Mental Health Services

For currently enrolled students, the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services is the go-to on-campus provider for group, individual and couples counseling, as well as substance use services. Here's how to get started:

Step 1: Call the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431. You can also schedule a first initial appointment online by going to the Carruth Center website. The Carruth Center is located in the Health and Education Building on Evansdale.

Step 2: Attend your initial appointment. All students interested in non-urgent counseling services attend an initial consultation. You will be asked to fill out paperwork and a digital intake form on an iPad. Then you’ll talk with a clinician about your reasons for visiting the Carruth Center. There is no fee for this appointment.

Step 3: Seek follow-up care, if recommended. At the end of your initial consultation, the clinician may recommend that you return for group or individual counseling; you are free to accept this recommendation or not.

Other Mental Health Providers on Campus

• BeWell - A satellite office of the Carruth Center, BeWell provides mental health services for students in Health Sciences majors.
• Athletics Clinical and Sport Psychology - A satellite office of the Carruth Center, individual student-athletes and teams can access mental health counseling here.
• Healthy Minds University - Working in partnership with the Carruth Center, HMU provides more extended outpatient psychiatric treatment and therapy services for students referred there.
• Law School - A satellite office of the Carruth Center that provides mental health services to students at the Law School.

Read more about Mental Health Resources on campus.

Getting to the Carruth Center

The Carruth Center is in the Health and Education Building on Evansdale adjacent to the Student Rec Center. There are two sides of the building; the Carruth Center is on the Student Health Services side, which faces Patteson Drive. Check-in is in Room 227, just off the elevators. 

The Health and Education Building is a short walk from the Towers PRT station. 

View on Map Walking/Driving/PRT Directions

Bus directions

Use one of these options to travel to the Carruth Center by bus:

• The Campus Shuttle, by walking from the Coliseum to the Carruth Center.
• The Mountain Line Blue and Gold Connector, by walking from Towers or Evansdale Crossing to the Carruth Center.
• The Mountain Line  Beechurst Express, by walking from Towers to the Carruth Center.
• The Mountain Line Campus PM, by walking from Towers to the Carruth Center.

Hours

Counseling Services

Initial Visit

Students interested in counseling services will participate in an initial consultation session during their first visit. If your concerns are not urgent and/or you wish to set up regular services, scheduling an appointment will set aside a time for you and reduce your wait time.

Upon arrival, you will fill out some paperwork on a clipboard and fill out a digital intake form on an iPad.

Next, you will have an opportunity to talk about your reasons for visiting the Carruth Center and will be asked several questions so that the clinician can better understand your needs.

At the end of your initial consultation session, the clinician you met with might recommend you come back for group or individual counseling sessions; you are free to accept this recommendation or not.

For students who are in an urgent or crisis state, Carruth has an Urgent/Crisis Clinic that is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and you can walk into the center without an appointment. The goal of these appointments is to help manage the current situation and help with emotion regulation and stabilization.

Group Counseling

Group counseling is a great way to work on areas of concern, especially when those concerns deal with issues that directly affect your relationship with others, communication, social anxiety and loneliness. Groups give you contact with peers as well as a counselor in a safe and confidential environment.

All group counseling sessions are led by a clinician and intended to facilitate a supportive and confidential therapeutic environment. Sessions are held weekly throughout the semester. They are usually an hour to ninety minutes long per session.

Membership in a group is by appointment only. Please make an initial appointment at the Carruth Center if you are interested in joining a group.

Drop-in groups, workshops, are offered each semester. We ask that students agree to come for 4 weeks and they are skills-based in focus.  Students can sign up directly on the Carruth Center website.

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling at the Carruth Center provides students the opportunity to sit down with a counselor one-on-one to discuss their concerns in a private and confidential setting. Short-term individual counseling sessions last about 45 to 50 minutes and may be held once a week, once every other week or less frequently depending on clinical recommendation and need. Many students find that their concerns are resolved in three to four sessions.

Please note that there are times in the semester (i.e., midterms and finals) when appointments may be more spread out due to demand. If you are considering seeking out counseling around one of these periods, please call the Carruth Center for your initial appointment as soon as possible or schedule online.

Relationship Counseling

Relationship counseling is offered on a very limited basis at the Carruth Center. Both partners must be enrolled WVU students to qualify for services. Students interested in the service should contact the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431 and ask to speak to the case manager or clinical director.

Urgent/Crisis Clinic

The Urgent/Crisis Clinic is available for students Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for students experiencing an urgent emotional need or a psychological emergency. Any currently enrolled WVU student is eligible for the  Urgent/Crisis Clinic .

Urgent/Crisis Clinic hours are appropriate for students:

• in crisis (having thoughts of self harm, suicidal thoughts, thoughts about hurting someone else).
• with an urgent concern (recent breakup, death in the family, struggling with their emotional response in the moment, etc)
  
• feeling as though they need immediate help
• with a concern that may be resolved in only one session

If you’re unsure of what you may need, please call the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431.

After-Hours Information

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or a psychological emergency, please call the Carruth Center office at 304-293-4431 to speak with an after-hours counselor.

Note: This service is not designed to receive or respond to messages regarding scheduling concerns or prescriptions.

Medication

If you are in need of medication, the Carruth Center clinicians can work with you in order to find you a primary care doctor or psychiatrist to meet these needs.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)

WVU’s Student Assistance Program offers an array of services for students with alcohol or other drug concerns, including individual assessment, individual and group counseling and educational activities. Self-referrals are welcomed.

Cost

There is a cost associated with these services and the clinician will review these costs with you after your first initial appointment.

Self-Help Resources

Resources for Specific Populations

First-Generation Students

A first-generation college student is any student whose parents have not completed a four-year degree. This can be a challenging position, as you may not have a clear idea of what to expect from a university setting.

First-Generation College Student Tips and Resources

Alcohol and Drugs

WVU’s Student Assistance Program offers services for students with alcohol or other drug concerns, including individual assessment, individual and group counseling and educational activities. Self-referrals are welcomed.

Common Student Concerns

Depressed mood, stress, anxiety and problems with academic performance are the most common concerns reported to the counseling center staff. In fact, a majority of the students we see indicate that their personal problems have at least a moderate impact on their studies, even when academic concerns are not the main issue for which they sought help.

Additional Mental Health Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

If you are thinking about suicide, or worried about a loved one or friend, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ( 1-800-273-TALK) provides 24/7, free and confidential support.

Military Veterans Suicide Hotline

If you are a military veteran and struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can also call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to speak with caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are veterans themselves.

Trevor Project Hotline

If you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and are thinking about suicide, please call the Trevor Lifeline ( 1-866-488-7386), text START to 678678 or use TrevorChat to speak confidentially with a counselor.

WellWVU

WELLWVU fosters the complete well-being of students through education, promotion and related services. They offer a variety resources for students including programs such as wellbeing programs, resources relating to stress, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual health and much more.

Therapy Dogs

WVU does not shy away from allowing furry friends to take care of the students at the University. 

There are multiple therapy dogs that provide relief and therapy for faculty, staff and students in various colleges and departments.

WVU also offers Hearts of Gold, a service dog training program that provides service dogs for individuals with mobility impairment and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Partnering with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Interdisciplinary Curriculum of WVU, the program offers University courses in service dog training, is developing research activities and provides many other services to the community.

MindFit

MindFit is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program that facilitates academic and cognitive improvements for WVU students. They offer cutting edge tools for students to strengthen their academic skills, content knowledge, memory, attention span and cognitive function.

The program offers three different types of resources:

• Cognitive Enhancement 
• Academic Enhancement