Staff & Faculty Resources

Finding a Therapist

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at Humboldt:

The EAP provides free and confidential services for Cal Poly Humboldt employees and their family members,  including 8 sessions of individual counseling per issue; as well as, financial consultation, legal consultation, eldercare and childcare resources, and more.  For more information regarding EAP or to make an appointment, please contact them through their website (below) or call 800.367.7474 to speak with a licensed counselor 24/7/365.  The password for access through the website and when calling is "jackswellness1."

Life Matters Logo

Community Resources include:

  • You can also search for a local therapist through Psychology Today or by contacting Membership Services of your private insurance carrier and asking for a mental health referral (can indicate if you prefer telehealth depending on your carrier)

Available Mental Health Related Trainings for Faculty & Staff 

On Campus

  • CAPS  can arrange trainings/workshops on a variety of topics (such as an introduction to mental health issues, suicide prevention, interacting with distressed (or distressing) students, positive psychology/happiness, mindfulness, stress management, etc.). If interested in training on a particular topic, please contact CAPS to discuss your request. The more notice you give us (3 weeks is ideal), the more likely we will be to honor your request.         

Off-Campus

  • There are several off-campus suicide prevention trainings (QPR, ASIST, and Mental Health First AID). Check here for information

General Faculty/Staff Resources    

Dealing with Disruptive Students

As a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt campus community, you are constantly interacting with students.  At times, you will have contact with students whose problems or behaviors will cause you concern, discomfort, or may interfere in the education of other students.  The difficulty is that most often, these types of people or situations do not go away.

The following brochure offers advice and help when dealing with disruptive students.

Dean of Students Office

If you have concern for a student or wish to report misconduct, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities is happy to take your report and will respond appropriately. Reports can be made here.

Tips for Managing Emotionally-Laden Classroom Discussions

Sometimes troubling  events from outside the classroom have a way of intruding on classroom  discussions.  After all, students often look to faculty for guidance in  understanding the world around them, and course topics often focus or touch on  troubling world events. This information  from Hobart and William Smith Colleges  is very helpful (click link above). 

Recommended Reading:

Suicide Prevention

Helping a Student that Might Be Suicidal

 

How to Make Referrals

When you are concerned about a student and think that it might be helpful for them to meet with a therapist at CAPS, it is beneficial to provide that student with an empathic, clear, and concise communication about why you think counseling would be helpful. In other words, share with the student what you have observed (through behavior, written class assignments, etc.) that has caused you to be concerned, provide support and encouragement, and let the student know what CAPS has to offer. For example, you can inform the student that all of our services are free to regularly enrolled students and that counseling is confidential (with a few exceptions that primarily involve safety issues). You might want to share information about CAPS counseling and crisis services, groups offered, etc. If you have had positive interactions with our staff members in the past, this can be helpful information to share as well (e.g., it may help to instill trust, a sense of accessibility and familiarity, etc.).

Please keep in mind that early intervention is preferable to crisis intervention.  To ensure prompt attention, it is best to call in advance for an appointment.  Having the student make the call increases their responsibility and commitment to come for counseling; however, there may be times, especially if the student is in crisis, when it is advantageous for you to call and make the appointment.  If you believe the matter is serious and you have doubts that the student will follow through with contacting CAPS, please consider walking with the student to our office (2nd floor of the Health, Wellness, and Counseling Center). A phone call alerting us to the arrival of a student in crisis is very appreciated and will facilitate our serving the student in a timely and effective fashion. Concerns that may indicate that the student is in crisis include:

    • Thoughts of Suicide
    • A Recent Suicide Attempt
    • Fear of Losing Control and Possibly Harming Oneself or Someone Else
    • A Recent Sexual or Physical Assault
    • Recent Death (or discovery of a terminal illness) Of a Friend or Family Member
    • Fear For their Life (e.g., due to threats, a domestic violence situation, etc.)

In the case of a crisis, the student will be seen in a timely fashion by the therapist on-call (i.e., typically within the hour of their arrival at CAPS).  For a routine counseling session, students can use our "drop-in" system and simply wait to see the drop-in therapist on a first come- first served basis on a day that is convenient for them.  Alternatively, students may schedule a first time appointment and return to CAPS at this later date.

Please keep in mind that our services are designed for students who can benefit from time-limited counseling.  If longer-term therapy is indicated, the student will be referred to an appropriate off campus resource.  Because our services are confidential, we will be unable to relay information to you regarding the student's use of our services unless the student provides us with written permission to communicate with you on their behalf.