard.me to find out what is covered under Guard. Me, how to submit a claim, how to find a clinic, add dependents and more.