Mental Health Counseling

Student Wellness offers free, confidential Mental Health Counseling Services to Bristol students. Services are designed to meet each student’s needs and to help guide them through transitions and self-discovery. Some students use one session; others use several. The choice always belongs to the student. Participating in counseling is a great way to feel better about everyday concerns or worries.

If you are experiencing emotional or psychological distress or at risk of harming yourself, please call 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also visit it online at Lifeline (988lifeline.org).

In addition to providing traditional 50-minute appointments, we also offer 20-minute check-in sessions. If you are wondering if counseling may be right for you, or if you would just like to learn more about Mental Health Counseling at Bristol, a twenty-minute check-in session may be what you want. If so, simply indicate that you are interested in this option when scheduling. Additional, future appointments can be arranged during the 20-minute sessions. 

• To make an appointment or to ask questions, please call 774.357.2760 or email MentalHealthCounseling@BristolCC.edu. You will get a response within one business day.
• To check on your mental health without the guidance of a counselor, free and anonymous mental health screenings are available. You will answer some questions about how you are feeling and receive suggestions based on your responses. Additional resources will be provided and meeting with a mental health counselor may be recommended: mentalhealthscreening.org/BristolCC.
• To learn about how you can support your own mental health, you can complete the free Mental Well-Being course.  Click here and then enter your Bristol login credentials, or you can find the course through AccessBCC. 

To help you get started, let’s tell you what you can expect from counseling. Mental Health Counseling in a community college setting emphasizes providing psychoeducational support (understanding your own behavior and emotions) and often centers on personal growth and development. Students are free to share as much or as little about themselves as they feel comfortable. Typically, sessions are focused on managing temporary problems of daily living, rather than treating psychological disorders. 

In short, a counselor helps people to think about experiences and emotions in different ways. Through counseling, individuals often find that they gain new perspectives, increase self-awareness and empathy, make better-informed choices, and are less affected by stress. And, of course, a counselor can help with academic issues, such as test anxiety. A community college counselor can also screen for depression, anxiety, substance use, and various other psychological disorders, but counselors at Bristol do not diagnose disorders or prescribe medications; however,  discussions about possible disorders and possible treatment options are very common in sessions. Referrals to community resources that provide appropriate therapy and treatment are available.

Student Wellness provides a friendly, supportive environment where free, confidential services are available to Bristol Community College students.  The following Mental Health Counseling services are provided:

• Short-term Therapy
• Crisis Intervention
• Substance Use (Alcohol and other drug) Screening
• In-Person Assessments
• Free and Anonymous Online Assessments: mentalhealthscreening.org/BristolCC.
• Referrals for Treatment

Scheduling Appointments

To make an appointment or to learn more about Mental Health Counseling, please email MentalHealthCounseling@BristolCC.edu or call 774.357.2760.