Counseling & Wellness Center

We care about what you learn; we also care about you,
your well-being, and your life outside of class.

The University of St. Francis encourages the establishment of lifestyle behaviors that promote healthy living patterns consistent with our Franciscan values of respect, service, integrity and compassion.

All services offered by USF Mental Health Counselors are confidential, and release of confidential information may only be made with the written consent of the student.

College students experience major transitional challenges in their lives upon enrolling into university. These issues may include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, stress/time management, eating disorders, etc. The University of St. Francis encourages the establishment of lifestyle behaviors that promote healthy living patterns consistent with our Franciscan values of respect, service, integrity and compassion.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services
Location: Motherhouse C310Hours: Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

To make an appointment, call 800-236-3231 or email eap@aah.org. After-hour appointments are available upon request. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital. 

USF Psychology

Services Offered

Counseling services are provided free of charge to currently enrolled USF students. These services may be provided in person or via telehealth, as well as in an individual or group format depending on need and/or preference.

Counselors are available to assist with a range of concerns including, but not limited to:

  • Adjustment
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Self-esteem
  • Difficulty in family and social relationships
  • Stress
  • Life challenges and transitions
  • Grief and loss

Counseling Center staff members are also available to provide consultation services, psycho-educational classroom presentations, and crisis management training workshops upon request throughout the academic year.

Staff

Elizabeth Cambray

Elizabeth Cambray
Student Life and Wellness Coordinator
815-740-3399
ecambray@stfrancis.edu
Motherhouse 138

 Considering Counseling?

The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of what to expect and what not to expect when you decide to make the courageous decision to give counseling a try. 

At times, students referred to our office feel as if they have been forced to come to counseling by parents or other concerned parties and are “unwilling participants.” Although we believe counseling can help anyone, you cannot grow or heal if you do not come in on your own accord. If you feel coerced into attending counseling, express your discomfort to your counselor and we can talk about it—please do not hold in your reluctance!

YOU will fix you. Our job is to “help you help yourself.” The goal of counseling is to empower you with ways to deal with life issues, learn about triggers, unhelpful patterns, and build resiliency, so you can thrive rather than survive—and become your best you.

It’s likely you will feel much better after meeting with a counselor, but the journey requires you to be brave and fearless. Depending on what brought you in to counseling, it may be important to recall memories and experiences or change a behavioral style which can be trying, upsetting, even overwhelming. Being in counseling helps you feel better, but it’s beneficial to know that the journey can sometimes be bumpy. If you stick with and embrace the process, it’s likely you will be amazed with the end results!

Change does not happen overnight. Nor does the development of insight or replacing old behaviors with new ones. It takes time and collaboration with your counselor to develop and work towards practical and realistic goals that are specific to your needs. As time progresses, you can review these targeted goals and redefine them if necessary.

Like a friend or family member, a counselor is a friendly, caring, interested person to talk to when you are experiencing life’s difficulties. Unlike a friend or family member, your counselor has been extensively trained to listen not only with the intent to understand and provide empathic support, but also with the goal to identify, explore, and clarify the experiences that negatively affect your wellbeing. Active listening and follow up questions assist your counselor in applying appropriate theory and techniques specific to your needs and goals. In addition, your counselor’s clinical objectivity, allows you to receive a balanced, unbiased frame of reference— something that often is blurred in other relationships.

It takes time to get to know and trust your counselor, but sometimes personality differences, lack of connection, or other factors may be an indication of a “mismatch.” If this happens, it may be difficult for you to feel comfortable talking about personal issues and to feel safe letting go of fears or trying out new behaviors. If you don’t feel comfortable, it’s perfectly fine to request a different counselor. You will NOT be hurting your counselor’s feelings—we want the best for you and realize we cannot be everyone’s ‘cup of java.” We have a variety of counselors with unique styles available to meet with you and assist you in your positive growth and development.

How to Make an Appointment

 For confidential, FREE assistance, call 800-236-3231 or email eap@aah.org. Appointments are available by phone, video or in-person. 

Groups and Workshops
  • DBT Skills Group 
  • Grief/Loss Group 
  • Students of Color Group 
  • Coping with COVID group
  • Mindfulness workshop
  • Masculinity workshop
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Test Anxiety Workshop

In Case of Crisis

  • In the event of immediate psychological or emotional emergency, call 800-236-3231.
  • In the case of a physical harm or threat emergency, contact the USF Safety & Security Department 815-740-3200.
  • If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Resources

Wellness Center

Location: Tower Hall S213
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 815-740-3864

Emergencies: Call 911 or go to your nearest hospital.

For other medical needs or health circumstances, you are invited to visit the Wellness Center, where a registered nurse provides basic medical services for students and makes referrals to other health care providers/agencies when necessary. There is also a Mother’s Room in this location, accessible every day at any time. If the door is closed, please contact Safety & Security at 815-740-3200 to have the door unlocked for your use.

smiling Illinois students

Additional Information

Contact Elizabeth Cambray, Student Life & Wellness Coordinator, at 815-740-3399 or ecambray@stfrancis.edu with questions regarding student insurance and medical records.

How to submit Medical Records

We make it easy to submit your medical health records! You can either use your phone’s Camera Scanner Application or your own scanner.

Here are the steps to submit your records:

  1. Take a picture of the document(s) and save it – please make sure the image is clear.
  2. Log-in to your MyUSF Portal and type “Submit Medical Records” in the Search bar. Click “Choose Files,” and select your document(s).
  3. Upload your file(s). It must be JPG, PNG, TIFF, or PDF format.
  4. Call the Wellness Center at 815-740-3399 if you have difficulty uploading or obtaining your medical records.

Please allow two business days for a copy of your health records. In compliance with privacy regulations, health records can only be given to students. Contact Health Records within the Wellness Center for additional information at 815-740-3399.

What to do in the event of an illness or injury?

  • Student Athletes
  • Click here here to find out more about returning to campus following a mental health or medical evaluation/hospitalization. USF Accidental Insurance is available for Joliet on-campus, commuter and international students and student athletes registered for 12 or more credit hours. (Exclusions: online students, graduate students and part-time students.) For additional information or to schedule an appointment call 815-740-3399.

All traditional, undergraduate students and international students are automatically enrolled for USF health insurance every year. Students can view/print detailed policy information and an insurance card from the website studentinsurance.com. While graduate students are not automatically enrolled, they are able to purchase student insurance upon request. Insurance brochures are available at the Wellness Center located on the second floor of Tower Hall, Room S213.

International students do have the option of waving the USF student health insurance, but your submitted insurance plan will be reviewed by our student health insurance provider (WellFleet) to make sure that the plan meets the minimum requirements. If the request is denied, WellFleet will follow up with you on how to request additions to your submitted plan for re-submission in the waiver process.

If you are a domestic traditional undergraduate and do not require USF insurance, you may waive it by completing an online insurance waiver form.

This process must be completed every year to avoid school insurance charges. Reminders will be sent to USF student emails prior to the deadline. Note: there is no hard copy of this form.

For additional information or for assistance contact USF Health Records at 815-740-3399, or visit the office in Motherhouse 138.

Student Insurance Waiver Next Deadline:

  • September 04, 2020

How to Obtain Insurance Waiver?

  • Login to Portal
  • Go to For Students on Left side of Page
  • Go to Tuition Bill Account Summary
    • Helpful Links
    • Student Insurance Waiver

How Often Do I have to Do Waiver?

  • The waiver must be completed every spring and fall semester in order to avoid being charged for the USF Student Health Insurance plan on your tuition bill. Contact the Wellness Center for additional information.
  • To visit the Wellness Center in person, it is located in Motherhouse 138. The Wellness Center can also be reached at 815-740-3399 or e-mail at healthservices@stfrancis.edu.

When is the Insurance Waiver Offered?

  • The USF Student Health Insurance Waiver is offered at the beginning of the fall and spring semester.
  • If a USF student does not have his/her/their medical health insurance information during registration and does not want the USF Student Health Insurance plan, he/she/they need to complete the USF Student Health Insurance Waiver process prior to the deadline.
  • If a student is working on acquiring private insurance, he/she/they needs to provide the USF Wellness Center-Health Records proof of pre-coverage from his/her/their insurance company so it can be submitted for review and approval (prior to the waiver deadline).
  • The approval period needs to be done prior to USF Health Insurance Waiver deadline. If proof of insurance cannot be produced by the deadline, then the student must select the USF Student Health Insurance plan.