Student Counseling Services

Student Counseling Services offers a variety of mental health and overall wellbeing services and resources on- and off-campus. This includes: 

• Campus supports
• Peer supports
• Self-help psychoeducation
• Workshops
• Group therapy
• Online therapy
• Individual therapy
• Crisis support
• Assessment
• Psychiatry (on-campus in Omaha; available by referral in Phoenix)
• Off-campus referral sources

In many cases, a student’s concerns can be addressed with resources that are less of a time commitment and more autonomous than individual therapy, such as workshops, group therapy, online therapy assistance, and other campus resources. Rather than automatically starting with individual counseling, Student Counseling Services will work with a student to determine if individual therapy is most appropriate.

We offer outpatient mental health services dedicated to treating enrolled Creighton undergraduate and graduate students. Generally, counseling services can treat emotional difficulties and mental disorders that can be safely managed within the structure of an outpatient service.

There are certain mental health disorders that cannot be effectively treated within the structure and resources of our counseling services. Students who cannot be treated effectively or safely within this structure will be referred to mental health resources in the Omaha or Phoenix area or in the student’s home community. Situations that require referral include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Symptoms of disorganized or disruptive psychoses and high suicidal potential requiring inpatient hospital treatment
• Serious eating disorders
• Serious substance abuse or addiction treatment
• Chronic emotional crisis requiring intensive treatment
• Frequent appointments, special supervision or behavioral management

The Student Counseling Services office is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, and adheres to the ethical principles of the American Psychological Association. Our staff is committed to meeting the needs of all individuals regardless of culture, race, gender, ability, or sexual orientation.

Students must schedule their own appointments. If they are near you and you want to assist, you can call and allow them to speak to us to schedule an appointment.

The exceptions to this policy are the student is under the age of 18, or the student is being discharged from the hospital.

Students who can only be seen in the evening or on weekends are encouraged to visit our after-hours care resources (login required).

While we do not have session limits, we work from a short-term, goal-focused model, and the number of sessions varies based on a student’s concerns. Limited long-term services are also available.

Students who need specialized services or want continual services throughout their entire time at Creighton should request a list of community providers.

There is a psychiatrist on staff on our Omaha campus. In Phoenix, we can provide a referral in the area. Omaha students can call 402.280.CALM and inform the front desk that you would like to schedule a psychiatry appointment. You will need to provide a copy of your insurance card and recent medical records prior to the appointment. On-campus psychiatry is out of network for AETNA insurance.

If you are currently being prescribed a medication for ADHD, Student Counseling Services also requires confirmation of an ADHD diagnosis from a licensed psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric physician assistant, or mental health provider trained in assessment, as well as at least one reliable and valid psychometric measure of attention. Please fax these records to 402.280.1859.

If you received treatment during a temporary withdrawal, you must complete a reentry evaluation with a Student Counseling Services provider to determine next steps. To schedule this evaluation, please call 402.280.CALM.

If you completed a program during a break and did not take a temporary withdrawal, please schedule an initial appointment by calling 402.280.CALM. A counselor will meet with you to determine which resources may be most helpful for you. To aid this process, we encourage you to fax any discharge paperwork from the treatment program prior to your appointment at 402.280.1859.

The therapeutic relationship is a highly valued part of your counseling and it is important to feel connected. Unfortunately, sometimes the first person we meet with may not be the best fit, and you have a right to ask for a different counselor. While we encourage students to speak with their counselors to discuss and resolve any issues or difficulties with the therapeutic relationship prior to switching counselors, we understand that this can be difficult to navigate. If you'd prefer, please contact Jennifer Peter, PsyD, Director of Student Counseling Services, to have a conversation so we can help you find a counselor that may fit your needs better.