Welcome to the Counseling Services at Graceland University! The Counseling Services welcomes all students, and in a warm atmosphere where all students belong. The Counseling Services encourages the individual, emotional and academic well-being of students and helps them reach their full ability by providing broad clinical counseling services.

The purpose of the Counseling Services is committed providing a safe, welcoming, affirming, building-connections, and supporting the students at Graceland University with their overall wellbeing. The Counseling Services is committed ongoing process of learning development, observance of our differences, and a commitment to challenge each other and others in the interest of social justice.

The Counseling Services at Graceland University concept is to approach each student as a whole and treat them in a holistic manner in a safe space that encompasses, inclusiveness, respectfulness, diversity, and culturally sensitive counseling services.

The Counseling Services tries to provide by offering services that are fully coherent to students in an atmosphere that is welcoming and approachable. Conscious of a holistic perspective, the Counseling Services is committed to providing individualized attention to students characterized by manners of, compassion, and a genuine desire to be helpful.

Services provided at the Professional Personal Counseling Services include:

• Individual counseling: The first step is to Contact Polly Joseph at 641-784-5463 or email at lisapd1@graceland.edu with a Personal Counselor for an initial consultation appointment.  The appointment provides a chance for you to discuss your concerns with Personal Counselor and determine which service will best meet your needs. Built on this meeting, you and your Personal Counselor may agree that individual counseling or group counseling would best suit your needs. If this is the case, the Personal Counselor will gather the necessary information from you so that you can begin therapy.
• Drop-Ins: Drop-ins is chat service offered by the Professional Personal Counseling Services. It provides you with an opportunity to have a casual, confidential, anonymous conversation with a Graceland University's personal counselor. You can share your mental health concerns, work on problem solving together, learn about useful campus and Graceland University offers an initial consultation appointment to discuss your concerns and determine how best to meet your needs. Community resources or ask questions about counseling and Graceland University.
• Group counseling: In group therapy, the Personal Counselor will facilitate the group, and you can also get to know other students who are facing similar issues as you. Groups at the Graceland University are designed for students who want to understand themselves and others in greater depth. These may be students who have concerns about relationships with others; students who feel different from their peers because of the type of problem currently being experienced; and/or students who make choices based on what others want or expect instead of evaluating decisions for themselves. The personal Counselor is ethically committed to confidentiality and federal and state laws require it. That means that even your attendance in a group at Graceland University is kept private and confidential by the Personal Counselor. The issue of confidentiality is an important one which is always addressed in the group therapy immediately
• Telehealth services: Telehealth therapy is an online virtual/platform (Zoom) to meet your Personal Counselor. At Graceland University we protect your privacy, confidentiality by making sure the Telehealth platform (Zoom) and is HIPAA secured video conference platform. Students often struggle with managing classes, social relationships, and multiple responsibilities every day. Whether you’re struggling with the transition into college, into the workforce after college, or figuring out your personal goals. The personal counselor can offer one-on-one counseling. The UCS offers an initial consultation appointment to discuss your concerns and determine how best to meet your needs.
• Complex relationships: Many students enter an intimate relationship during college. As time goes on, however, ups and downs are going to happen. Maintaining a healthy relationship requires good communication and support between partners. The quality of the relationships we have affects our lives in many ways, including our self-esteem, our capability to handle stress, and our academic and work-related productivity. The professional Personal Counseling Services can facilitate healthy relationships allow for individuality and personal growth, all while bringing out the best in both people.
• Recommendations and referrals: The Professional Personal Counseling Services offers an initial consultation appointment to discuss your concerns and determine how best to meet your needs. Due to special requirements for care, ineligibility for our services, or other reasons, you and the Personal Counselor may decide that a referral to another agency or service provider would be most beneficial.