Northeast State provides free, short-term counseling services for students experiencing personal difficulties that impact their ability to pursue their educational goals.
Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselors/Mental Health Service Providers and local university graduate level students completing their master's degree in counseling or social work provide services. The interns receive supervision from off-campus licensed clinicians in their profession. In addition, when necessary, effective counseling sometimes requires counselors to receive consultation from off and/or on-campus professionals, however, student confidentiality is always maintained.
During the first intake interview, your counselor will discuss the counseling process and answer questions you might have about counseling, the qualifications of your counselor, and services offered by the college. The counselor will invite you to share your concerns and gather further information about your personal and family history. You and your counselor will work to determine how best to serve your needs. If your mental health issue or presenting problem is beyond the counselor’s scope of practice, your counselor will refer you to a more appropriate community mental health provider.
Client’s Rights and Responsibilities
As a client, you have the right to:
- be treated with dignity and respect
- expect confidentiality of your session except if your counselor believes you may cause severe and foreseeable harm to another person or harm to self, or there are clear suspicions of child abuse, abuse of people with disabilities or elder abuse
You are encouraged to actively participate during and between sessions to enhance the change process. If counseling does not meet your expectations, we encourage you to talk with your counselor, who will treat your concerns carefully and respectfully and provide referral options when requested. Although early termination is not recommended, you have the right to end counseling at any time.
Counseling Services Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The initial intake interviews are scheduled for 30 minutes to assess need. Counseling sessions are scheduled for 45-50 minutes, but when demand is high, they may be limited to 30 minutes. Appointments after 4:30 may be available on certain days. You are responsible for attending your sessions on time. If you need to miss, cancel, or reschedule a session, please give 24 hours advance notice when possible. Please call 423-354-2587 or email Counseling@NortheastState.edu.
Telehealth is available when the campus is closed to students or students cannot travel to the Blountville campus for health reasons or transportation issues. Telehealth is HIPPA-approved and provides confidentiality.
If a mental health crisis occurs during the evenings, on weekends, or when the college is not in session, call local Crisis at 1-877-928-9062 or the 988-crisis line.
Attendance & Scheduling Policy
We understand that unexpected situations happen. However, consistent attendance is essential for counseling to be effective. Clients with frequent no-shows or last-minute cancellations may lose priority scheduling and, in some cases, may be referred to Frontier Health or another community provider for ongoing care.
Northeast State Campus Closure
Should there be a delay in opening campus or closure on the day of your scheduled appointment, your counselor will send you an email with the option to reschedule your appointment or move your appointment to telehealth, if possible.
Counselor Responsibilities
It is your counselor’s responsibility to:
- help you identify and move toward your counseling goals
- create an emotionally safe environment for counseling
- respect your perceptions and experiences
Counselors are responsible for being aware of the range and limitations of their own expertise and for using consultation appropriately. Counselors are responsible for beginning and ending sessions on time and for letting clients know when they will not be available.
Contact Information
Counseling Services
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
423-354-2587
Counseling@NortheastState.edu
24/7 Hotlines
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988
Creekside Behavioral Health, 1-888-252-2154
Turning Point, 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center, 1-877-928-9062
Woodridge Hospital, 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center, 1-800-366-1132
TREVOR Crisis Hotline, 1-866-488-7386
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