FAQ

• Who can access services at the Health & Counseling Center?
• Do I need to have the UNC Asheville insurance policy to access Health and Counseling Center?
• Do I have to make an appointment to see a provider?
• Will my insurance be billed for seeking services?
• Can Health Services fill my prescription?
• Who can know that I have been to the Health & Counseling Center?
• What kind of counseling is provided?
• How do I make an appointment to see the Health & Counseling Center psychiatrist?
• What are my rights & responsibilities as a student seeking services at the Health & Counseling Center?
• What is a psychological emergency?
• What can I do if I am concerned about a friend?
• What is exactly is “Biofeedback?”
• What is the difference between a Physician Assistant and a Nurse Practitioner?

Who can access services at the Health & Counseling Center?

Any student that is enrolled in the current semester is eligible to receive services. The Health & Counseling Center cannot provide services to family members of students or UNC Asheville staff.

Do I need to have the UNC Asheville insurance policy to access Health and Counseling Center?  

No. All currently enrolled students have access to Health & Counseling Center services regardless of health insurance coverage.

Do I have to make an appointment to see a provider?  

Yes. It is important to call the Health & Counseling Center in advance for an appointment. Typically,  an appointment for Health Services can be scheduled within a day or two. During the regular fall and spring semester, Counseling Services has daily walk-in hours for students who are initiating services for a brief half-hour meeting with a counselor to help you determine counseling needs and make recommendations. During summer sessions, please contact Counseling Services to make an initial appointment for a fifty minute intake assessment. Once you are an established counseling client, you will be invited to make an appointment with your counselor for a full session. Emergency services are always available for students in distress that cannot wait until the next day.

Will my insurance be billed for seeking services?

No. Health & Counseling Center office visits are free of charge and additional services are offered at a reduced cost. For example, laboratory testing,  medical procedures,  pharmacy items, and medical supplies do cost a nominal fee for students.

Can Health Services fill my prescription?

We cannot fill prescriptions from outside providers. We have a limited supply of prescription medications including various contraceptive pills and other contraception methods. These medications can be dispensed to students if prescribed by one of the Health Services providers. Any specific inquiries regarding prescriptions can be answered by calling Health Services at 828.251.6520. There are several pharmacies nearby that are within walking distance from campus:

CVS Pharmacy, 612 Merrimon Avenue 828.253.4350
The Medicine Shoppe, 760 Merrimon Avenue 828.255.8757
Walgreens Pharmacy, 841 Merrimon Avenue 828.225.5113
Rite Aid, 846 Merrimon Avenue 828.252.1866
Ingles Pharmacy, 915 Merrimon Avenue 828.255.8949

Target and Wal-Mart Pharmacies are popular with students because they offer a variety of prescription medications available for a $4 co-pay. Both of these can be reached by public or private transportation.

Who can know that I have been to the Health & Counseling Center?

Health & Counseling Center services are completely confidential. Our integrated treatment team is inclusive and information may be shared within the Health & Counseling staff to maintain continuity of care. No one outside the Health & Counseling staff may know that you are seeking services here without your specific written permission unless it has been disclosed that you or someone else is in imminent danger. Any release of information that is signed by the student regarding academic and financial information DOES NOT apply to health and counseling services. 

What kind of counseling is provided?

Students come in with a variety of concerns including family and interpersonal relationship difficulties, stress management, anxiety, depression, anger, personal growth, and self-esteem building just to name a few. Counseling services include: individual counseling,  group support, emergency services, and case management services.   The Career Center and Advising and Learning Support can assist you with concerns regarding career counseling and academic counseling.

How do I make an appointment to see the Health & Counseling Center psychiatrists?

You must first meet with a staff member of the Health & Counseling Center to get a referral. Our psychiatrists are on-site (on a limited basis) and the cost is included in your student health fee, meaning that you are not billed separately. If you miss your appointment or if you do not cancel 24 hours in advance, you will be billed $25.

What are my rights & responsibilities as a student seeking services at the Health & Counseling Center?

Click here for an expanded explanation of your rights and responsibilities.

What is a psychological emergency?

Our same-day psychological crisis services are designed to assist students who are confronting life-threatening circumstances, current or recent traumatic events, and serious mental illness. Some examples include thoughts about harming yourself or another person, needing to be hospitalized, having experienced recent abuse or assault, concern for your own or someone else’s safety, hallucinations, recent death of a loved one, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms from substance abuse, or having experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.

What can I do if I am concerned about a friend?

Friends are often the first to notice something might be not be quite right. You can call Counseling Services and request to speak with a counselor regarding what you have noticed in your friend and what you may be able to do about it. We ask that you make an in-person appointment to discuss your concerns but we are also open to phone consultations.

What is exactly is “Biofeedback?”

Biofeedback can help treat the prolonged distress of feeling overwhelmed or out of control. Symptoms common in college students include excessive worry, difficulty concentrating, tension and migraine headaches, digestive problems, panic attacks, explosive anger, sleep disturbance, substance misuse, and declines in sports/creative/academic performance. Biofeedback uses electronic sensors placed on the skin to provide visual or auditory "feedback" about how one's body is functioning in real-time. In conjunction with traditional treatments and under the guidance of a qualified therapist, clinical biofeedback can help students learn to monitor and regulate their psycho-physiological functioning and to apply these skills in daily life. This service is provided on site for students who have been referred by a UNC Asheville Health & Counseling Center staff member.

What is the difference between a Physician Assistant and a Nurse Practitioner?

A Physician Assistant (PA) is a licensed health professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. PA's provide a broad range of health care services that were traditionally performed by a doctor. Training usually consists of a medically related undergraduate degree plus two years of training through a certified or Master's level PA program. What a physician assistant does varies with training, experience, and state laws. They can perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, suture wounds, assist in surgery, provide preventive health care counseling, and can write prescriptions in North Carolina.

Nurse Practitioners (NP's) are advanced practice nurses who provide high-quality health care services. NP's diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. NP's focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling. NP's have graduate level education and clinical training beyond their registered nurse preparation. Most have Master's degrees and many have Doctorates. NP's are licensed by either nursing or medical boards and can perform some office medical procedures, order and diagnose laboratory tests and prescribe medication. NP's practice in a variety of settings and in many states, including NC, operate independent clinics. For more information visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.