Student Counseling Services
Your mental health is our priority. Licensed mental health professionals at The Counseling Center are available to help you address personal challenges and learn strategies and skills to help you navigate the college experience.
EMERGENCIES
On Campus: Call campus police at 978-837-5911.
Off Campus: Call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
Conditions Treated
Students visit The Counseling Center for many issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship conflicts, grief and loss, homesickness, identity concerns, sexuality, stress and coping, eating disorders and body-image concerns, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and substance use disorders.
Services at The Counseling Center
Our confidential services include:
- Short-term, individual counseling services
- Group counseling, offered by topic
- Crisis intervention, assessment and evaluation
- Consultation to parents, students, faculty and staff who have concerns for a student
- Assessment and referrals for specialized services, psychiatric care or long-term counseling
- Training and outreach programs on various topics of health and wellness
Do you need a secure and confidential space for outside counseling services? Call us at 978-837-5444 to schedule the Telehealth Room located at The Counseling Center.
Make an Appointment or Get Immediate Support
There are a number of options for our enrolled students to receive free mental health services:
Make an Appointment for an In-Person Visit
Call 978-837-5444 to schedule an in-person appointment with a member of The Counseling Center in the Sakowich Center.
Make an Appointment for Teletherapy
Call 978-837-5444 to schedule a teletherapy session from home with a member of The Counseling Center or Uwill.
After Hours Support
Call 833-646-1526 to talk with a member of the Uwill clinical team .
For Mental Health Emergencies: If you or a friend are experiencing a mental health emergency on-campus, call campus police at 978-837-5911. If you are off-campus, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
Our Partnership with Uwill Offers 24/7 Teletherapy
Merrimack has partnered with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students, to offer free access to confidential teletherapy. You have an immediate, secure and convenient way to receive online-based counseling services should the need arise.
- Choose a therapist based on your preferences, including issue, gender, language and ethnicity.
- Choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability.
- Choose your appointment type – video, phone, chat or message.
How to Access Uwill Free Services
- Call The Counseling Center at 978-837-5444.
- You’ll talk with a member of our clinical team who can provide more information about access to Uwill.
- Create Your Profile.
- You’ll create your account and register using your Merrimack College email address. Fill out the basic profile information, reason(s) for signing up and emergency contact information.
- Schedule an Appointment.
- Find an available counselor that matches your preferences. Pick the date, time and appointment type (video, phone or chat) to schedule your appointment.
- Connect with a Counselor.
- An email reminder will be sent to you an hour prior to your scheduled appointment. Access your appointment through the link in the email reminder or visit the Uwill site to begin your appointment.
Access is quick and easy – you can register and book your first session in just minutes. Many students have their first session within hours of registering. If you need any assistance, you can refer to the Uwill FAQ below, download the Uwill Quick Start Guide (pdf) or reach out directly to Uwill at 833-99-UWILL or [email protected].
Uwill Frequently Asked Questions
What is Uwill?
Uwill is a leading mental health and wellness solution that allows students the ability to
connect immediately with licensed available mental counselors based on their unique
needs and preferences.
How does it work?
With Uwill, you have the ability to choose a therapist based on your preferences (issue,
gender, language, ethnicity), choose a time that fits your schedule (day, night, weekend
availability), and choose the appointment type (video, phone, chat, message).
If you or a friend are experiencing a mental health emergency on-campus, call campus police at 978-837-5911. If you are off-campus, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
Who is eligible?
All enrolled students are eligible to receive free counseling services on the Uwill platform.
Is it free?
Yes, Uwill is available to all enrolled Merrimack students free of charge.
How do I get started?
Call 978-837-5444 to talk with a member of our clinical team who can provide more information about access to Uwill and setting up your profile.
When can I start?
After completing your profile, you can immediately choose the counselor and available
appointment time of your choosing. Many students have their first session within hours of
registering.
What types of counseling can I receive through Uwill?
Uwill is designed to help students facing a variety of mental health concerns, including
depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, specific relationship problems, family concerns,
academic performance difficulties, loneliness, and sleep disturbance, among others. No
problem is too big, no problem is too small.
Who are the counselors available on the platform?
The counselors in the Uwill network are all licensed mental health professionals with
extensive clinical experience who possess one of the following credentials or similar:
- Doctoral Level Licensed psychologists (LP, Ph.D., Psy.D. or the state’s equivalent of an
independently licensed psychologist) - Master’s Level Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW, LICSW, or the state’s
equivalent of an independently licensed social worker) - Master’s Level Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT – or the state’s
equivalent of an independently licensed marriage and family therapist) - Master’s Level Licensed Counselors (LPC, LPCC – or the state’s equivalent of an
independently licensed counselor)
Which treatment approaches do the counselors utilize?
Counselors using the Uwill platform generally take a solutions-oriented, holistic
perspective to treatment with a focus on providing specific coping skills to address the
issues you are facing. To accomplish this, counselors use a variety of approaches including
but not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy
(DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Therapy.
Can I choose between video, phone, chat and message-based support?
Yes, you work with your counselor and select the format that best suits you. The first
session must be video or phone and then you can choose the modality based on your
schedule and needs. The 24/7/365 crisis line offers phone assistance only.
What are Uwill credits and how do they work?
Uwill sessions equate to a specific amount of credits. Free credits are provided to you by Merrimack and can be used as follows:
- Video/Phone (30-minute session) = 30 credits
- Scheduled Chat (15-minute sessions) = 15 credits
- Messaging (2-way exchange) = 5 credits.
Is there a maximum number of credits I can use?
Yes, you have 240 credits to use.
Do the credits expire?
Yes, the credits expire when the total number of counseling credits has been exhausted by
students or on 12/31/2022, whichever is earlier.
Can I transfer my credits to another student?
No, credits cannot be transferred.
What is your cancellation policy?
For all scheduled appointments, you may cancel up to 24 hours prior to the appointment
time without penalty. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, 50% of the credits for
that appointment will be processed. For example, if you cancel a 30-credit video session
with less than 24 hours notice, 15 credits will be deducted. If you do not cancel and miss the appointment 30 credits will be deducted as if the session had occurred.
Is it really private and secure?
Yes, Uwill is HIPAA and FERPA compliant which means we follow the strictest privacy
guidelines. We never share your data – even on anonymized basis – to any third party –
without consent.
What browser is best to access Uwill?
For best performance, we recommend you use the Chrome browser.
If I am having an emergency, what should I do?
If you or a friend are experiencing a mental health emergency on-campus, call campus police at 978-837-5911. If you are off-campus, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
Other emergency resources:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line: Text “Home” TO 741-741
Can I change counselors?
Yes, you can change your counselor at any time.
Who do I reach out to for technical assistance?
Uwill provides 24/7 technical support by email [email protected] or phone at 833-99-UWILL.
Crisis Assessment
Counselors are available to Merrimack students, faculty, and staff for mental health crisis management, intervention or consultation.
Triage and Consultation
During business hours, counselors may be accessed for crisis intervention or consultation by calling the main number 978-837-5444. When you call, you will be asked a series of questions to triage the situation appropriately including if you need to speak with a counselor immediately, within a certain time frame, or are you able to receive a call back before the end of the business day. Any information that can be shared about the situation is helpful to determine an appropriate and effective response.
