The Center for Student Success offers professional counseling services on academic, personal, financial, and career issues.  Counseling is free and confidential for RMU students as long as they are enrolled in classes.  RMU offers a full-time Personal/Crisis Counselor to meet with students.  The Personal/Crisis Counselor will meet with each student individually and recommend a personalized plan of action.  Depending on the needs of the student, some will be referred to our Psychiatric Nurse and/or Psychiatrist contracted with us from the Western Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (WPIC).  Students who do not need intensive counseling will be given other tools to help them cope with the situation that is affecting them.  To schedule an appointment, please call 412-397-4349.

Meet the Staff

Randon Willard, M.A.
Personal/Crisis Counselor
willard@rmu.edu
412-397-5861
Nicholson Center 2nd, Center for Student Success
8:30am-5:00 pm, Monday-Friday

Gail Shostak, RN, MSN, APRN
Psychiatric Nurse
Nicholson Center 2nd, Student Life
2:00pm-6:00pm, Wednesday and Thursday
(Students must be referred by the Personal/Crisis Counselor
or by the Nurse in the Student Health Services)

Vered Birmaher, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Nicholson Center 2nd, Student Life
(Students must be referred by the Psychiatric Nurse)

Informed Consent, Assessment and Treatment, and Confidentiality                                                                                 

Students are eligible to receive a range of services at RMU.  The type and extent of services that the student will receive will be determined following an initial assessment and thorough discussion with each student.  The goal of the assessment process is to determine the best course of treatment for each student.  Typically, treatment is provided over the course of several weeks.  All information shared with the clinician and/or privileged administrators at RMU is confidential and no information will be released without consent of the student.  During the course of treatment, it may be necessary for the therapist to communicate with providers at Staunton Health Clinic located in Sewickley Hospital.  In all circumstances, consent to release information is given through written authorization.  Verbal consent for limited release of information may be necessary in special circumstances. There are specific and limited exceptions to confidentiality, which include the following:

A. When there is risk of imminent danger to self or to another person, the clinician is ethically bound to take necessary steps to prevent such danger.

B. When there is suspicion that a child or elder is being sexually or physically abused or is at risk of such abuse, the clinician is legally required to take steps to protect the child and to inform the proper authorities.

C. When a valid court order is issued for medical records, the clinician and the University are bound by law to comply with such requests.