Counseling Services 

Appointments can be made by emailing Brittany.Proctor@VictoriaCollege.edu or through TherapyAppointment. Students should select 'New Client' and follow the prompts. Please register with your VC student email and create your own user name and password. Appointments are scheduled for one hour. Appointments with the counseling center are offered primarily in face-to-face format.

Counseling visits are not recorded on transcripts and information is only released with student’s written consent or when required by law. Counseling is a collaborative effort between the client and counselor. Your first appointment will consist of a clinical interview and getting to know your therapist and determining your goals for therapy. Should you require referrals to outside agencies or supports, our therapists will assist you with that.

Walk-In Session Hours/Locations:

• Mondays: 8 a.m.–3 p.m. • Student Services Building, Suite 102
• Wednesdays: 8 a.m.–1 p.m. • Student Services Building, Suite 102
• Wednesdays: 1–5 p.m. • Health Sciences Center, Room 128H
• Fridays: 8 a.m.–3 p.m. • Student Services Building, Suite 102

Virtual Counseling with BetterMynd

Victoria College is partnered with BetterMynd, an online therapy platform, to offer students access to free teletherapy sessions from a diverse network of licensed mental health counselors.

These 50-minute live video sessions are private and confidential and can take place from the convenience of your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Teletherapy sessions are available during the day, at night, and on weekends, so you can get support whenever it's best for you.

To register and get started, sign-up here with your student email.

Victoria College's Counseling Center offers no cost individual counseling by a licensed counselor and counselors in training on a short-term basis for all students. Individual therapy consists of a student talking one-on-one with a licensed professional to determine short term goals to improve their mental health and well-being. Therapy can be beneficial for managing a wide array of mental health disorders and general wellness.

Common issues addressed in individual counseling can include:

• Anxiety
• Chemical Dependency
• Depression
• Family or Relationship Issues
• Grief and/or Loss
• Trauma
• Stress
• Transitions in Life
• Various Other College-Related or Personal Issues

Students whose issues extend beyond the scope of the VC Counseling staff will be referred to an outside agency within the community. All costs incurred by referrals are the responsibility of the student. Victoria College and the Counseling staff are dedicated to students and their success.

For many emotional and relationship issues that college students often face, group counseling is one of the best treatments of choice. It offers the student a unique opportunity, in a safe and supportive place, to receive support and use peer interaction to help them work on the challenge that they are facing, while establishing a sense of "belonging" and realizing that often others have the same common concerns as they do. Also, research supports that group therapy is just as effective for most concerns that students have today.

All groups are available during Spring and Fall semesters and not offered during the summer or during semester breaks.

Victoria College’s Counseling Services offers free group therapy sessions supervised and facilitated by licensed counselors and counselors in training. Our current schedule of groups can be found below:

Grief & Loss Support Group

A grief support group offers a different quality of support and connection that comes from being with people who have also recently experienced a loss. Grief support groups provide emotional support, validation, and education about grief.

Every Monday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Parenting Together Support Group

A place where students who are also parents can come together to support one another in the unique challenges of being a student parent.

Every Thursday from 2-3 p.m.

Speed Friendshipping Events

Gather with other students to increase social support. The event is structured similar to speed dating where students rotate from person to person with structured questions to get to know one another. Platonic friendships only.

Every first Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

If you have an idea or request for a group, please reach out and let us know!

The Victoria College Counseling Center offers free student mental health screenings to all students. You will complete a short screening instrument, and a counselor will review your results with you in a brief session where appropriate referrals and guidance can be provided. These 30-minute, one-time appointments assess students' levels of stress, anxiety and depression to identify targeted interventions that meet individual needs. Mental Health Screenings provide an opportunity for students to meet with providers and discuss specific, solution-focused strategies to empower students to take charge of their own mental health journey.

• You may schedule Mental Health Screenings via TherapyAppointment by selecting the ‘Mental Health Screening’ option.
• Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to complete the required assessment questionnaire.

Other Assessments

The Victoria College Counseling Center also offers formal assessment measures as referred by Disability Services.

Mental Health America Mental Health Test
UT Southwestern Medical Center Self-Screening Tools

The Counseling Center provides assessment and counseling for those living with substance abuse or addiction. When needed, referrals to outside treatment providers are offered. The Victoria College Counseling Center believes in a harm reduction approach with education, guidance, and support. We also lead various outreach and prevention activities across campus.

Drug and Alcohol Assessments

The Counseling Center provides support for students who are reassessing their use of alcohol and/or drugs (AOD). AOD services include providing students individualized assessments to help them learn more about their substance use and the impact on their life. In addition, students can work with a counselor to help them build and maintain motivation to reduce their usage, set personal goals, gain strategies for leading a more balanced life, and feel supported as they explore choices that are right for them.

Based on your AOD assessment, you’ll discuss with the clinician potential services that could be a good fit based on your use. You will get personalized treatment recommendations which could include individual harm reduction counseling, group counseling, psychiatric services, and/or an off-campus referral. Should the student participate in the AOD counseling program it is the expectation that each student will have an opportunity to gain critical coping skills, achieve a more positive self-concept, and establish a healthier relationship with alcohol or drugs which will allow for them to feel more capable of reaching their academic and personal goals.

Drug and Alcohol Anonymous Screening Tools

• Office of Addiction Services and Supports Screening Tools
• CAGE-AID Substance Abuse Screening Tool
• NIDAMED Screening Tools

Resources

• Alcohol’s Effect on Health
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Campus Drug Prevention
• List of Current AA Meetings in Victoria, TX

Off Campus Drug and Alcohol Support

• Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center - Substance Use Counseling, Assessment, Groups

Finals De-Stress Event

Every Wednesday before Finals Week during Spring and Fall Semesters.

Fresh Check Day

Last week of March in Spring Semesters.

Fresh Check Day is an engaging and uplifting mental health event that features interactive booths, a social atmosphere, and exciting prizes and giveaways. The goal of the event is to increase awareness of the mental health and college resources to students, reduce stigma surrounding mental health, and empower students to be gatekeepers to assist peers in need. 

Suicide Awareness & Prevention Event

September, Annual Event

Spring Break Drug & Alcohol Awareness Event partnership with Student Life

March, Annual Event

Brittany is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology. She has experience treating a wide array of presenting problems and issues in both private practice and inpatient treatment. She is certified in Mindfulness and Trauma Informed Care, and has training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD. Her areas of primary interest include: stress management, first responders, depression, anxiety, and trauma. She works in the Victoria College Counseling Center full time.

Alexandra (AJ) is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies and Masters degree in Social Work. She has experience working in a variety of settings i.e., inpatient mental health, skilled nursing and rehab and Texas public school systems. Her areas of primary interest include: anxiety & stress, depression, behavioral issues and family/relationship conflict resolution. Areas of interventions include: Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interviewing and Crisis Intervention. She works in Academic Advising and part time in Counseling/Mental Health Services.

Victoria College has proudly partnered with the University of Houston Victoria to act as a training site for counselors in training. These interns have completed most of their Master’s training and are required to complete supervised training prior to applying for licensure.

If you are a UHV student interested in completing your practicum at Victoria College, please contact Brittany Proctor at Brittany.Proctor@VictoriaCollege.edu.

Gulf Bend Center 

Crisis Phone: (877) 723-3422
http://www.gulfbend.org
Counties Served: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio, and Victoria

Victoria Location:
6502 Nursery Drive, Suite 100
Victoria, TX 77904-1178
(361) 575-0611

Bluebonnet Trails Community Services

Crisis Phone: (800) 841-1255
Intake Line: (844) 309-6385
http://www.bbtrails.org
Counties Served: Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lee and Williamson

Bastrop

(512) 321-7250
275 Jackson Street 
Bastrop, Texas 78602

Elgin

(512) 229-3334
902 W. 2nd Street 
Elgin, Texas, 78621

Giddings

898 E. Richmond, Suite 101
Giddings, Texas 78942

Gonzales

La Grange

(979) 968-3711
275 Ellinger Road
La Grange, Texas 78945

Lockhart

2060 S. Colorado Street
Lockhart, TX 78644

Seguin

1104 Jefferson Street
Seguin, Texas 78155

Crisis Hotlines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-(800) 273-TALK (8255) or TTY: 1-(800) 799-4TTY (4889) A free, 24-hour hotline, with a person available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Confidential online chat is also available at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Red Nacional de Prevencion del Suicidio

1-(888) 628-9454

Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline

 1-(800) 273-TALK (8255) and press 1

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender or Questioning Youth (LGBTQ)

 Call The Trevor Hotline toll-free at 1-(866) 488-7386

Texas Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) Crisis Hotlines

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/mhsa/lmha-list/
These centers operate or contract with a hotline provider for persons in crisis. You may view an alphabetical list of LMHAs and their crisis numbers on our LMHA Crisis Hotline page, or you may search for the crisis hotline number by county, city, or ZIP code on our mental health services search page.

Low-Cost Mental Health Care Options:

• Victoria Community Health Clinic

• Midcoast Family Services

• Methodist Healthcare Ministries

Private Counseling Options:

Medication Management:

• Gulf Bend MHMR (Income Based, Low Cost)

• Healthy South Texas (Income Based, Lost Cost; Offered Once Monthly)

• Claudia Amador, NP (Private Pay, Cost Associated)

• Kourtne Roberts, MD (Private Pay, Cost Associated)

• Nurx (Online App, Fixed Cost) 

At the Victoria College, we strive to have a caring and connected campus. If you are worried about someone and would like to connect them with Counseling Services, there are several ways to do so. You may always contact Counseling Center Staff to complete a consultation about your concerns for guidance at (361) 582-2431. 

We Got Your Back

We Got Your Back is a referral system utilized to connect students with resources. This form is most beneficial for students who need assistance of some type (housing, counseling, financial, etc.) and want to learn more about campus and community resources. Upon completion of the referral, the student will be contacted within 48 hours to discuss resources. You may complete the form  here.

CARE Referrals

The Campus Assessment Response and Education (CARE) Team engages in proactive and collaborative approaches to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with students exhibiting concerning behaviors or thoughts. CARE referrals are most appropriate for immediate situations that require intervention within 24 hours such as being concerned that a student may be a harm to themselves or others.

Learn more and make a referral to CARE.