Parent/Guardian Resources
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Attending a university can be an exciting, and often stressful, time in a student's life. Students experience many positive changes and difficult challenges while at a university. Student Counseling Services is available to assist the university's students through those times and help them to have an all-around better experience while at Stetson University.
Often, parents/guardians are some of the first individuals to notice when a student is not functioning at their best. Students may come to you for advice or support. One way to be helpful to your student is to know some basic information about Student Counseling Services' resources and direct them to Student Counseling Services for assistance.
Note: Although a parent may refer a student for counseling, an appointment may not be scheduled until the student has made contact with Student Counseling Services. Students must personally call or come to Student Counseling Services to make an appointment. This process promotes the student's confidentiality, autonomy, and investment in their counseling experience. Scheduling by a third party is strongly discouraged.
Not only is adjusting to university life sometimes challenging for the students, but it can also be challenging for parents/guardians. It's important to remain realistic about your expectations for contact with your student, to communicate openly, to be supportive and to find support for yourself.
Consultations for parents/guardians are available during regular office hours. If you're concerned about your student, you're encouraged to seek consultative support from Student Counseling Services. At that time, support and helpful resources can be given to you.
Our counseling staff is legally bound by the limits of confidentiality, but we will do our best to assist you with your concerns.
As a professional counseling provider, Student Counseling Services is required to uphold the legal and ethical requirements of confidentiality. Under Florida law and the ethical guidelines, information shared within the counseling relationship is considered to be confidential, although there are certain limits to confidentiality. Furthermore, any counseling records maintained are confidential and are not part of the student's academic records. Aside from the limits to confidentiality, no information may be disclosed about a student's counseling participation or progress without a Release of Information form on file for specified individuals, such as parents/guardians or physicians.
It's understandable that parents/guardians may be interested in a student's counseling experience. In this event, parents/guardians are encouraged to ask their students about their counseling experience.
University Resources
- Stetson University Parents
- Student Counseling Services' Helpful Resources page
Articles and Books
- A New Beginning for Parents: When Your Teen Goes to College
- College of the Overwhelmed
- Family Holiday Traditions: How to Adjust When You Have a Child in College
- Good Mental Health Away From Home Starts Before College
- Home for the Holidays
- Mental Health in College: What Parents Need to Know
- Staying Connected to Your College Kids
- The Empty Nest: Creating a New Life for Yourself After Your Children Leave Home
Handouts
- Welcome Parents
- Changes You Might Expect
- If You Think Your Son or Daughter Can Benefit from Counseling
- Protecting Your Child's Mental Health: What Can Parents Do?
- What Can I Do to Help My Child from a Distance?
All handouts are in PDF format and thus require a PDF viewer, such as Adobe Reader.
Websites
- College Parents of America - A membership organization that assists families from college preparation through degree completion
- Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (FEAST) - Eating disorder information and support for families, communities, and professionals
- PFLAG - Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - Resource and support network for parents, families, friends, and allies or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people
- The Partnership at Drugfree.org - Resource for parents/caregivers to learn how to address alcohol/drug use with teens/young adults, as well as prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery resource
- Transition Year - A resource guide for students and parents regarding the emotional health and wellness of students transitioning to college
- University Visitors Network - Helpful tools and tips, from researching institutions to interviewing for admission and paying college costs, for parents of college-bound students