Counseling Services & Case Management

Full time Columbia College students receive free access to counseling and case management services to deal with a variety of personal concerns.

Mental health counselors routinely treat students for depression, anxiety, relationship issues, lack of motivation and other psychological concerns.

The case manager provides support with issues such as budgeting, time management, financial emergency, medical resources, etc. 

Counseling and case management services are confidential, culturally sensitive and available to students on-campus, online and in evening undergraduate, and graduate programs.  

Appointments

Counseling and case management appointments are available either in-person or remotely using telehealth or by phone. If you have further questions about services, or want to make an appointment, please contact us. 
 

Mila Burgess-Conway, Director of Counseling
Harrelson Building | Room 209

SC Licensed Professional Counselor
e. mconway@sydotnet.net
p. 803.786.3603  f. 803.786.3576
To schedule a counseling appointment, go to: http://columbia-college-counseling.clientsecure.me

Charkeisha Moore, Mental Health Counselor
Virtual Appointments

Licensed Master Social Worker
e. clmoore@sydotnet.net
p. 803.272.8472  f. 803.786.3576
To schedule a counseling appointment, go to: http://columbia-college-counseling.clientsecure.me
 

Anessah Barker, Mental Health Counselor
Harrelson Building | Room 101

Licensed Master Social Worker
e. abarker@sydotnet.net
p. 803.786.3727  f. 803.786.3576
To schedule a counseling appointment, go to: http://columbia-college-counseling.clientsecure.me

Judith Myers, Case Manager
Harrelson Building | Room 102

e. jmyers@sydotnet.net
p. 803.786.3731 f. 803.786.3576
To schedule a counseling appointment, go to: http://columbia-college-counseling.clientsecure.me/

Office Location and Hours

• Counseling Center: Room 209 Harrelson Building
• Business Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Evening appointments are also available.
• After-hour emergencies, call CCPD at: 803.786.3333
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255

Confidentiality

Confidentiality Agreement

All services are confidential, including the identities, information about, and all records kept on student clients/patients. Our staff cannot reveal nor confirm the identity of students seeking counseling services, their participation in those services, nor the content of communications with those students to those outside the Office of Counseling Services staff without the student’s knowledge and written consent. Information about a student’s use of counseling services is kept separately from their academic record. Students may sign a written release granting their counselor permission to share confidential counseling information with specific other persons such as parents, an RA, faculty member, or another health service provider.

Counseling Services is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your counseling appointments. Information about your appointments cannot be disclosed to others without your written consent. Your counseling appointments are not a part of your academic record. There are some exceptions to confidentiality, typically involving a necessity to protect you or someone else from imminent danger, or if served with a court order for specific information.

Confidentiality Protection & Privacy

It is the philosophy of Columbia College Counseling Services that one of the basic rights of clients in treatment is the right to confidentiality. Confidentiality is an ethic that prevents unauthorized disclosures about clients, including their names and their care, without the client’s expressed written permission, except in cases of suspected child abuse or neglect, abuse or neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, suspected serious threat to self or others, or by court order.

All student client files are clearly marked “Confidential” and housed in the Director of Counseling Services’ locked office, within a locked closet, file or desk. The key to the office is not on the general lock system.

The Director’s Administrative Assistant and all student workers in the office are trained in the proper handling of confidential issues such as identity, visits, telephone calls, etc. All sign a “Confidentiality Statement” agreeing to comply with principals of confidentiality.

Other than the Counselor, only the Administrative Assistant has access to student client data (not progress notes), and for the sole purpose of data gathering at the request of the Director.

E-mail is not considered a secure form of communication; therefore, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in an e-mail message. Please be aware that e-mail accounts may only be checked infrequently and not at all on weekends or holidays. Any clinical information sent over email will be discussed with the student in person or over the phone; that information becomes part of the clinical record.

If a student client requests that confidential information be released to/obtained from a third party, an “Authorization to Release or Obtain Confidential Information” form. This form includes an explanation of the requirements of the South Carolina Code that protects confidential mental health information. By contacting the Counselor, the student client may revoke her permission to release confidential mental health information at any time.

When Counseling Services receives a request for a student’s confidential mental health information, the student will be notified about the request.

At intake, a student client is provided information that states the student’s rights with respect to uses and releases of confidential mental healthcare information. The student client is also provided with this “Protection of Confidentiality” information.

Counseling Services will provide any person with a copy of this “Protection of Confidentiality” information upon request.

Counseling Services will retain a copy and any revisions of the “Protection of Confidentiality” for at least five (5) years.

The Counselor may contact you to follow up on select referrals from family, faculty, staff or friends, to inform you of other services that may be of interest to you or to respond to your call, email, etc.

The “Protection of Confidentiality” information is posted on Counseling Services’ webpage for access to all individuals who may seek counseling.

If you believe your rights to privacy have been violated, you have the right to express your concerns. You may address your concerns to the Director of Counseling in writing or to the Dean of Students.

Scope of Practice

Students whose needs cannot be accommodated within short-term counseling, or whose needs require a particular type of expertise unavailable on campus, are referred to community resources.   Services provided on campus will NOT be an appropriate substitute for intensive, or long-term treatment.   Counseling Services will provide referral services when it becomes clear that the student’s needs are outside of the scope of care. The counseling services team will follow-up with the student to facilitate the referral, offering assistance as necessary.