Counseling Services: Getting Started

The Broadlawns Drake University Counseling Center is committed to working with you and supporting you and improving your mental health needs.  

Appointments

The Drake University Counseling Center offers both in-person and virtual meeting options, outreach and presentations, and group counseling and events, and a collegiate recovery program. 

To make an appointment, please call the counseling center at 515-216-5100. You may also visit our counseling center at 2970 University Ave (located next to Walgreens on University), during business hours, to schedule an appointment. 

Urgent Appointments

Urgent need services are available for students that are experiencing suicidal ideation, self-harming urges, difficulty managing overwhelm or anxiety, and any other immediate concerns to their mental and emotional well-being.

Monday through Thursday, during the school year, virtual or in person urgent appointments are available from 1-3pm. If you'd like to see a counselor for an urgent appointment, please call or visit the counseling center to see the available times for that day. 

If a student is in crisis and needs to speak with a counselor immediately, please call the counseling center at 515-216-5100 or visit the Crisis Observation Center or Psych Urgent Care Clinic. You may also utilize the Timelycare to talk with a licensed provider and access a peer community. 

What should I expect in my first session?

1. Upon arrival, our office manager will check you in, which will notify a counselor that you are present.
2. Your counselor will verify that you have completed your student forms and meet with you for 45 to 50 minutes.
3. We recognize that therapy can be new and vulnerable for many students, so your counselor will spend the first session getting to know you, complete any risk assessments, and explore presenting concerns and goals for counseling.
4. The counselor may also spend time assisting you in managing your presenting concerns and explore options for future sessions at the center or in the community. 

Services Provided

• Clinical: Individual Counseling, Medication Management Referrals, Group Counseling, Collegiate Recovery
• Collaboration and Consultation: Collaborate with student organizations to host mental health events
• Outreach and Prevention: Provide free trainings on various mental health topics (i.e. QPR, stress management, burnout, etc) 
• Training and Education: Internship opportunities for counseling graduate students
• Services not provided: Although these services are not yet provided through our clinic, we will work with students to assist in referrals to providers within the community. 
  • Weekly therapy (unless meeting with our student interns)
  • Psychological Testing (i.e. testing for ADHD, Autism, etc). 
  • Emotional Animal Support Letters
  • Letters for Housing Accommodations (i.e. Sorority/Fraternity Life/Residence Life)