Counseling and Health

Hamline students who are currently registered for classes and residing within the state of Minnesota are eligible for virtual appointments. Due to state-specific licensing requirements, we are legally restricted from providing services if you are located elsewhere. However, we can support you with short-term problem-solving and with finding qualified mental health providers in your area.

All counseling information (including the fact that a student has been seen by a psychologist) is considered private information under the Minnesota State Privacy Act and laws covering privileged communication between a client and a therapist. Neither parents nor university employees have access to information about your participation in counseling, unless you specifically request your psychologist to share information. To ensure your privacy in virtual counseling, we only utilize secure, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platforms.

Counseling services are free to Hamline University undergraduate students. (Costs are covered in tuition fees.) Graduate students may pay a per-semester fee to access counseling services.

Counseling sessions are either 30 or 60 minutes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of ongoing counseling sessions will be 30 minutes in duration.

Students are eligible for up to five hours of individual counseling per semester, which may be received in 30-minute or 60-minute increments. Those seeking longer-term or more intensive counseling can obtain referrals to providers in the local community. 
 

Counseling appointments are available from the beginning of the fall semester through the end of May term. During the summer, we are only available for consultation and referrals. Please see our summer 2022 updates for more information and resources. 

Counseling at Hamline is provided by individuals who have completed a doctorate in counseling or clinical psychology from a graduate program accredited by the American Psychological Association. Each member of the permanent counseling staff is a Minnesota state-licensed psychologist. All counseling services at Hamline are offered under the oversight of the director of counseling, Hussein Rajput, PhD, LP. 

Counseling is a collaborative process whereby your psychologist will work with you to identify your main concerns, determine a plan of action, and work with you to make measurable progress towards your goals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, counseling may focus more heavily on problem-solving, coping strategies, and identification of resources.

Counseling works! Research studies with large national samples have shown that most people who use counseling find it helpful. Not surprisingly, the amount that you will benefit depends on how much effort you are willing to put into the process. The vast majority of students surveyed at Hamline also report that their problems were improved or resolved as a result of participation in counseling, and that they would recommend counseling to a friend.

• Attend all your scheduled online appointments. (If you are not able to attend a given appointment, please provide our office with as much advance notice as possible.) 
• Prepare for each counseling session with some ideas of what you want to focus on. Be honest about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. 
• Work with your counselor to develop your counseling goals, discuss your progress towards these goals, and modify them as needed. 
• Complete any “homework” planned by you and your counselor. Let your counselor know if you feel you are not being helped, so that they can help you figure out alternative strategies for addressing your concerns if necessary. 
   

Yes. We maintain a detailed list of community mental health providers in the Twin Cities area, and can also assist you with finding qualified providers in other areas as well.

During times of peak demand for services, students sometimes have to wait to access on-going counseling appointments. The average time spent on the waiting list is one-to-two weeks. However, wait times may extend longer if you are seeking to meet with only one particular member of the staff. While you are on the waitlist, same-day crisis counseling appointments are still available on weekdays. If you prefer to access off-campus community resources you can also schedule a one-time consultation/referral appointment.

In addition to individual counseling services, we offer a variety of counseling groups during the fall and spring semesters. For more information about current group offerings, check out our current offerings.

Health services are available to Hamline students regardless of their insurance coverage. For undergraduates, health services provider visits are covered by tuition fees. Graduate students may access health services for a fee charged per semester. 

Any medical information that you share with our staff is considered private. Information in your health file will not be made available to anyone (including faculty, administrators, and parents) without your written consent. Please refer to the Health Service's Notice of Privacy Practices for more detailed information. 

Provider visits do not come with any associated charges, but there can be costs for lab testing, prescriptions, or immunizations. You will be informed of any charges prior to receiving those services, and are able to pay by cash, check, or student account charge. For a full description of health clinic fees, visit this page.

Health Services providers can prescribe medication as needed for a variety of common concerns. Health Services also stocks a limited number of prescriptions available for purchase at cost. Please note that with regard to prescription ADHD medications, our clinicians are not able to provide ongoing management of stimulant prescriptions. Students seeking refills of previously prescribed medication for ADD or ADHD are encouraged to contact the original prescriber to discuss preferred procedures for refilling these medications in accordance with Minnesota laws.
 

The medical staff at Health Services are also able to distribute over-the counter medications to Hamline students. However, students will need to schedule an appointment and have completed up-to-date paperwork in order to receive medications. Administrative staff members are not able to distribute medications of any kind.
 

Several local pharmacies offer discount programs on certain generic drugs. A few websites containing databases on prescription assistance programs are GoodRx, RxAssist, America's Pharmacy, and Partnership for Prescription Assistance. All provide information about free and low cost medicine programs and other ways to manage your medication costs. You are able to search for information by the name of the medicine or the company that manufactures it. You may want to check with your doctor or pharmacist. They may know where to get free or discounted medication. You may also qualify for Medicaid or other similar health care programs that offer prescription coverage. To learn more, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.

Health Services is currently not able to provide medical clearance or a physical exam to students traveling abroad. For more information, visit the IOCP Study Abroad page.