Both undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled as full- or part-time may receive services. Students must also be currently in Massachusetts.

We are located on the 2nd Floor of the Callahan building (University Police and the Bentley ID Card office are located below us). If you are at the main entrance, walk up and around to the left and you will see the counseling center entrance.

No. Services at the counseling center are included in the cost of attendance. If you are referred to an off campus treatment provider, you may wish to use your insurance or pay out of pocket. Psychiatry appointments at the counseling center do not require insurance however you may use your insurance for your prescribed medications or pay out of pocket for those medications.

All Bentley University Counseling Center services are confidential and any associated documents are not part of your academic record. However, there are some instances in which students sign a consent form for counselors to contact faculty members, staff members, past and future counselors, and/or family members. Counseling Center clinicians will NOT contact anyone about your treatment without your consent, except as required by law or professional ethics. 

You can schedule an appointment either by calling our main number (781-891-2274) or by scheduling an appointment online.  Students are required to make their own appointments. We ask that you arrive about 10 minutes prior to your scheduled consultation to complete paperwork. 

The first appointment is a “consultation” appointment.  During this appointment, the clinician will ask you some questions about your concerns and gather some background information to get a sense of what might be going on and develop some recommendations for you going forward. This could be just a one-time appointment or you may collaboratively decide that continuing to meet with one of our on-campus or telehealth providers would be in your best interest.  For some people, it is also possible that we may help you get connected with services off campus that is better suited to you needs. 

If you need to cancel or reschedule your first or subsequent appointments, please contact the front desk staff (781-891-2274). We request 24-hour notice so that the time slot can be offered to another student in need.

No.  What happens after the initial appointment all depends on what the student needs and what makes the most sense regarding appropriate care.  At the initial consultation appointment, you will talk with the clinician about what may be the best plan for you. Some students come in just for that one appointment, while others are set up for an intake appointment in our center or with one of our teletherapy clinicians. Some students may also be referred to a skills workshop or group therapy. Others are assisted with getting connected with a provider off campus who will be able to see them for a longer period of time or focus on something specific.

Unfortunately no. The psychiatric provider at the Counseling Center only provides short-term services for students not yet on medication. If you need assistance finding a provider in the area to prescribe your medication during your time at Bentley, we recommend using Thriving Campus, contacting your current provider for a referral or reaching out to your insurance company for a list of providers. If you are unable to find a provider, contact the front desk staff at the Counseling Center and they can offer you a list of providers in the area.

The Counseling Center cannot diagnose you with ADHD and does not do ADHD testing. If you are concerned that you may have ADHD, the Counseling Center can offer a list of providers in the area who can evaluate you and diagnose if appropriate.

Whether you already have a prescription for ADHD medication or need a prescription for ADHD medication, the psychiatric provider at the Counseling Center does not offer evaluation and appointments for ADHD or suspected ADHD. If you are in need of this service, try using our outside referral service, Thriving Campus. 

If you are concerned about a student and the situation is not an emergency, file a CARE Report. It will be sent to a small group of professionals who provide assistance, guidance or feedback to students who may be in crises or are engaging in other behaviors that are perceived as harmful. The Bentley CARE Team accepts referrals and responds to students, families, faculty and staff when concerns for a student’s health and safety are identified. If it is an emergency, please contact campus police (617-891-3131) or go to your closest emergency room.

As a family member, you might be the first to know when your student is in distress. It is important to listen and watch for thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors that are unusual for your student. Below are some additional signs that might indicate that your student might benefit from a meeting at the Counseling Center:

• Unexplained drop in academic performance
• Difficulty sleeping or getting out of bed nearly every day
• Feeling sad or appearing tearful nearly every day
• Socially isolating and/or suddenly losing interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Expressions of hopelessness, e.g., "What's the point of trying?"
• Direct or indirect statements about death or suicide, e.g., "What's the point of living?" or "I wish I were dead"

Often family members are in the best position to notice any significant changes in their students and are seen as trusted and safe sources of support. As such, if you notice any signs of distress or behavior that is out of character for your student, it is best to start with a conversation. Through talking with your student, you can get a sense of what is going on and whether additional support is necessary.

After speaking with your student, if you both decide that an appointment with the Counseling Center could be beneficial, encourage your student to call or stop in during business hours (we require students make their own appointments). 

If you continue to have concerns about your student, want someone to check-in with your student, and/or are having difficulty getting your student to seek help, you may consider communicating your concerns to the Bentley CARE Team. This team is a small group of university professionals who provide assistance, guidance, or feedback to students in distress. 

Yes, please visit our resource page.

If you are worried about a particular student, Counseling Center staff members are available for consultation. Call us at (781) 891-2274 and ask to speak with a clinician about a student in distress.

If a referral to the Counseling Center is warranted, we can help you identify ways to make a referral for the student. You may also come to our center during business hours.

If the emergency is life-threatening, please contact University Police at (781) 891-3131. Our staff may also direct you to fill out a CARE Report on the student in distress. 

If you ever question whether a student should be evaluated by a professional, call the Counseling Center.

It is not unusual to feel uncomfortable referring a student to counseling. You may be concerned that the student will be offended or embarrassed. However, students usually respond well to a solid and thoughtful suggestion for counseling, especially if you are approaching the student from a place of caring, concern and non-judgement. The manner in which you present the topic can do a great deal to comfort the student. As such, it is important that you prepare adequately for the discussion and approach it positively with the confidence that it is the best option for the student.

See these tips for referring a student to counseling (PDF).

• If the student needs to speak with someone in the Counseling Center right away, call our office 781-891-2274 and speak with the front desk. They will need to speak with the student to confirm the student would like an appointment and will then get them scheduled. 
• If it is outside of regular business hours and you feel the student needs to speak with someone immediately, our after-hours clinicians can be reached by calling our main number 781-891-2274 and following the prompts. If it is not immediate and the student can wait for an appointment, you can help the student book an appointment online.
• If a student requires immediate attention, is unmanageable (aggressive, hostile, requiring medical attention, or refusing care); or if you feel directly threatened or that others are at risk; call University Police. Officers are trained to assess emergencies and it is always advisable to get a second opinion.
• Try to have as much information available as possible when contacting University Police, the Counseling Center, or any other campus resource. This includes your name, the student's name, student ID, exact location, details about the incident, and a rough timeline of events.
• While waiting for a response from the University Police there are strategies you can employ to manage the crisis:
• Keep the student in a quiet and secure place where they will feel safe and calm.
• Get help. The first rule of any crisis is not to manage it alone. Find a colleague who can help both you and the student.
•  Listen. Allowing a student to talk about why he or she is upset is a crucial and valuable tool. Do not try to solve their problem.
• Our staff may also direct you to fill out a CARE Report on the student in distress. 

Counseling Center staff can facilitate workshops for students, faculty and staff on a variety of topics related to student mental health, wellness and development. Staff are also available to speak to students about college mental health and the services on campus.