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Counseling
Counseling is individual, group and referral services for the purpose of helping Ai students adjust to the multitude of challenges they face in life, work, and school. This services is free of charge and is available to all current students of The Art Institute of Houston.
Tom Wilbeck is the Director of Counseling Services. He is located in the Department of Student Affairs on the second floor. Tom is licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and has been a clinical director for over ten years.
Counseling works by helping you objectively look at behaviors, feelings, and thoughts in situations which you find problematic. It helps you learn more effective ways of dealing with those situations. By talking things out with someone, you can clarify your own issues and gain perspective on the best ways of handling them.
There are no right or wrong topics. A wide variety of areas are addressed in counseling including stress management, depression, family problems, relationship problems, substance abuse, time management, physical illness, eating discorders, suicide and sexual abuse. No issue is too big or too small to be considered appropriate for counseling - if it is of concern to you, it is worth talking about.
How Can I Tell if it's Time to Seek Counseling?
While anytime you have something on your mind that is of concern to you is a general guideline, some more specific guidelines include:
- When you feel like you can't do it alone
- When you feel trapped, like there's nowhere to turn
- When you worry all the time, and never seem to find answers
- When the way you feel is affecting your sleep, your eating habits, your schoolwork, your job, your relationships and your everyday life
- When things are not getting any better.
Counseling Services is located on the second floor in the Student Affairs department. You can sign up for a meeting by checking in with our Administrative Assistant, Sandy Pricer. Often you can book the same day or up to a week in advance. Or, if you choose, there is an open-door policy in effect. Drop-in visits are welcome provided there is not another person currently in the office with the counselor.
Your privacy is very important. There is a Code of Ethics that requires strict efforts to maintain confidentiality. Confidentiality may only be broken in cases where you are at great risk of being a threat to yourself or to someone else. Otherwise, no one will know that you have seen the counselor and what you have discussed unless you choose to let them know. A special release of information form will need to be signed in the Counselor's office if you would like anyone else to be involved including family and friend s. Please note that this form is entirely different from any other forms you may have signed that allow your parents to receive information from the Art Institute of Houston (e.g. grades, attendance, etc.).