Outreach and Workshops

Workshops

Workshops are free, confidential, unlimited and a fantastic opportunity for UMKC students to learn new coping skills and gain support. Workshops are available to UMKC students only. Our agency offers several workshop series each semester. Once a student has completed a workshop, they are welcome to repeat the workshop to strengthen their newly developed skills.

Register for a workshop

In order to access group counseling services, students must contact our office at 816-235-1635 to set up a 30-minute initial consultation appointment. Students should indicate their interest in a particular group when scheduling the Initial Consultation appointment. If a student is already utilizing another treatment option at UMKC Counseling Services, the student can be directly referred to one of our groups through the mental health provider with whom they are working.

Workshop schedule

Building Mindfulness (currently unavailable)

• 45 to 50 minutes per session
• Workshop participants learn skills for managing stress, thinking more clearly, and being more present in daily life. Participants also learn about the science that makes mindfulness work. An Initial Consultation appointment at UMKC Counseling Services is not required in order to participate in this workshop.

Mind over Mood

• 50 minutes per session for three sessions
• This three session series focuses on creating flexibility to deal with whatever brings participants into counseling. Students build skills that include mindfulness, acceptance and understanding how to get “un-stuck.” Workshop attendees learn how to focus on what really matters to them. Personal sharing is not required to participate in this workshop series. Workshop participants receive a workbook filled with in-session exercises as well as stress management information, coping skills, and mindfulness strategies.
• The workshop is available online via three sessions and a downloadable workbook (doc), or in-person. If you are interested in participating in an in-person MOM workshop, please call 816-235-1635 to make an initial appointment.
  • MOM Session One
  • MOM Session Two
  • MOM Session Three

Wellness Presentations

Presentations and workshops by UMKC Counseling Services are available to student organizations, residential groups, and classes on a variety of topics.

To schedule a presentation, please complete the Outreach Request Form Click here . Because we want to ensure a quality presentation or workshop for your organization, we require a minimum of three weeks’ advance notice for scheduling programs. Requests are managed in the order that they are received and are subject to staff and resource availability.

UMKC Counseling Services can present on a variety of topics.  Please be as specific and clear as possible as to what topic you are interested in, the intended audience, what you hope/want the presentation to achieve, and other pertinent information that could be helpful in communicating your request.

Presentations and workshops are designed for a 45-minute time slot and generally cannot be combined unless a longer time frame is allotted. Email Jenna Engler at 816-235-5185 or T'Keaya Gaines at 816-235-1256 to discuss your outreach request.

Please note that UMKC Counseling Services may limit outreach services during times in the semester when therapeutic services are in higher demand. Staff availability is generally regular business hours, with some limited evening availability.  We also request to review and approve any advertising for outreach programs to ensure accuracy.

RESPOND training

Please note: the RESPOND training is unavailable at this time

The RESPOND training will empower you to offer effective support to a student or colleague experiencing mental health problems. The course provides a basic overview of symptoms often associated with mental health problems and offers an action plan to help you RESPOND effectively. The course will address campus policies, such as FERPA, as well as mental health resources.

RESPOND is an 8-hour training offered at no cost to UMKC faculty and staff  thanks to the generous support from the Curators of the University of Missouri System and the UMKC Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

Contact Teresa Huff-Pomstra at 816-235-5248 with questions.

Cancellation policy

The deadline for canceling is 2 days prior to the workshop so that we can attempt to fill your seat or adjust our catering order. If you cancel after the 2-day deadline, your department will be charged $25 to recoup our cost for your seat. If you no-show, your department will be charged $25.

In case of emergent concerns on the day of the training, please notify Suzette Marchbanks at 816-235-1220.

Upcoming training dates

Registration is closed at this time. Future dates will be listed here when they are determined.

Consultations

UMKC Counseling Services provides confidential consultation services addressing interpersonal, behavioral and/or emotional concerns. Our office will assist students, faculty or staff with resolving concerns and provide off-campus referrals when necessary and appropriate. A confidential consultation with UMKC Counseling Services may involve several components.

• A telephone conversation
• A face-to-face meeting
• Review of documents written by others
• Conferring with others and then reconnecting with you
• Referring you to the right on-campus or off-campus resource

Student Consultation

Students may contact UMKC Counseling Services to consult about a variety of issues concerning themselves, friends, roommates or peers. Students seeking consultation services may call our office at 816-235-1635 and ask to speak with an available professional staff person.

Example consultation concerns

• Stress about school, work, finances or relationships
• How to respond to the death or illness of a student, friend or family member
• Concerns about potential violence or self-harm
• Interpersonal conflicts in the classroom, living situation or workplace

Faculty and Staff Consultation

Faculty and staff may contact UMKC Counseling Services to consult about a variety of issues concerning a student on campus. Faculty and staff seeking consultation services may call our office at 816-235-1635 and ask to speak with the director, associate director or an available professional staff person.

• Example consultation concerns
• A student’s behavior or emotional distress
• How to respond to the death or illness of a student
• Concerns about potential violence or self-harm
• Interpersonal conflicts in the workplace or classroom

Faculty and staff are encouraged to present individual incidents, as well as any patterns of distressed, disturbing and/or disruptive behavior to the university’s Case Management Team (CMT).

The CMT’s goal is to develop campus wide support and training for helping distressed and distressing students and to ensure that campus resources are rallied to aid affected students. For more information or to make a referral, please contact one of the Interim Deans of Students, Keichanda Dees-Burnett at 816-235-1109, or Todd Wells at 816-235-1407.

Concerned Parent

If you are a parent of a UMKC student and are concerned about your student’s well-being, call UMKC Counseling Services at 816-235-1635 to consult with an available professional staff person about how best to help your student connect with the support that they need.

Due to our ethical and legal commitment to confidentiality, UMKC Counseling Services is unable to provide you with information about a person’s client status; however, we can do several things.

• Assess the situation with you
• Recommend a course of action for you
• Develop a strategy to involve helpful others in the situation
• Refer you to other appropriate campus resources
• Assist you with referring someone to UMKC Counseling Services