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Personal Counseling Services

Personal Counseling Services (PCS) offers free, short-term mental health counseling to Edgewood College students. Students must be currently located in the state of Wisconsin to be eligible. All appointments are confidential. To schedule, please call 608-663-4148, email pcsnotifications@edgewood.edu, or stop by The Wellness Center in Dominican 122. PCS is open 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:30 Monday-Friday.

To complete forms or view your appointment details, go to the Wellness Center Student Portal.

The Wellness Center is offering students complimentary memberships to Headspace, while supplies last! Sign up using your Edgewood College email address here: https://work.headspace.com/edgewoodcollege/member-enroll

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Emergency Resources

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Distress Line

If all the talk about COVID-19 is making you feel overwhelmed or frightened, you can call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Crisis Text Line

Feeling panicked? Down? Hopeless? Text “hello” to 741-741 to have a text “conversation” with a trained counselor.

24-hour Crisis Line of Dane County

608-280-2600

This resource is available 24/7 for individuals in Dane County who are experiencing a mental health emergency.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

This resource is available 24/7 for individuals who are feeling hopeless or are having thoughts of suicide.

Low-Cost Counseling Options in Madison

For those seeking longer term mental health care, the following resources are recommended:

Low-Cost Counseling Options in Madison

Journey Mental Health, (608) 280-2720,
https://www.journeymhc.org/

Catholic Charities, (608) 826-8000,
https://catholiccharitiesofmadison.org/

The Family Center, (608) 663-6154,
https://edgewood.edu/the-family-center

UW-Madison Counseling Psychology Training Clinic
https://counselingpsych.education.wisc.edu/clinic-and-outreach/cptc/

Counseling through Health Insurance

Interested in seeking counseling through your health insurance carrier but unsure of where to start? Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask the following questions:

  • Does my policy cover mental health services?
  • At what percentage does my policy cover mental health services? Will I have to pay a co-pay?
  • Do I have any limits on the number of sessions covered per year?
  • May I have a list of providers covered by my policy?

Stress and Depression Questionnaire

Stress & Depression Questionnaire

Concerned about stress, anxiety, or your mood? Take our free anonymous online stress & depression questionnaire. After you complete the questionnaire, a counselor from PCS will provide an individualized response without knowing who you are.

Sexual Violence: A Guide to Reporting & Seeking Support

Learn more about Title IX.

On-Campus Confidential Resources

If you would like to discuss an incident in a confidential manner, or learn more about your rights without necessarily filing a report with the college, the following resources are available.

Note that these are the only resources on campus that are considered confidential when informed of sexual violence. Other staff and faculty are obligated to share information about sexual violence with the Director of Student Conduct and/or the Title IX Coordinator.

Personal Counseling Services

  • (608) 663-4148, Dominican 122, PCSNotifications@edgewood.edu

Health Services

  • (608) 663-8334, Dominican 122, healthservices@edgewood.edu

Gretchen Baumgardt, Interim Chief Mission and Ministry Officer

  • (608) 663-3292, DeRicci 222, gbaumgardt@edgewood.edu

Campus Policies

You can find the college’s sexual misconduct and relationship violence policy in the Student Handbook. Additional information regarding policies and procedures, victim rights, and campus crime rates are included in the annual Security and Fire Safety reports.

Options for Reporting Sexual Violence

Edgewood College students, faculty, and staff have the reporting options listed below. “Reporting” means that an investigation into the incident may take place. Reporting is a personal decision and efforts are made to take the victim or survivor’s lead in deciding whether or not to proceed with an investigation. In the event that the incident is deemed a continued danger to the campus community, a notice without any information identifying the victim or survivor would be sent as an Eagle Alert.

Note that any staff or faculty member other than those listed in the “confidential resources” section above must inform the Director of Student Conduct and/or the Title IX Coordinator if/when they are given information about an incident related to sexual violence.

1) Reporting to the College

  • If in immediate need, contact Edgewood College Safety & Security by calling 608-663-4321.
  • Students can contact the Dean of Students Office at 608-663-2212 to file a report.
  • Staff and faculty can contact Arhelia Dalla Costa Behm, Title IX Coordinator, at 608-663-4304 or adallacostabehm@edgewood.edu to file a report.

2) Reporting to the police

  • If in immediate need, call 911.
  • If the incident took place in Madison and the need is no longer immediate, call the City of Madison Police non-emergency line at (608) 225-2345.
  • If the incident occurred outside of Madison and the need is no longer immediate, call the police in that area.

3) Reporting to both the college and the police

4) Neither – Choosing not to report the incident. The victim or survivor can also report the incident at a later time if they choose to do so.

Off-Campus Confidential Resources

Sexual Violence Resource Center

The Sexual Violence Resource Center (formerly called the Rape Crisis Center) has advocates and counselors available. Advocates can provide education, help victims and survivors navigate their medical and legal needs, and review the reporting options available. 24-hour Help Line: (608) 251-7273.

Forensic Nurse Examiners Program
Victims and survivors are strongly encouraged to participate in this program. Services include a physical injury exam and collection of evidence (i.e., a “rape kit”). Evidence is kept for 10 years and the victim or survivor has the right to choose whether or not they report the crime to the police at any point in time. If the crime is reported, the evidence collected may later be useful to the victim or survivor’s case.

Victims and survivors of strangulation are also encouraged to utilize this program. Services may include medical examination, use of a black light to detect bruises, photo collection, and/or swabbing the neck for DNA.

The cost of services may be covered by the “Wisconsin Safe Fund” if there is a financial need and/or you do not wish to use your family’s insurance plan. The Forensic Nurse Examiner Program is located in the UnityPoint Health Meriter Emergency Room at 202 S. Park Street, Madison, WI. (608) 417-5916.

Crime Victim Compensation (CVC)

CVC can help pay for expenses that were incurred as the result of a crime. Call 608-264-9497 to inquire about your eligibility.

UNIDOS of Wisconsin (click here to access the website in Spanish)

UNIDOS of Wisconsin provides advocacy services in English and Spanish. Types of support offered include legal advocacy, assistance with filing a restraining order, immigration information, accompaniment to court, and support groups. UNIDOS Help Line: 1-800-510-9195

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)

DAIS offers support to individuals in situations involving domestic or dating violence. Services include crisis response, emergency shelter, and support groups. DAIS Help Line: (608) 251-4445 or 1-800-747-4045

Freedom Inc.

Freedom Inc. provides culturally-competent advocacy and support to victims and survivors of sexual assault or domestic or dating violence. Their mission is to end violence against people of color, women, those that non-traditionally gender identify, youth, and elders, and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Deaf Unity Wisconsin

Deaf Unity provides services in American Sign Language (ASL), including offering emotional support, information and education, and accompaniment to court or medical appointments.

Disability Rights Wisconsin

Disability Rights Wisconsin provides advocacy to crime victims with disabilities. This may include emotional support, legal advice, or assistance with accessing disability services.

Rise Law Center

The Rise Law Center offers legal representation in regards to family law, restraining orders, and immigration and visas.

Community Justice Inc.

This is a non-profit law firm that provides representation to victims or survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. Identify yourself as a student and inquire about their sliding scale fees.

Mission & Diversity Statement

Personal Counseling Services (PCS) acknowledges that mental health concerns often have a significant impact on student learning and the overall educational experience. Thus, we offer a range of services designed to foster the growth and development of the whole student while also supporting the college’s academic mission. PCS provides individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, psycho-educational and preventative outreach services, consultation to students, parents, faculty, and staff, and training for graduate students in counseling.

We strive to offer a safe environment for people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexual identities, gender identities, religious or spiritual affiliations, abilities, classes, body shapes and sizes, and life experiences – all who reflect the rich diversity of the world’s cultures and perspectives. We are also committed to continually reflecting on personal and societal biases, through ongoing dialogue (both formal and informal) and professional development activities.

Personal Counseling Services Staff

Stephanie Brown

Stephanie Brown

Stephanie joined Personal Counseling Services as a staff clinician in 2016. Prior to coming to Edgewood, she completed her post-doc at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Stephanie is originally from Long Beach, CA and received her BA at Amherst College in Massachusetts. She obtained an M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology in Southern California. As a generalist Stephanie works with most every concern that students bring but has a passion for working with folks on self-care, maintaining healthy relationship boundaries, disordered eating struggles, healing from trauma, spiritual or religious issues, and issues related to race, ethnicity, sexuality, and other areas of culture and identity development.  In her free time Stephanie enjoys dancing, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, traveling, eating spicy foods, and watching movies.

Megan Cobb Sheehan

Megan Cobb-Sheehan

Megan Cobb-Sheehan completed her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Oregon, her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University, and her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She joined Personal Counseling Services in 2013. She takes a person-centered approach to therapy, while also placing emphasis on patterns learned from family and early life experiences. Therapy can help discover which patterns may be helpful or hindering and can provide opportunities for change and empowerment. Megan’s areas of expertise include depression and anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, and family & relationship concerns.

Training Opportunities for Graduate Students

Personal Counseling Services accepts two practicum students each academic year. Typically placements are solidified in the spring of each year and begin the following Fall. Please contact Dr. Megan Cobb-Sheehan with any questions.

Eligibility:

  • Current doctoral or masters-level students in counseling or clinical psychology
  • Must have successfully completed coursework in counseling skills, counseling theories, and ethics in counseling
  • Able to commit at least 15 hours a week to practicum position

Opportunities:

  • Provide individual counseling to diverse students with a range of presenting concerns
  • Co-facilitate a support or interpersonal process group
  • Participate in bi-weekly trainings on a range of topics
  • Provide outreach presentations and information about PCS to the campus community
  • “Community-feel” of being on a small college campus, including chances to regularly consult with offices outside of PCS

Supervision

Practicum students will be supervised by a licensed psychologist for one hour each week. Ongoing consultation regarding cases is also strongly encouraged. Practicum students will also participate in weekly case consultation meetings and regularly scheduled trainings.

Application requirements (to be submitted via email to mcobbsheehan@edgewood.edu):

  • Current vita
  • Cover letter describing your clinical experience and interest in Personal Counseling Services
  • Names and contact information of 2 references (e.g., program faculty, former practicum supervisors)