Specialized Services

Substance Use Support and Safe Choices Program

If you are experiencing substance use-related concerns, Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) counselors can help you identify available resources and treatment options based on your specific concerns, needs, and goals. You can attend an initial consultation to discuss your concerns and talk with a counselor to identify your on-campus and/or off-campus support options.

For students who are referred to CCS by other NIU staff or departments for substance use-related concerns, you will first attend a scheduled consultation appointment. Most students who are referred will then attend two sessions of the Safe Choices group. The Safe Choices group provides education on the effects of substance use and topics such as use, misuse, and dependency on alcohol and marijuana. The group discussions also focus on the role of substances in your life, your personal goals and values, harm reduction, and strategies to cope with concerns in safe, healthy ways. Students who are not specifically referred to the Safe Choices group can still attend if recommended by a CCS counselor.

CCS is not certified to complete substance use assessments that are required for legal and/or court-mandated reasons.

If you require court-ordered services or information about other substance use treatment resources, contact CCS or use the substance abuse treatment locator sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Eating and Body Image Concerns Support

For students who are experiencing eating and/or body image-related concerns, a CCS counselor can provide you support and help you identify the most appropriate treatment options to address your specific concerns. If necessary, some students may also be referred to meet with a CCS staff member to complete an additional assessment to discuss more specific information regarding your eating concerns, body image and related behaviors. Based on the information gathered during either the initial consultation and/or the additional assessment, you will receive recommendations about treatment, nutrition and medical resources.

Anger Intervention Group

The purpose of this service is to assist you in understanding the situation(s) in which you find yourself expressing your anger inappropriately and learning other ways to cope with anger.

You must specifically state when you call or come into CCS that you would like to attend the Anger Intervention Group.

You may be referred by a university department or after attending an initial consultation.

This intervention consists of two group appointments with other students who have been referred. During the first appointment, counselors meet with you to discuss the situation(s) which led to the referral and provide education regarding the process of anger. The second appointment builds on this information as you learn more about ways to best identify, respond and cope with feelings of anger and frustration in healthy and effective ways.

When the intervention is the result of a referral from an outside department, you will be asked to sign a release of information with the referring department. Within three days of completing this process, the referring department will receive written confirmation that you have completed the anger intervention.

Contact Us

Counseling and Consultation Services
Peters Campus Life Building, room 200
815-753-1206
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Initial Consultation Hours

Monday-Thursday
Noon - 4 p.m.

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