Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Why is there a Student Counseling Service satellite clinic in the College of Veterinary Medicine?
• Q: Who provides services?
• Q: Where is the Student Counseling Service satellite office located?
• Q: When are services available?
• Q: What types of services are available?
• Q: Are psychiatric services available through the satellite office?
• Q: How do I arrange an appointment?
• Q: What about my records and confidentiality?
• Q: Are there other resources that might be helpful for me?

Why is there a Student Counseling Service satellite clinic in the College of Veterinary Medicine?

The Student Counseling Service satellite office is made possible by collaboration between the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Student Counseling Service (SCS) in order to make it easier for CVM students to access counseling services.

Who provides services?

Services are provided by Derek Bergeron, Ph.D., a Texas licensed psychologist. Dr. Bergeron has provided counseling services to TAMU students since August of 2007. He received his B.A. in Psychology and English from Texas A&M University, and completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at The Ohio State University. Dr. Bergeron is board certified in Counseling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology

Where is the Student Counseling Service satellite office located?

The office is located in the tunnel that runs under University Ave. between the Veterinary Medical Sciences Building and the Medical Sciences Library. It is room 060 in the tunnel, a sign that says "Student Counseling Service" is on the door. If you are not familiar with this location, one way to find it is to first locate the Medical Sciences Library building, as can be found using the campus map link directly below. Once at the Medical Sciences Library building, simply find the stairs or elevator and go down a floor.

http://aggiemap.tamu.edu/?Bldg=1509

When are services available?

Hours are available weekdays and most weekday evenings. Dr. Bergeron will be as flexible as he can with his schedule if an appointment time outside his regular hours is needed by a student. Dr. Bergeron's current hours for the Fall 2012 semester are as follows:

Monday        none
Tuesday       8:30am-7pm
Wednesday  8:30am-7pm
Thursday      8am-6:30pm
Friday           8:30am-7pm

Dr. Bergeron's availability varies week to week with appoinments and other responsibilities. To learn more about current availability, contact Dr. Bergeron by phone or email.

What types of services are available?

A variety of counseling services are offered to students. These include:

• Personal Counseling
• Academic Counseling
• Couple Counseling
• Consultation
• Biofeedback
• Presentations and Workshops
• Clinical Hypnosis

Are psychiatric services available through the satellite office?

Psychiatric services, including the use of medication to reduce certain symptoms are not available at the SCS satellite office. However, psychiatric services are available by referral at the SCS office in Cain Hall on campus. Dr. Bergeron can assist in making a referral if appropriate.

How do I arrange an appointment?

Derek Bergeron, Ph.D.
Room 060 Medical Sciences Library Building/CVM Tunnel
dbergeron@cvm.tamu.edu
(979) 845-0806

Students can arrange an appointment via the SCS website, by phone, by email, or in person. To arrange an appointment by phone or email, simply contact Dr. Bergeron at the phone number or email address listed above. In terms of arranging appointments in person, if the door of Dr. Bergeron's office is open then he is available. Students are welcome to walk in to discuss setting up an appointment time, and on occasion meeting at that moment might be possible if Dr. Bergeron's schedule allows.

Another way to arrange an appointment is via the SCS website.

The online registration process verifies a student's current enrollment, explains confidentiality and its limits, and gathers information about your concerns. The information obtained is encrypted and secure. The last section of the online enrollment allows a student to select an initial appointment time, this section will look similar to the following image:

Two sets of times are listed for initial appointments: one set is labeled "Reynolds Hall/Tunnel", the other is labeled "Cain Hall". If you wish to meet with Dr. Bergeron, you may select a time that indicates Reynolds Hall/Tunnel. If you wish to receive services at Cain Hall on main campus, you may select a time with the "Cain Hall" label. Be aware that selecting a time at one location will not reserve a time at the other.

If you schedule an appointment by phone, email or in person, you will be asked to complete the online registration before your first appointment. In this case you may select the option "I prefer to not schedule an appointment at this time" when you fill out this section of the online registration.

What about my records and confidentiality?

It is necessary to keep records of services in order to ensure adherence to standards of care and to fulfill legal and ethical requirements. However, no information about counseling is released to anyone outside of the SCS without a student's written authorization. Not only is this the policy of SCS, it is also required by law. The SCS makes no record of visits on academic transcripts or placement files. In this regard, the Dean's office and CVM faculty and staff do not have any access to SCS records. However, there are some limits to confidentiality. In these rare cases, the law may allow or even require a therapist to protect a client or a third party. Limits to confidentiality include the following:

• When there is the risk of imminent harm to themselves or another person, therapists have an ethical duty to do whatever is necessary to protect life.
• When any individual has reason to believe that a child or mentally disabled person or an elderly person is in danger of or is being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, that individual is obligated by law to report such abuse to the proper authorities.
• Therapists are required by law to report incidences of sexual misconduct on the part of other therapists.
• In Texas, there is no confidentiality in criminal procedures.

Additionally, Dr. Bergeron may consult at times with other professional staff members of the SCS for the purpose of providing the best possible service.

Are there other resources that might be helpful for me?

Information about a variety of resources can be found on the Student Counseling Service webpage, http://scs.tamu.edu. In particular, the following services are noteworthy:

The SCS Helpline - If you wish to speak to someone about a concern after 4:00 PM weekdays (until 8:00 AM the following weekday) or 24/7 weekends, the Helpline is an excellent resource.

Mental Health Screenings - If you have some concerns but are unsure about meeting with a mental health professional, the online screenings are a helpful first step to explore whether consulting with a mental health professional is likely to be beneficial.

The SCS virtual Library - If you want help for academic improvement, career exploration, or overall well-being, the virtual library is a convenient place to start.