The CHDC is happy to provide services on a sliding fee scale.  This means our counselors will work with you to consider your annual income, number of individuals supported with the income, any special circumstances, and the number of family members who are seeking services at the CHDC. UNT students who are not attending counseling as part of a class project pay just $2/session.  The most any individual will ever pay for counseling is $50/session. We do not refuse services for inability to pay. 

You can pay session-by-session using cash or check.  We are unable to accept credit cards, private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. However, we suspect that your sliding fee payment will be less than the typical insurance copay. If you have concerns about payment, please be sure to address them with your counselor.

Please notify us as soon in advance as possible. We prefer 24-hours notice; however, our counselors appreciate whatever notice you can give. Your counselor will work with you to decide whether to cancel your weekly session or to reschedule for one day later in the week.

The CHDC is located in Stovall Hall in the heart of the UNT Campus. Stovall Hall is located at 1400 W. Highland Avenue in Denton. The CHDC is located just through the sliding glass doors on the right side of the building.

If you are visiting the CHDC from off campus, you may purchase a parking pass for a one-time fee. Our clinic staff will be happy to direct you to the appropriate parking lot. Metered parking and handicap-accessible parking are available directly across the street from the clinic. Until you get used to parking patterns on UNT’s campus, we recommend you plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure sufficient time for parking and walking to the clinic.

If you are new to the CHDC: We are glad you are reaching out for help. Many people decide to come to counseling when they feel a pressing need for support or change. In most cases, we are able to schedule your intake appointment within a few days to one week of your initial call, and our counselors may be able to see within a few days to one week of your intake appointment. This availability changes depending on the time of the semester. The CHDC is not a crisis facility, however, which means we are not able to accommodate walk-in clients or serve individuals who are experiencing an immediate crisis which is related to potential harm to self or others. If you are in crisis, please click here to learn about some resources for you.
 
If you are an active client at CHDC: We are glad you thought to come to us. You may call the clinic and leave a message for your counselor regarding your concerns. We’ll work to have your counselor or your counselor’s supervisor return your call and determine whether you might benefit from an additional session at the CHDC or from a short-term referral to another location. If you feel as if your concerns can’t wait, please use the referral resources list your counselor shared with you during your first session or visit our helpful resources page.

Please call 940-565-2970 during regular business hours.

CHDC counselors are advanced master’s students or beginning doctoral students in professional counseling. Our state-of-the-art facility allows our counselors to be supervised closely by faculty and advanced doctoral students who are affiliated with UNT’s nationally-recognized Counseling Program. We feel confident in our students and supervisors, and the counseling program faculty monitors student competence very closely. 
 
When you first visit the clinic, we’ll work with you to determine your needs. This process will involve matching you with a counselor we believe will have the skills necessary to help you. If we do not believe we have a counselor who would be qualified to help you with your particular concern, we’ll work with you to find a more appropriate location for counseling. Your counselor will also address his or her approach to counseling and qualifications during your first session.  If you have any questions, we hope you’ll feel comfortable speaking up.

People come to counseling for all sorts of reasons – some to facilitate growth and optimal development – others to find relief from troublesome experiences. Counseling can help most individuals uncover the natural strength, resilience, and skills needed to face life’s problems. Sometimes people choose to come to counseling to learn more about themselves or their relationships. Others choose to come to counseling because they are feeling lost or uncertain about some aspects of their lives. Oftentimes our clients tell us they’d like help learning more effective communication, relationship, stress management, self-esteem, or parenting skills. Other times, our clients are seeking relief from problems with depression, anxiety, substance abuse.

Some people find what they need in just a handful of counseling sessions. Other individuals chose to attend counseling for months or even years.  You and your counselor will work together to decide which timeframe is most appropriate to your concerns. Our counselors at the CHDC are available in 10-16 week rotations.  Many people find that time frame enough to address their concerns; however, if you would like to continue with counseling longer than your counselor is available, we’ll work with you to transfer you to another counselor.

Your first visit to the clinic will be for an “intake” session.  This session is designed around understanding your needs so that we can find the counselor best suited to work with you. We’ll ask that you arrive quite early to read information about your privacy and rights as a client and to fill out information regarding your history and current concerns. We ask all clients to fill out this paperwork so we can better understand their situation. You might wish to bring information regarding your family history, medical and mental health history, and current medications. After you have completed the paperwork, you will meet with a doctoral student who will explore your needs, concerns, and preferences for counseling. We’ll also ask that you provide us with a summary of the times you are best able to attend counseling. Shortly after your intake session, we’ll contact you to advise you of your counselor and your standing appointment time.
 
When you meet with your assigned counselor for the first time, you can expect to learn a bit more about that person’s approach to counseling and about your rights and responsibilities as a client. Your counselor will likely engage you in a conversation regarding your needs and experiences.

Researchers have shown that counseling works for most people. In fact, most people who benefit from counseling notice a difference within the first few sessions.  Some others will need additional support; however, even those individuals often report being helped by counseling within the first year.
 
You can expect to work with a professional who demonstrates respect, cultural sensitivity, and strong communication skills.  We hope you will feel safe enough with your counselor to work through what can be uncomfortable feelings and experiences. Although your counselor may challenge you at times, you can also expect your counselor to respect the boundaries you set in session. Some counselors might choose to engage you in exercises or homework that involves learning new things about yourself or trying on new skills.  These approaches vary depending on your counselor’s theory.  We hope you will ask your assigned counselor what to expect from your sessions. 

Because we are a training facility, we are able to offer low-cost services to individuals who otherwise might not have qualified for services or might not have been able to afford the cost of counseling. Just as it is important that we protect your privacy, it’s also important that we provide the support necessary for your counselor to assist you. For this reason, our counselors record all counseling sessions for use in supervision. Supervisors may also chose to observe sessions via a remote viewing screen. Session recordings are not identified and are kept under careful watch. We destroy these recordings as soon as is prudent, and no later than the end of the semester.
 
The instructors and supervisors who view these sessions are focused on both your wellbeing and the counselor’s development.  These individuals are also held to strict confidentiality rules regarding the handling of your information. Thus, they will follow the same rules as your counselor when determining confidentiality. That is, we will not disclose the content of your sessions to an outside party unless we have reason to believe (a) you present an imminent harm to self or others; (b) a child or elder has been or is being abused, or (c) a court requires release of records.  We often find that counselors and clients alike forget about the cameras in the room after the 2nd or 3rd session.  If you have concerns regarding how we are protecting your privacy, please ask.

From time to time, we have student counselors and supervisors who are able to provide services in languages other than English. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee counselor availability.