Counseling Services

Counseling support & resources will continue to be available to current Minneapolis College students as we move through this period of uncertainty.

Students have the following options available to them:

1. Phone or Zoom Appointment with a Minneapolis College Counselor
   Students can schedule a phone or Zoom appointment during regular business hours using Navigate (please link address). They can also reach out via email to one of our counselors below.
   Jalex Lor | Melissa Schultz
2. Phone or Zoom Appointment with Boynton Health (Mental Health Services)
   At this time, mental health services are being offered remotely and students should call 612-659-6384 for further information. Care for students that are sick is also available in the Clinic at Minneapolis College. Students are asked to call 612-659-6384 to talk with a clinician prior to coming in.
3. Emotional Support Help Line for All Students
   United Healthcare is offering an EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HELP LINE FOR ALL STUDENTS through one of their subsidiary companies called Optum.  Their toll-free help line number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as long as necessary and the service is free of charge and open to any student. Students would have access to specially trained mental health specialists to support them if they feel they are experiencing anxiety or stress related to the recent developments around COVID-19.

How to Reach a Counselor

Counseling support & resources will continue to be available to current Minneapolis College students as we move through this period of uncertainty. Students have the following options available to them:

1. Phone or Zoom Appointment with a Minneapolis College Counselor
   Students can schedule a phone or Zoom appointment during regular business hours using Navigate (please link address). They can also reach out via email to one of our counselors below.
   Jalex Lor | Melissa Schultz
2. Phone or Zoom Appointment with Boynton Health (Mental Health Services)
   At this time, mental health services are being offered remotely and students should call 612-659-6384 for further information. Care for students that are sick is also available in the Clinic at Minneapolis College. Students are asked to call 612-659-6384 to talk with a clinician prior to coming in.
3. Emotional Support Help Line for All Students
   United Healthcare is offering an EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HELP LINE FOR ALL STUDENTS through one of their subsidiary companies called Optum. Their toll-free help line number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as long as necessary and the service is free of charge and open to any student. Students would have access to specially trained mental health specialists to support them if they feel they are experiencing anxiety or stress related to the recent developments around COVID-19.

The most common form of counseling is individual, where you meet with a counselor, one to one, for about 50 minutes. During the initial meeting, the counselor will review your completed intake form and ask questions about any concerns you have.  

If you and the counselor agree that additional sessions would be helpful, you can schedule appointments to explore issues and feelings in more depth.

Using a short-term counseling approach, students can expect to receive support in resolving personal, social, educational, and mental health concerns.

In mental health terms, a crisis refers not to a traumatic event or experience, but to how an individual responds to the situation. Crisis counseling is intended to be brief and focus on minimizing the stress of an event. Our counselors will make every effort to accommodate your urgent needs.

In the case you are unable to reach the Minneapolis Community College counselors and Public Safety and/or if it is after hours, please consider the following options in case of an emergency: 

Option 1:  Crisis Text Line offers free help to those who are having a mental health crisis or are contemplating suicide.  Just text MN to 741741.  Services are available 24/7 across Minnesota. 

Option 2:  Call the National Suicide Prevent line (toll free) at 1-800-279-TALK (8255). 

Dish & Dialogue Schedule for Spring Semester 2021

All group counseling meetings are done via Zoom.   

• Join the Zoom meeting  

Day/Date | Topic |  Time                                 

• Tues.  01/26/2021  |  Planning Ahead  |  11:30 am – 1:00 p.m.
• Tues.  02/09/2021  |  Self-care  |  11:30 am – 1:00 p.m.
• Tues.  03/09/2021  |  Handling Our Fears  |  11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Tues.  04/06/2021  |  Gratitude  |  11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

In addition, Counseling Services are involved with programming efforts on a variety of mental health topics throughout the year. Examples include speakers, mental health resource fairs, as well as mental health screening (available both in-person and online). Be sure to stop by the Student Support Center to find out what is planned this semester!

All information you share with a counselor is kept confidential. In other words, the conversations you have with your counselor will be kept private.

Exceptions to this policy include:

• If you voice a desire to hurt yourself or someone else
• If your counseling records are court-ordered by a government official (e.g. a judge)  
• If you report abuse or neglect of a minor (individual under the age of 18 years old) or a vulnerable adult
• Professional consultation

Melissa Schultz, M.A. Counseling & Psychological Services

• Joined Minneapolis College in July 2015
• 17+ years of higher education experience including: counseling, teaching, academic advising, diversity, admissions, student activities & international student services
• Passion – Supporting students as they deal with the tough issues that bring them in for counseling, while helping them to identify strengths as well as develop skills and support so they are able to pursue their academic and personal goals 

Jalex Lor, M.A. Counseling in Higher Education

• Joined Minneapolis College in January 2018
• Experiences include: Mental Health Crisis Intervention, Human Services, Career/Employment Counseling, Socioeconomic Services & Support
• Higher Education Experience: TRIO Educational Services, Multicultural Student Support, Career Pathways, Tutoring, Admissions, Retention Planning & Student Support Services
• Passion: Provide support to students in realizing their potential and strengths, while developing individualized strategies and approaches to becoming resourceful and successful in higher education

• Local Mental Health Agency Resource List (PDF)