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Counseling

At the University of Mount Union, your well-being is at the heart of our concern. The Office of Counseling Services offers a safe, welcoming space designed to support your emotional and mental health journey throughout your academic experience. Our state licensed counselors help Mount Union students move toward life goals, while teaching students the skills to being mentally and emotionally healthy. Counseling is a partnership between the client and the counselor, meant to help students find solutions and possibilities in life. Counseling staff members provide enrolled Mount Union students access to free and confidential counseling services on campus.

Whether you're seeking guidance, coping strategies, or simply a listening ear, our counseling services are here to assist you through life's twists and turns. Discover a haven of resources and information tailored to empower you along your path to wellness.

Our team of compassionate professionals is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where you can express yourself freely and embark on a journey toward inner peace and resilience. Feel embraced by a community that values your well-being and is committed to supporting your mental health needs.

Use these invaluable resources and take proactive steps toward a balanced, healthier you. Your well-being matters, and here at the University of Mount Union, we're dedicated to walking this path with you.

  • Upcoming Events

    Serenity Space Grand OpeningSaturday, October 12, 2024 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in the Dewald Chapel

    Join us for the grand opening of the Serenity Space in the Dewald Chapel featurng automatic massage chairs, a VR headset, and other outlets to bring you peace and serenity.

  • Services

    Walk-In Hours

    Walk-in hours are times that are set aside for students who suddenly need help but do not have a scheduled counseling appointment. Walk-in counseling is a maximum of 15 minutes, where students can initiate the contact with Counseling Services and receive emotional support. 

      

    Counseling Sessions

    Students who are seeking formal counseling for issues big or small will schedule a counseling appointment with a counselor. The counselor will gather information from the student during the first session to determine a diagnosis. After the evaluation, the student will work with the counselor to form a treatment plan, setting goals they want to work on during the semester. Just use the contact information to the right to call or email for an appointment. 

      

    Consultations

    A consultation is an informal meeting with a counselor. The counselor acts as an expert, providing advice, guidance, and linkage to ongoing services. Consultations are not counseling sessions. Counselors can offer up to four consultation sessions to a student before recommending counseling sessions.

  • Walk-In Hours

    Walk-in hours are in the Student Affairs suite behind the information desk in HPCC.

    Monday: 2-4 p.m.
    Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    Wednesday: 2-4 p.m.
    Thursday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    Friday: 2-4 p.m.

      

    Athletes have access to designated walk-in hours in the MAAC, by checking in with Pam Miller in office 2125

    Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    Thursday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

  • Counseling Staff

    All staff are under the clinical supervision of Carmella Hill, M.Ed., L.P.C.C.-S, Director of Counseling Services.

        

    Hill

    Carmella Hill, M.Ed., L.P.C.C.-SFor over 24 years, Carmella has worked within the mental health profession serving the entire lifespan in various settings (e.g., community mental health agencies, nursing homes, private practice, colleges/universities, emergency rooms). Additionally, she has extensive experiences related to crisis intervention whereas she assesses risk issues and working with persons who are presenting with thoughts of suicide, homicide, and self-harm. Some areas of treatment provision have been assisting those with severe persistent mental illness, first episode psychosis, depression, anxiety, and adjustment issues, to name a few. Carmella enjoys clinical work, professional development, and supervising persons for licensure. She is a sought-after speaker for cultural diversity issues and passionate about helping professionals develop multicultural awareness and sensitivity. Carmella loves traveling, journaling, shopping, and watching her favorite sports teams, the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Ohio State Football.

      

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    Julie Thornberry, MA, LPC: Julie received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mount Union and graduated from Walsh University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has experience working with a diverse population of students and adults. Julie enjoys helping others to see their potential and to appreciate their unique strengths. She strives to create an environment in which students feel heard, safe, and empowered. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, self-esteem, adjustments, and career. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, knitting, and weaving.

      

    Lily

    Lillian Williams, BA, CT: Lillian is a graduate student pursuing her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at John Carroll University. She is a 2023 Indiana University graduate with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Folklore, as well as a concentration in American Sign Language (ASL). Lillian combines empathy, active listening, and cultural awareness in her work, with a strong passion for clinical sex therapy and advocacy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community. She focuses on fostering healthy relationships and addressing taboo aspects of human sexuality, while also applying her expertise in sports psychology to help athletes enhance performance, manage anxiety, and recover from injury. When she isn’t working and at school you can find her baking, traveling new places and spending time with family and friends. 

      

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    Michelle Alessandro, MSW, LSW: Michelle received her Bachelor’s degree from Malone University and a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Physical & Mental Health from Baylor University. Her practice background includes working with individuals and families who have experienced anxiety, depression, stress, grief/loss, trauma, and life transitions. Michelle is welcoming and affirming, and believes in creating a safe, open space that allows individuals to process their thoughts and feelings in a genuine, authentic way without the fear of being judged. For fun, she enjoys spending time with her sassy dog and 2 cats, watching Sunday football with her family, and working towards maintaining and bettering her own physical and mental health.

  • Campus and Area Resources

    If students need assistance outside of regular office hours, there are a variety of resources both on-campus and in the local area that can provide assistance. The following is a list of resources that may be used in situations in which a more immediate response is needed:

    Resident Director on Duty (330) 428-3500
    Campus Security (330) 428-1344
    Alliance Police Department (330) 821-3131 or 911 if emergency services are needed
    Alliance EMS (Fire Dept) (330) 821-1212 or 911 if emergency services are needed

    Stark County Crisis Hotline: (330) 452-6000
    Crisis Textline: Text 4hope to 741741
    Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: 1 (866) 488-7386
    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) or suicidepreventionlifline.org
    Alliance Area Rape Crisis Center: (330) 821- RAPE (7273)
    Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter: (330) 823-7223
    National Mental Health Hotline*: Text or Call 988
    *Learn about the new 988 hotline

  • Emotional Management Skills

All counseling staff members are licensed through the state of Ohio CSWMFT Board. To facilitate consumer protection, please visit the Ohio licensure verification

Counseling services provides virtual as well as live contact sessions via the Student Affairs Suite, Hoover-Price Campus Center. To schedule an appointment, call (330) 823-2886 or email counselingservices@mountunion.edu.