Let's Talk

Let’s Talk is a program that provides easy access to a one-time, informal, confidential, and free conversation with a staff member from the Counseling Center. This is not considered treatment or therapy and does not take place of traditional counseling.

These appointments are available on a first come, first serve basis. Students can call the Counseling Center at 765-285-1736 to schedule a Let’s Talk appointment at our Main Office (Lucina Hall).

The Counseling Center provides ongoing, individual, couple’s, or group therapy using a brief therapy model. These meetings usually consist of weekly or bi-weekly appointments that focus changing an individual’s thoughts, feelings or behaviors.

Let’s Talk is not formal therapy or treatment. It is a meeting where students can have a brief (20 minute) informal conversation with a Counseling Center staff member.

The service is open to all enrolled Ball State University undergraduate and graduate students located in Indiana. Let’s Talk is a good fit for students who:

• are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with someone from the Counseling Center
• are not interested in ongoing therapy but would like the perspective of a Counseling Center staff member
• have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with a Counseling Center staff member
• have a concern about a friend and want some thoughts about what to do

Let’s Talk is an informal conversation to provide support. Urgent services are for students in acute crisis who need immediate therapeutic support. For example, students who express serious concerns about their own safety or the safety of others, students with severe psychiatric symptoms, or students who have experienced recent trauma are more appropriately seen for urgent or therapy appointments.

If a student presents to Let’s Talk in crisis, the staff member will assist the student in receiving the necessary services. This might include accessing other emergency services.

Conversations with Let’s Talk staff members are confidential. However, staff members may need to share information about your meeting if they are concerned about your safety or the safety of others. Let’s Talk staff members keep brief written notes of their contacts with students only in the event that there is an emergency, or when a student is referred to the Counseling Center for treatment. In these situations, other Counseling Center staff members may see these notes. Information is also collected about attendance, so that we can keep track of the students we are serving and those we need to continue serving.

If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let’s Talk staff member and review the information given to you during your Let’s Talk meeting.