ǧÃŬAV

Make an Appointment

To preserve confidentiality, appointments cannot be made online. Please call or come by our office to make a Counseling appointment. 

Walk-ins (no appointment necessary) are available on the Dahlonega and Gainesville Campuses Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

The purpose of counseling is to help you to help yourself. If you sense that you are "stuck", confused, afraid, anxious, depressed or have some such similar feelings or state of mind, you probably could use the help of a professional who is trained to assist you in just such situations.

To have such periods is perfectly normal and to seek help is a sign of wisdom not weakness.

Campus Phone Location
Blue Ridge 
& Dahlonega
706-867-4402
ext. 1

Suite 246
238 Georgia Circle
Dahlonega, GA 30597
Gainesville  706-867-4402
ext. 2

Room 115
3820 Mundy Mill Road
Oakwood, GA 30566

P.O. Box 1358
Gainesville, GA 30503
Oconee  706-867-4402
ext. 3

Room 110
1201 Bishop Farms Pkwy.

P.O. Box 1748
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Cumming  706-867-4402
ext. 4

Room 238
Cumming, GA 30040

24/7 ǧÃŬAV Mental Health Support

Uwill offers students free immediate access to teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, and wellness programming through its easy to use online platform 

To schedule teletherapy

  • with Uwill 
  • Choose a therapist based on your preferences including availability, issue, gender, language, ethnicity
  • Choose a time that fits your schedule with day, night and weekend availability
  • Uwill is Private. Secure. Confidential.

If a student is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available 24/7/365

Uwill also provides students free access to on-demand wellness programming through its easy to use online platform. Relax and recharge your mind and body with a wide range of wellness such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and more! 

About Appointments

ǧÃŬAV offers brief therapy that is up to 50 minutes per session. Therapy is to help you. When you think you no longer need help, discuss termination with your therapist. In the initial session, the counselor will give a professional opinion regarding possible treatment options. You and the therapist will work together to determine what kind of therapy commitment you would like to make.

Only the therapist and you will know what is said in a session. The only way this information will be shared with anyone is with your written permission to do so. The only exceptions to confidentiality are:

  • if it is necessary to protect you or another from imminent harm;
  • if there is direct knowledge of abuse of a child, a disabled person, or a senior/elder;
  • or a court order issued by a court of law.

Scope of Practice and Confidentiality

BASICS

Learn more about BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students).

Assessment/Referrals

Professionals are trained to help people with quite substantial problems. However, should it appear that you need medication or even hospitalization, you and the therapist would work out a reasonable plan to do this, appropriate to you and your situation. If you were clearly on the verge of harming yourself or someone else, then immediate care would be given.

The Dahlonega, Gainesville, Oconee, and Cumming campuses provide referrals to students who experience problems with their use of alcohol and other drugs (including prescription drugs, nicotine, caffeine, and others).

Counselors can also help provide referrals to students who are struggling with other compulsive or addictive behaviors or substances (including pornography and eating disorders).

Common Counseling Topics

  • Depression
  • Adjusting to college
  • Disordered Eating (bingeing, purging, restricting)
  • Sexual Orientation & Gender Issues
  • Cultural & Ethnic identity and acculturation
  • Anger Management
  • Military and Deployment issues
  • Relationship issues, conflict, loss
  • Sexual Dysfunction
  • Rape/Sexual Assault
  • Anxiety
  • Grief, Loss, Separation
  • Academic confusion & indecision
  • Crises, Assessments, Referrals
  • Self-empowerment
  • Trauma
  • Roommate issues

Meet Your Counselors

Samantha Ledbetter
Samantha Ledbetter, LCSWProfile page

Staff Therapist

Phone678-717-3660

Office locationStudent Center, 125,

Jessica Maddox
Jessica Maddox, LCSWProfile page

Staff Therapist

Phone706-864-1819

Office locationStewart Success Center, 246,

Julie Matsunaga
Julie Matsunaga, LPCProfile page

Staff Therapist

Phone706-864-1819

Office locationStewart Success Center, 246,

Wes Moran III
Wes Moran III, LPCProfile page

Staff Therapist

he, him

Phone678-717-3660

Office locationStudent Center, 115,

Joy Pruitt
Joy Pruitt, LPCProfile page

Senior Staff Therapist

Staff Therapist LPC

Phone706-864-1819

Office locationStewart Success Center, 246,

Julie Puckett
Julie Puckett, LPCProfile page

Staff Therapist

Phone706-864-1819

Office locationStewart Success Center, 246,

Courtney Starnes
Courtney Starnes, LPCProfile page

Staff Therapist

Phone678-717-3660

Office locationStudent Center, 115,

Kevin Young
Kevin Young, LPCProfile page

Staff Therapist

Phone678-717-3660

Office locationStudent Center, 115,

Contact Student Counseling Services