New Name for Counseling & Testing Services

Published Thursday, March 14, 2024

Diane Stieper, left, talks to a student at a recent Health & Wellness Fair

The name of the Counseling and Testing Services office at Southwest Minnesota State University has changed to the Mental Health Counseling Center.

“The name change more accurately reflects the mission and core services of the office,” said Diane Stieper, licensed mental health professional at SMSU. “We will continue to make student mental health our top priority and are excited to help student understand our services in a better way.”

The testing services previously offered, such as Pearson Vue, ACT, Accuplacer, and credit by exam, are no longer affiliated with the Mental Health Counseling Center initiating the need for the name change. The services that the Mental Health Counseling Center will continue to provide include:

Individual, group or couples therapy
In-person and telehealth therapy appointments
Crisis services
Consultation
Information fairs, tabling and events
Outreach presentations
Referrals to campus and community services
Relaxation room with massage chair

SMSU Mental Health Counseling Center is staffed by licensed mental health professionals who provide free, confidential, short-term therapy in an empathetic, non-judgmental setting. The Center offers enrolled students free, confidential, short-term therapy.

As students begin and persist through college, mental health concerns can develop for the first time or reemerge to create challenges in their personal lives and academic progress. The Mental Health Counseling Center professionals provide support for students.

The office phone number will remain 507-537-7150. The Center location is still in Bellows Academic 156. Visit the webpage at: https://www.smsu.edu/go/mentalhealth

Testing services are now facilitated by the Deeann Griebel Student Success Center (http://www.SMSU.edu/go/success )