Counseling Services

Counseling Services promotes the personal well-being and academic success of students by providing brief mental health services, educational programs, crisis intervention, and campus community consultation.

Counseling Services

Student Life

University at Buffalo
120 Richmond Quadrangle, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14261

Phone: (716) 645-2720; Fax: (716) 645-2175

University at Buffalo
1st Floor Michael Hall, South Campus
Buffalo, NY 14214

Phone: (716) 829-5800

Email our office

Subscribe to our e-newsletter

Hours

Mon., Tue., Thurs. & Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wed.: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mon., Tues., Wed. & Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thurs.: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Our Services

Counseling Services offers a variety of therapy options, self-help resources, outreach events, and educational workshops.

Counseling Self-Help Outreach/Education

Self-Help Tools

Counseling Services also provides some online self-help assessments and educational programming you can access for free.

Togetherall

Togetherall is an online peer-to-peer platform, offering a safe space to connect with others experiencing similar feelings. Plus, there are always trained professionals on hand, 24/7, 365 days a year. And, if sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has tools and courses to help you look after yourself, along with plenty of resources to explore. Click here to register.

Whether you're struggling to cope, feeling low or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you to explore your feelings in a safe and supportive environment.

Togetherall is FREE for UB students. Use your UB email when you sign up.
Within the Togetherall platform members are anonymous, so no one will know you’re using it.
Most members report feeling better and increased ability to cope as a result of using the service.
It's available 24/7 and nearly 70% use Togetherall outside of normal office hours.

To join Togetherall’s supportive online community, you’ll need to follow these steps to register:

Enter your UB email address on the Togetherall student registration page.
Enter your details and click Sign up.
You'll be sent an email to verify your email address. Click on the link to activate your account.
Members of the Togetherall community always remain anonymous. Create a unique username for yourself during the registration process that does not include your real name or any information that could reveal your identity.

On-Line Screenings

Mental health screenings are a quick way to determine if you or someone you care about may need to reach out to a doctor or mental health professional for an evaluation. These types of screenings are typically designed to be educational, not diagnostic.

Take an On-Line Screening

TAO Self-Help

TAO Self-Help is a customizable, self-guided program that includes interactive educational modules and practice tools to help you understand and manage how you feel, think and act. You can learn stress management, mindfulness skills, problem-solving, relationship skills, and strategies for bouncing back from life’s disappointments and frustrations. TAO Self-Help is completely self-directed, with no contact with a mental health professional.

Materials in TAO Self-Help can help with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, anger management, problem solving, communications and evaluating your alcohol and drug use through:

Self-help tools
Mindfulness library and exercises
Self-help videos
Educational modules
Logs to track moods and progress

Access is available to all current UB students, faculty and staff.

Accessing TAO is easy from desktop or mobile, once you create your account:

Use your UB @buffalo.edu email address to create your account
Create a unique password (minimum 8 characters in length containing 1 non-alpha numeric character and 1 capitalization)
Agree to TAO services
Check your UB email to finish your account set up

Need help with TAO Self Help, contact TAO at support@taoconnect.org.

Create Your TAO Self-Help Account

TAO Self-Help (registered users)

SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention for Students

Because mental health concerns often first appear between the ages of 18 and 25, it’s our goal to provide students access to the wide range of suicide prevention and mental health resources that are available to them during their time at the University at Buffalo.

SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention for Students is a 30-minute, self-guided online training that uses video and interactive learning to teach college students how to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) if they are worried about themselves or a friend.

This course uses real and diverse stories of mental health struggles and recovery to provide students with resources and actionable steps to:

recognize signs of suicide risk
encourage someone to seek help
build strong peer connections
foster positive mental well-being

Click here and click "Create Account".
Enter your name, email address, and chosen password. Click "Create".
Enter the redemption code universityatbuffalo and click "Next".
View dashboard and choose SOS for Higher Ed for Students

If you are struggling now, help is available for UB Students. During normal business hours call Counseling Services and ask speak to a crisis counselor (716-645-2720). If your emergency occurs after normal business hours, call 716-645-2720 and press option “2” to speak with a counselor or call Crisis Services of Erie County at 716-834-3131. Other options are to call/text/chat 988 or text 741741 for support 24/7.

Common Topics

Many students encounter the mental health topics below. Explore the links to learn more and discover tips and resource to help you.

Wellness Coaching
8/1/24
Taking a positive approach to personal development, Wellness Coaches focus on helping students set and achieve meaningful goals.
Sleep
5/17/22
Getting enough sleep helps you learn faster, gives you more energy throughout the day and even boosts your immune health.
Healthy Eating
10/6/23
As a busy college student, you want to eat well. With nutritious on-campus meals, cooking workshops and more, we’re here to help you feel your best.
Alcohol and Other Drug Safety and Awareness
1/17/24
It’s up to you to decide whether you want to use alcohol and other drugs — and if so, we’re here to help you and your friends reduce risk.
Quit Smoking
5/17/22
Whether you smoke or vape, quitting isn’t easy. UB has resources to help you quit so you can feel better and save money.
Personal Health Kit
5/17/22
Whether you’re living on-campus or off-campus, it’s a good idea to have a personal health kit filled with things you might need in case you’re not feeling well. Pack a kit before your first semester — then check it at the beginning of each semester — and you’ll save time and money if you get sick later.

Depression
1/29/21
When negative thoughts and feelings begin to affect your health and well-being, you may need to seek intervention or professional help.
Grief and Loss
1/29/21
When someone you know dies, you may feel overwhelmed, which is why it’s important to learn how to deal with death, dying and grief.
Stress Management and Prevention
7/25/24
Stress can have a major impact on your grades, your relationships and your life as a college student. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed out, we can help.
Body Image and Eating Disorders
6/18/24
If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder, we have an Eating Disorders Team that offers the support you need.

Make an Appointment

Call 716-645-2720 for Counseling Services. We will work with you to get the help you need.

NOTE: Students should not pursue services at UB Counseling Services (UBCS) for the sole purpose of obtaining a letter of support, including one for emotional support animals. UBCS does not provide letters at the first appointment, which includes letters for academic withdrawal, and cannot provide documentation regarding a student's mental health without a history of services at UBCS during the specified time period. If necessary, students are encouraged to seek letters of support from individuals directly involved in their care such as past or present psychological/psychiatric providers, other medical providers or family members.

About Us

Our caring, experienced team includes psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals who are here to help you.

Meet the team

We openly affirm and celebrate students of all backgrounds, recognizing the beauty and value of all intersecting identities, both visible and invisible. As we continue to integrate these values into our daily practices, we also acknowledge that a clear statement on our stance is long overdue. Further, our responsibility as allies and advocates extends beyond these words.

As mental health providers, we see the traumatic impact of systems of oppression, including but not limited to White supremacy, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Ableism, Ageism, Classism, Sizeism, and Colonialism. The cumulative impact of these oppressive systems diminish our physical and mental health. While we understand these systems negatively impact us all, we acknowledge the disproportionate impact on communities that are systemically marginalized.

We recognize our responsibility to challenge unjust systems and provide support for individuals most impacted by these injustices as part of providing compassionate, inclusive, and respectful care for all students. We also acknowledge our imperfections and participation in upholding oppressive systems through our actions and inactions. We commit to examining our internal biases and privileges while actively challenging systems of oppression, because privilege equals responsibility.

We close with an invitation for all students to utilize our trauma-informed services, particularly those who may be hesitant to seek standard/traditional mental health care.

Please see below for both UB and national resources aimed at supporting students who are directly impacted by systems of oppression.

As a member of the university community, Counseling Services is committed to supporting and disseminating research. The office makes efforts to develop collaborations between staff, colleagues and students on empirical research and theoretical papers, both here at the University at Buffalo, and at other colleges and universities. Following is some general information about conducting research with our office; please contact us to learn more.

Guiding Principles for Research

Research must not interfere with Counseling Services client care; impact on usual Counseling Services procedures should be minimized
Measures to safeguard clients’ welfare must be clearly outlined; risks to clients must be negligible
Professional ethical guidelines must be carefully adhered to
Priority will be given to studies that clearly benefit university and college counseling center practices and clients

Basic Requirements for Research

Research conducted by a student must have a faculty advisor; this advisor’s name and contact information must be provided
You must develop your research proposal in consultation with Counseling Services; do not assume we will be able to approve a proposal without modification
You should obtain Institutional Review approval only after your proposal has been approved by Counseling Services

Minimal Structure for Research Proposals

Statement of purpose, including how this study will benefit counseling center practices
Research methodology, with details about impact on usual center procedures and on clients’ experience
Proposed statistical methods
Expected findings and hypotheses

Meeting Students Where They are at Through an Embedded Counselor Program - 2023-2024 Gold Winner

Mental Health Emergency?

On-Campus:

Call University Police: 716-645-2222
Call Counseling Services: 716-645-2720 (After hours: press option “2” to for the crisis counselor.)

Off-Campus:

Call 911
Crisis Services of Erie County 24-hour Hotline: 716-834-3131
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, text 988 or dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
24-hour Crisis Text Line, text: “HOME” to 741741

Announcements

Finding care can be tough, and as a student, you have plenty of other priorities demanding your time and energy. University at Buffalo partners with ThrivingCampus to help make it easier for you to know your options for care in the broader community around campus.

Taking Care

Health & Wellness: A Collaborative Approach

Counseling Services, Health Promotion and Student Health Services work together to provide a stepped approach to your care.

Learn more about wellness services available to you

Wellness Events

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University Police — Emergency response, 24/7

Health and Wellness: A Collaborative Approach

Visit the Health and Wellness page to learn how Counseling Services, Health Promotion and Student Health Services work together to provide a stepped approach to your care.