Since 1990, the Women's Center has offered counseling services to men and women individually, as well as to couples. Free, confidential support groups are also available.
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Our Counseling Services offers these three guielines for dealing with grief. Since 1990, the Women's Center has offered individual, couples, and group counseling services to University of Virginia students, faculty, and staff, as well as to members of the Charlottesville community. Counseling is offered for both men and women individually, as well as for couples. We offer clients an empowerment-based counseling model through which we integrate evidence-based practice with a person-centered approach. We support survivors of all genders who have experienced rape; sexual assault; stalking; domestic violence; emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse; as well as other concerns. Additionally, we are available to support survivors' friends, family members, and significant others.
The counseling staff at the Women's Center is composed of advanced master's students from counseling programs in Virginia. We partner with James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Lynchburg college to offer a valuable internship experience for students. We have a full time trauma counselor who works with U.Va. students and staff who have experienced any type of violence. The coordinator for our eating disorders initiative is also part of the counseling staff. For more information, follow the link below to our Body Positive Program.
You may call our office at 434-982-2252, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians.
Body Positive at U.Va.: Information about eating, body image, and exercise concerns; disordered eating; and eating disorders.
Individual, couples, and group counseling services are available for U.Va. students, staff, faculty, and alumni, as well as members of the Charlottesville community. Some people may initially feel hesitant about seeking counseling services. They worry that coming in for counseling may indicate that something is “wrong” with them. However, most people who come in for counseling report that it is a very positive and productive experience and often recommend it to their friends. The counseling staff is trained to work with you on a wide range of issues. Here is a partial list of common client concerns:
• Depression
• Homesickness
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Alcohol or drugs
• Eating concerns
• Academic anxieties
• Roommate and friendship problems
• Family problems
• Sexual concerns
• Identity concerns
When you call the counseling office, a clinician will gather some basic information from you. You will then be asked to schedule an appointment, or you will be added to our waiting list. Your first appointment is called an "intake" and is scheduled for one hour. When you arrive for your appointment, you will be asked to fill out a few forms in order to gather information about you and your concerns. The intake session is the time for you to tell the story about what brought you to the Women’s Center for help at this time of your life.
At the end of the first session, the counselor will help you to summarize your concerns and identify some goals for counseling. This is when you and the counselor will clarify if your needs will be met with individual, couples and/or group counseling, and you will make a follow-up appointment that fits your schedule. In some cases you and your counselor might determine that your needs would be better served by another agency or service provider. If this is the case, your counselor will help you to make the necessary arrangements. The Women’s Center does not provide crisis counseling and does not have 24 hour coverage available for counseling services.
The number of counseling sessions and length of the sessions vary based on client needs, but typically 10 sessions seem to be helpful and most sessions last 50 minutes. If you are going to be late for a session or need to miss a session we ask that you call to let your counselor know. To cancel a session, please give at least 24 hours notice so that other clients who are waiting for services can be offered your cancelled time.
Confidentiality: Information you disclose in clinical sessions is confidential and may not be released to anyone outside of the Counseling Services Program/Graduate Program faculty without your written permission. The Women’s Center adheres to professional, legal, and ethical guidelines established by professional organizations and state laws. Legal and ethical exceptions to confidentiality are provided to clients in writing and will be discussed in your intake session. Sessions are audio-taped for the educational needs of the counseling interns. This will also be discussed with you in your intake session.
Group counseling: Group counseling consists of several people meeting with a counselor to discuss common concerns and life issues. Group members give feedback and support to each other in a safe environment. The first few sessions of a group typically focus on establishing trust and getting to know the counselor and group members. Group trust is achieved when all members make a commitment to the group.
Group counseling can be helpful in several ways: Members experience the feeling of not being alone while working through their personal concerns. Members have an opportunity to help each other and receive feedback about communication skills and other behaviors, both of which can be be rewarding and enable positive changes in other relationship patterns. Group experience can increase self-awareness as well as offer a safe place to practice new behaviors.
Cathy Erickson, Liberty University
Robyn Sharkey, Lynchburg College
Contact: 434-982-2252
Active Minds A student group that works towards removing the stigma of mental illness and promotes an open environment to discuss mental health concerns.
CAPS Counseling and Psychological Services at U.Va.
HOPE Hoos Open to Preventing Eating Disorders; a student group to raise awareness about body positive issues.
SARA Sexual Assault Resources Agency in Charlottesville
SHE Shelter for Help in Emergency in Charlottesville
Tips for Coping with Stress
Women’s Initiative Counseling services in Charlottesville- sliding scale
In case of an emergency, contact the following centers for immediate help:
If you are a student: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Daytime: 434-243-5150. After-hours Emergency: 434-972-7004.
HELP Line (434-295-TALK) available 24 hours, 7 days a week during the academic year.
If you are not a student: Region Ten Emergency Services: 434-972-1800.
The Women's Center offers free and confidential counseling for U.Va. students, faculty, staff, and Charlottesville community members. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 434-982-2252.
The Women's Center is located at the intersection of University Avenue and 14th Street across from the U.Va. Corner.
Address: 1400 University Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903
The Women's Center is #8 (square E-2) on this U.Va. web map. Click here for full maps of the U.Va. Grounds.
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