Free, confidential counseling available on all campuses

Counseling Services does more than facilitate events on topics such as suicide prevention, dating and domestic violence and substance abuse. Counselors are assigned to each Pellissippi State campus to support students.

“Students bring a variety of personal and school-related issues to personal counseling,” said Director Nancy Truett. “Some of the more common concerns include test anxiety, relationship difficulties, concerns about drug or alcohol use and stress and time management. Other concerns include depression, abuse issues, sexuality/sexual identity questions and interpersonal conflicts. We provide short-term solution-focused counseling, crisis intervention, referral services and consultation.”

While you always can make an appointment to meet with a counselor privately in nonemergency situations by using the Online Appointment Scheduling service on our Counseling Services webpage, our counselors also make a point of connecting with students on their campuses by having open availability and by leading support groups.

For example, on our Blount County Campus, counselor Heather White is available in the Lobby 11 a.m. – noon on Mondays for “Coloring with a Counselor,” Wednesdays for “Let’s Talk” and Thursdays for “Donuts with a Dragon,” featuring her bearded dragon, Stanley. Students also can catch her in the Lobby 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays for “Let’s Talk.”

Likewise, on our Magnolia Avenue Campus, counselor Doug Devaney is available in the Lobby 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays for “Let’s Talk” and 8 a.m. Wednesdays for “Donuts with Doug.” Both are informal times for students to drop by and chat. Devaney also hosts “Sandwiches and Support” once a month on Thursdays, a support group for students with free lunch provided. The next one is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Nov. 9 in the Community Room.

Over on our Strawberry Plains Campus, counselor Esmilsa Alford-Christian holds weekly “Let’s Talk” sessions in the Lobby as well as “Therapy Thursdays” 10:30 a.m. – noon. During this time, she offers different approaches to therapy including coloring, watercolors and Lego bricks.

And at Hardin Valley Campus, counselor Elissa Winzenburg notes that Counseling Services is in the process of setting up a “walk in” space and plans to host walk-in hours 1 – 4 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesdays and 2 -3 p.m. Thursdays. Hardin Valley Campus also plans to have support groups available to students during spring 2024.

For more information on Counseling Services and the help they can provide you, visit www.pstcc.edu/counseling/ or call 865.694.6480.