Types of Therapy

Many students use Counseling Services for various types of counseling. Learn more about the therapy that is available to UMKC students through group and individual counseling.

Group Counseling

Group counseling is an effective way to learn more about yourself, especially as it relates to your relationship with others.  This is a very powerful and effective treatment option for most emotional concerns.  Enrolled UMKC students are eligible to participate in group counseling.  This treatment modality is confidential, effective and free to our students.

Some issues that bring students to group include:

• Feelings of loneliness or isolation
• Struggles with shyness and a desire for greater comfort in social relationships
• A desire for greater independence in relationships
• A desire for greater ability to trust others
• A desire for more meaningful relationships
• A desire for greater intimacy in relationships

Group can also be beneficial for people struggling with personal concerns such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Grief and Loss
• Procrastination

Group therapy works because the way people act in the group often reflects how they behave on the outside. Because group is a safe place, members can work on doing things differently in group and can see that they are not alone in their struggles. Groups are professionally facilitated and meet for 60 to 90 minutes a week and contain between five and nine members. Some groups are 4-8 sessions long and others are longer.  Some students opt to return to group each semester.

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.

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling is a one-on-one meeting with a mental health professional in order to address your concerns. This modality is a good way to understand yourself better, to reduce symptoms and distress, to learn new behaviors, and to grow in your ability to be effective in various life areas.  Many find they obtain the tools they need to reach their goals with short-term counseling (1 to 4 sessions) and others require longer-term treatment.  UMKC students are eligible to receive eight free sessions (individual counseling) per academic year. If treatment requires, students may extend their care beyond the eight free sessions at a rate of $15 per session. Students are allotted a maximum of 12 individual counseling sessions per academic year.

In order to access individual counseling services, students must contact our office at 816-235-1635 to set up a 30-minute Initial Consultation appointment. The Initial Consultation is free and does not count toward your session limit.