Your Place for Growth
As your confidential resource for mental health, we provide the practical tools and clinical support you need to navigate your studies with confidence and lead a purposeful life after graduation.
Navigating the College Experience
College life brings a lot at once: academic pressure, major transitions, and the work of self-discovery. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. As your primary mental health resource, we provide a confidential, safe space for undergraduate and graduate students to navigate these challenges with professional care. Our mission is to nurture a community where you feel empowered to prioritize your well-being.
A Partnership for Your Growth
We view therapy as a collaborative partnership, not a place where you are told what to do. Our counselors work alongside you to help you understand your needs, strengthen your support system, and build tangible skills. We provide a judgment-free environment designed to help you gain the confidence to take charge of your own path and be truly heard.
Strength in Reaching Out
Asking for support is a sign of strength. No matter what is on your mind, our center is a welcoming resource for you. Through a balance of individual counseling, helpful tools, and wellness workshops, we ensure you have what you need to thrive, both during your time at SFC and in the life you are building after graduation.
Our Services
At the Counseling and Wellness Center, we provide a variety of ways to support your mental health and personal growth. Whether you are looking for one-on-one time or a community-wide event, our services are designed to meet you where you are.
Individual & Group Support
- Individual Counseling Sessions: Work one-on-one with a counselor in a private, confidential space to explore your goals and navigate challenges.
- Group Sessions: Connect with peers in a supportive, therapist-led environment to share experiences and build strength together. Reach out to [email protected] to learn more about what groups are running.
Connection to Care & Community
- Internal & External Referrals: We help connect you to the right resources, whether they are on campus or specialized external services, including rehab, recovery, and emergency care.
- Coordinated Care: We work alongside your outside providers to ensure your mental health support is seamless and consistent.
- Community Resources: We serve as a bridge to local organizations and support networks throughout Brooklyn and the greater NYC area.
Proactive Wellness & Crisis Support
- Campus-Wide Wellness Programming & Workshops: Join us for interactive events and psychoeducation designed to build your "wellness toolkit" and foster a culture of health at SFC.
- Crisis Intervention: For urgent needs, we provide immediate, professional support to help stabilize and guide students through difficult moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can counseling do for me?
Counseling is what you make of it. By talking with a counselor, you can work to understand yourself better, resolve problems, come to terms with important issues, or manage stress. The purpose of counseling is not to tell you what to do, but to emphasize the choices that are ultimately yours to make and help you implement them.
What can I expect when I come in for counseling?
Being a college student isn’t easy. Balancing classes, friends, jobs, homework, and family can be very stressful. At times, your life may seem to be overwhelming and confusing. At the Counseling and Wellness Center, a therapist will listen to you and help guide you through a difficult time. You will work together with a dedicated counselor to better manage your stress.
How many counseling sessions can I schedule?
All students are eligible for weekly 45 minutes sessions while they are enrolled at SFC. You will work with your individual counselor to schedule the day and time for your sessions as well as if you would like to meet virtually or in-person. These counseling sessions are a resource that is included in your annual tuition and we encourage you to take advantage of it while you are a student here.
Will anyone know that I am coming to the counseling center or what I talk about in my sessions?
The Counseling and Wellness Center operates under a strict confidentiality policy. All personal information collected is securely stored and kept confidential. With very few exceptions, no information is given out to professors, parents, or anyone else without your written consent. Your counselor will discuss any limitations to confidentiality in your first session.
Contact Information
Counseling and Wellness Office - Room 7214
Emma Wall, LMHC, Clinical Supervisor (Email: [email protected])
Jaquelyn Pharmakides, LMHC, Clinical Supervisor (Email: [email protected])
Interested in scheduling a session? Fill out this Jotform using your SFC email or reach us at [email protected] to get connected to a counselor today!
COMMUNITY & WELLNESS RESOURCES
COMMUNITY & WELLNESS RESOURCES
Need Help Right Now (24/7 Crisis Support)
Local Police (84th Precinct) and Emergency Assistance – Dial 911
St. Francis College has a partnership with Beth Israel Hospital. Click here to access information about Sexual Assault Care at Beth Israel Manhattan. Click here for Victim Services Program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 24/7 connection to counseling, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention via text, chat, or phone.
- Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential support.
The Trevor Project: Offers 24/7 crisis support and resources specifically for queer and questioning youth
- Text 'START' to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Offering 24/7 confidential support to those affected by relationship abuse.
Call 1(800) 799-SAFE (7233), Text ‘START’ to 88788, or use the live chat function on their website
Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (New York State): Offering Confidential support 24/7, available in most languages.
Call 1(800) 942-6906 or Text 1(844) 997-2121
Safe Horizon Domestic Violence Hotline: Available 24/7 for anyone who has experienced domestic or intimate partner violence, crime, abuse, or sexual assault.
Call 1(866) 689-4673 (HOPE)
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: Available 24/7 to connect with a real, live person who’s trained to help.
Call 1(800) 656-4673 (HOPE), Text ‘HOPE’ to 64673, or use their online chat service.
New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault’s Sexual Violence Survivor Resource Guide
NYPD Sex Crimes Report Hotline: 24-hour hotline is staffed around the clock allowing individuals the ability to report sex crimes and be connected directly and immediately with the appropriate Special Victims Squad who will handle their report.
Call 1(212) 267-7273 or 1(646) 267-7273
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking
Call 1(888) 373-7888 or text ‘JOIN’ to 233733
Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH): Offers a toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Call or text 1(800) 985-5990