Mental health at Stanford

Mental health at Stanford: Free help is available

Are you struggling with a difficult issue but reluctant to get help because of the expense? If you receive a paycheck from Stanford, then you are eligible for free counseling or consultation provided though the Stanford Faculty and Staff Help Center (FSHC).

Who does FSHC serve?

The Help Center provides professional, confidential, brief counseling to the faculty and staff of Stanford University, Stanford Hospital, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Menlo Medical Clinic and SLAC. Spouses, domestic partners, and children up through age 23 are also eligible for these services.

What does FSHC provide?

The Help Center offers a comprehensive range of services that are FREE: individual, couple, and family counseling; workshops; peer support groups; as well as work/job stress counseling and consultation.

Why should I consider coming to the Help Center?

Whether your concerns are personal or work-related, the FSHC can help. The center provides counseling and consultation on concerns including relationships, parenting, alcohol and drug abuse, grief and loss, care of elderly parents, retirement issues, job stress, supervisory issues and more.

Services are FREE … for how long?

The benefit is for 10 sessions. If more are recommended, or the center does not fit your needs, they can make referrals to community agencies or private resources.

What if I don’t want anyone to know I’m seeking help?

All contacts with the FSHC are kept confidential, except in cases involving child abuse, elder abuse, or a threat to someone’s life. These issues can involve mandated reporting.

Who can I talk to at the Help Center?

FSHC is staffed by licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists. Bilingual counseling services are also available.

… So why keep putting off help if you have been struggling to cope for too long?

For more information, or to make an appointment, go to www.helpcenter.stanford.edu or call 650-723-4577.

Interview conducted by Julie Croteau and edited by Lane McKenna Ryan.