Let’s Talk offers brief, one-time appointments with a Counseling Center staff member. These appointments are not treatment or therapy. They are brief problem solving and resource sessions with a staff member from the Counseling Center. Let’s Talk is an opportunity for a student to talk about an issue and get support so they can address the issue. Let’s Talk is available to any student in Indiana.

Let’s Talk appointments are great for issues like test anxiety, coping skills, relationship break ups, and roommate conflicts. If you are thinking about getting therapy, but are unsure if therapy is for you Let’s Talk gives you a chance to talk with a Counseling Center staff member about whether therapy is right for you. These appointments are NOT ongoing therapy or treatment appointments. They should not be used as check-ins between therapy sessions, for crisis or urgent needs, or chronic reoccurring mental health concerns. During the appointment, the student and staff member will work together to identify supports and resources the student can use to resolve their concern.

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

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).

Call the Counseling Center at 765-285-1736 and request a Let’s Talk appointment. Appointments are first come, first served.
The staff member will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

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.

Absolutely. The staff member will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help.
If you would like to consult with a staff member about a non-clinical, non-urgent issue, you are welcome to a Let’s Talk meeting. If you believe that you need to be seen sooner than the appointment you were given, it’s best to contact the Counseling Center and request a sooner appointment.
Since treatment and therapy appointments are not available at Let’s Talk, following up with the community referral is the best idea. If you are having difficulty connecting with a community therapy, call the Counseling Center for assistance.

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.

Let’s Talk is not a substitute for mental health treatment, therapy, or formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let’s Talk staff members provide informal conversations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it’s like to speak with a staff member. Your Let’s Talk staff member can help you determine whether formal therapy at the Counseling Center would be useful to you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.
FAQ information was adapted from Cornell University. Their dedicated efforts to provide innovative services to students and willingness to share these resources with other colleges and universities are deeply appreciated.