Lesley University Counseling Center

• "I'm feeling overwhelmed."
• "It feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day."
• "I can’t get any sleep because my thoughts are racing."
• "I'm looking for someone to talk to about how I'm feeling."
• "School is freaking me out."
• "I'm not feeling safe."
• "My social battery is always low."             
• "I'm withdrawing from friends and family."        
• "I don’t feel like myself."                      
• "I'm dealing with toxic relationships."         
• "I'm having difficulty making decisions."
• "I'm feeling unhappy."
• "I'm feeling down."
• "I feel disrespected/misunderstood."

Our model of care focuses on short-term and intermittent services with a collaborative approach that allows students to access multiple levels of support. Students will have the opportunity to engage with a LUCC therapist for individual therapy while being able to participate in monthly workshops, wellness programs, and group counseling.  LUCC therapists can assist students in identifying community-based referrals for longer-term services and support. Our LUCC therapists are responsive to many issues including but not limited to: ethnicity, spirituality, culture, romantic relationships, gender, gender expression, gender identity, body image, ability, and learning differences.

Services include:

• Short Term and Intermittent Services and Supports
• Individual Therapy
• Wellness Programs
• Virtual Mindfulness Sessions
• Workshops focused on Specific Topics
• Same-Day and Urgent Appointments
• Referral Support for Longer Term Community-Based Services

LUCC strives to be responsive to the needs of the Lesley University community and will introduce programming throughout the academic year. If you have any ideas let us know. We want to hear from you!

Check out our Instagram for updated programming and events.

@lesleycounselingcenter

@Cordeliathecounselingpug

The staff at the Lesley University Counseling Center (LUCC) strives to incorporate cultural humility with every interaction we have with students and the wider Lesley University community. The staff at LUCC makes every effort to create an inclusive and validating environment for students at Lesley University to receive affirming services and supports. Collectively as a staff, we are committed to increasing our understanding and knowledge of best practices to support marginalized and underrepresented communities. Our LUCC team acknowledges people of color and folks who identify as LGBTQIA+, as well as the impact on mental health due to the subsequent effects of the following experiences including, but not limited to: racial trauma, transphobia or homophobia, discrimination and harassment, institutionalized racism, oppression, unequal incarceration, disproportionate violence perpetuated by law enforcement, and historical inequity. As Lesley University community members, we are open to receiving feedback about how to offer, with cultural humility, the most affirming and inclusive services possible.

At the LUCC, we are committed to maintaining your confidentiality under strict guidelines and our professional code of ethics.  No one outside of the Counseling Center is given any information about you - even the fact that you have been here - without your written or verbal consent.

There are some exceptions which include:

• If you are a danger to the health and safety of yourself or others.
• If you disclose the abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional) or neglect of a child under the age of 18, an elder, or a person with a disability.
• If a court orders the release of a record via subpoena.
• If you are seen by Lesley Student Health Service staff and information about your care is needed as part of your integrated medical treatment.
• If you file a complaint or lawsuit against LUCC.

There may be times that your LUCC therapist feels it would be beneficial to collaborate with on-campus faculty or staff outside the LUCC—such as an academic advisor, faculty, parent, or outside providers—to coordinate and ensure you are receiving affirming support and services. Your therapist at the LUCC will discuss this with you and ask for your consent, through a signed release, to collaborate with academic advisors, faculty, or outside providers.

Do you need some time away from all the noise, stress, and busyness of the semester? 

Sign up for a 30-minute block of time in our Sensory Space where you can relax in a soothing and calming environment. 

In our Sensory Space you will find: 

• Tactile space
• Calming environment
• Weighted blankets
• Fidget toys
• Essential oils
• Sound machine
• Colored pencils and markers
• Lava lamp

Sign up with this link: Select a Date & Time - Calendly 

LUCC has partnered with Riverside Community Care to address the mental health needs of our student body. Students seeking longer-term therapy, medication management, and/or specialized services can now be referred to the Riverside Outpatient Center at Cambridge. The Riverside Outpatient Center is an independently operated, licensed mental health provider and center that is staffed by Riverside clinicians. The Riverside Outpatient Center prioritizes Lesley students and offers a wide range of behavioral healthcare services including therapy appointments, medication assessment and management, and varying lengths of care according to need. Services at the Riverside Outpatient Center are not covered by your Lesley University tuition and fees but are billed through your insurance or by direct payment. The Riverside Outpatient Center at Cambridge can be reached by calling 857-331-6331 or emailing cambridgeoutpatient@riversidecc.org.

If, for any reason, the Riverside Outpatient Center at Cambridge is unable to provide the type of service you need or request, Riverside staff will provide you with a list of referrals for outpatient services in the community.  If you need additional support in this referral process, your LUCC therapist will collaborate with you to identify a mental health professional in your area.

The Lesley University Counseling Center (LUCC), in collaboration with the Mindfulness Studies graduate program, has provided mindfulness support to the students, faculty, and staff of Lesley University. The Lesley community can greatly benefit from the wisdom held in the hearts and minds of the students and faculty of the Mindfulness Studies graduate program. Over the past several years, Mindfulness Studies interns have helped in this effort.

To learn more and to listen to the audio recordings created by April Neufeld, a LUCC Mindfulness Intern from Fall 2023, please visit the Mindfulness Practices webpage.

Our internship program is currently inactive. If anything changes in the future, we will update this webpage.

SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention for Students Course

SOS for Higher Ed is a 30-minute, self-guided online training that uses video and interactive learning to teach students how to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) if they’re worried about themselves or a friend.

Because mental health concerns often first appear between the ages of 18 and 25, it’s our goal to provide students access to the wide range of suicide prevention and mental health resources that are available to them during their time at Lesley.

The SOS for Higher Ed course uses real and diverse stories of mental health struggles and recovery to provide students with resources and actionable steps to support themselves and their peers. 

We encourage every student to take 30 minutes to learn:

• How students can recognize signs of suicide risk in themselves or a friend
• How to have a difficult conversation that encourages someone to seek help
• How to build strong peer connections that foster positive mental well-being
• An overview of available student mental health resources, on and off-campus

How students can access the course:

• Visit mindwise.digitalchalk.com and click “Create Account.” 
• Enter name, email address, and chosen password, click “Create.” 
• Enter the redemption code lesley and click “Next.” 
• View the dashboard and select the SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention for Students course. 
• Retake the training at any time by logging in at mindwise.digitalchalk.com and reset your password as needed.

United Educators Mental Health Training: Mental Well-Being in College: A Guide

We invite you to take the United Educators’ 30-minute self-guided training Mental Well-Being in College: A Guide so that we can continue to foster a community of caring and awareness about mental health at Lesley University.  

1. Register here.  Click at the bottom of the box next to “New User”.
2. Complete the Registration form; use the branch code: 601-89562.
3. You will be taken directly to the training.
4. You will receive a confirmation email upon successful completion of the training. 

If you are struggling now, help is available.

Call/text/chat 988 or text 741741 for mental health support 24/7. In MA, call CHA Crisis Response Line at 833-222-2030 to speak with a mental health clinician.

SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention for Faculty and Staff Course

SOS for Higher Ed is a 30-minute, self-guided online training that uses video and interactive learning to teach faculty and staff how to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) if they’re worried about a student.

Because mental health concerns often first appear between the ages of 18 and 25, it’s our goal to provide faculty and staff access to a wide range of suicide prevention and mental health resources.

The SOS for Higher Ed course uses real and diverse stories of mental health struggles and recovery to provide faculty and staff with resources and actionable steps to support our students. 

We encourage every faculty and staff member of the Lesley community to take 30 minutes to learn:

• How to recognize signs of suicide risk in our students
• How to have a difficult conversation that encourages someone to seek help
• How to build strong connections that foster positive mental well-being
• An overview of available student mental health resources, on and off-campus 

How faculty and staff can access the course:

1. Visit mindwise.digitalchalk.com and click "Create Account".
2. Enter your name, email address, and chosen password. Click "Create".
3. Enter the redemption code lesley and click "Next".
4. View the dashboard and choose SOS for Higher Ed for Faculty and Staff.
5. Take the course and receive your certificate of completion.

United Educators Mental Health Training:  Fostering Student Mental Health

We invite you to take the United Educators’ 30-minute self-guided training Fostering Student Mental Health so that we can continue to foster a community of caring and awareness about mental health at Lesley University.  

1. Register here. Click at the bottom of the box next to “New User”.
2. Complete the Registration form; use the branch code: 601-89562.
3. You will be taken directly to the training.
4. You will receive a confirmation email upon successful completion of the training.