Frequently Asked Questions

You can either call our administrative assistant at 617-747-2310 or stop by the Counseling Center at 161 Massachusetts Avenue, fourth floor, during business hours. Business hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Any enrolled student can make an appointment by coming in or calling the Counseling Center. Students will be asked for their name, student identification number, and a current phone number so that we may reach you if anything changes. We ask you to keep your scheduled appointments and to notify the Counseling Center 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule.

The hours of operation are Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There may be certain days where the Counseling Center may have extended hours by counselor. 

Many students at Berklee use counseling services for a variety of concerns. Some students find that one or two sessions are enough. Others have more complex situations that require more time. If you are not sure if counseling can help with your particular problem, we encourage you to make an appointment to talk it over with one of the personal counselors and learn about what options and solutions might serve you best.

Most initial appointments will be made within two weeks. During this first session, you and the counselor will discuss your concerns and treatment options. These could include individual counseling at the Counseling Center or a referral to a clinician in the community.

We respect confidentiality highly and follow it as a strict rule. Massachusetts law and ethical guidelines for counselors require that your visit and all information shared during counseling remain confidential. We cannot release information to anyone without your written permission. This includes friends, instructors, and parents. Records of counseling sessions are kept in separate locked files and secure electronic files. Only licensed counselors have access to these files.

Exceptions to confidentiality occur only under special circumstances such as being in imminent danger. Your counselor will go over these exceptions in detail with you at your initial appointment.

We have an on-call counselor available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday to assist students in crisis who need immediate attention. If you need to be seen urgently or on the same day, call 617-747-2310 or stop by the Counseling Center at 161 Massachusetts Avenue, fourth floor, and let the receptionist know that you need to see or speak to a personal counselor immediately or that day.

After business hours, call Public Safety at 617-747-8888 (extension 8888 from on-campus telephones). They will contact a clinical consultant who will be able to help. You may also call 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room for assistance.

For off-campus referrals, please email Counseling Services or call at 617-747-2310 and request to speak with our case manager.

We recommend seeking an off-campus provider for some of these reasons:

• You want long-term counseling (more than a semester).
• You want a local medication provider.
• You have mental health needs that would be better served by a specialist (eating disorders, complex trauma, and psychosis are some problems that might benefit from specialist care)
• You prefer a therapist that is not affiliated with Berklee.
• You would like a practice that offers integrated care between a primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, and/or a therapist. This is sometimes a good idea if you have multiple conditions and/or medications that need to be balanced and monitored regularly

You can find providers through your insurance website, Thriving Campus, the Psychology Today Therapist Finder website, or Zencare. You may have to call a few different places, or even “try on” different therapists by meeting with them individually, to find a provider that suits your needs. 

To help you navigate the process, please contact Counseling Services at 617-747-2310 and request an appointment with our case manager.