Referrals

The following are basic thoughts about the referral process that are essential for persons working in the helping professions, and thus are also very important guidelines for anyone concerned with helping others. Many times, help that might have been given to a student was never received because of a poorly made referral.

•   When a student presents a problem or a request for information which is   beyond your level of competency.
•   When you feel that personality differences (which cannot be resolved)   between you and the student will interfere with his or her effective progress.
•   If the problem is personal and you know the student on other than a   professional basis (friend, neighbor, etc.).
•   If the student is reluctant to discuss their problem with you for some   reason..
•   If, after a period of time, you do not believe your communication with a   student has been effective……

Don't wait until it is too late for anyone to help!!

Contrary to popular belief, people in the helping professions, including counselors, consider a referral as an indication of competency on the part of the person making the referral rather than as an inadequacy. Anyone able to identify situations needing specialized counseling or advising deserves commendation. In addition, referring a student to the office appropriate to the problem demonstrates to the student that you have his or her best interests at heart.

Knowledge of persons, offices, and agencies that can be of service to you and the student is of primary importance. You will want to be sure to refer the student to the person or office that will best serve that student. We all know how discouraged we get when we are passed along from office to office without a real effort by anyone to determine where we can receive the assistance we need. If you are not sure where to refer the student, find out before you send the student off with assurance that they will find help.

Suggest in a caring, concerned, and forthright manner that the student talk with a trained counselor. Listed below is information about the Counseling Center that might allay some student's fears about coming:

•  The service is free to all students.
•  Confidentiality, to the limits provided by the law and court is respected. See  "Confidentiality."
•  No record of a student's use of the Counseling Center is made on a  transcript, job placement file, or administrative file. See "Confidentiality."
•  Information cannot be released without the student 's permission (the usual  exception being cases of imminent harm and danger to the student or  others).
•  While it is ordinarily desirable to refer a student to a specific person rather  than to an "office", the Counseling Center is unable to assure a student that  he or she will be able to see a specific counselor if there is such a  preference. The reason is that each of the staff, from time to time, have full  appointment schedules.Thus, it is important that the secretary be the person  called, since she knows about each counselor's availability. If you consider  the situation to be a serious one, warranting immediate intervention, then tell  the secretary that this is an "emergency" situation. Such emergencies are  responded to immediately.
•  Give the student the telephone number (903-886-5145) and location (Student  Services Building, #204) of the Counseling Center. Better yet, give them the  opportunity to use your phone to set up their own appointment. If a student  makes their own appointment, they will have a sense of responsibility for  their own welfare. See  "Appointments."
•  If you have information about the student that you feel is important to share  with the counselor, don't transmit it in front of the student. This may give  them the feeling that their particular problem is becoming known to everyone  on campus. Always, secure the student's permission to relate information  about them to the counselor who will assist them.
•  When the student has returned from the counseling session, don't pump  them for information. Generally, if you inquire as to whether or not the  student  kept the appointment, the student will volunteer whatever  information  is necessary to continue your relationship.
•  The person making the referral cannot expect to be provided with the details  of treatment, nor share the confidences given by the student to the  counselor.You can consult on how best to interact with this person in future  relationships. Always feel free to call the Counseling Center for this  consultation.
•  Don't expect the immediate resolution of particular symptoms or problems.  Changing basic attitudes and feelings, learning to handle everyday problems,  or improving academic performance may be a process that moves slowly.
•  Finally, RESPECT THE INDIVIDUAL. The basic approach to all counseling  and referral is one of fundamental respect for the individual and the belief that  it is best for that person to work out their problems in their own way. You  and the counselor are helpers in this process by providing a variety of  alternatives for assistance on the student's own terms. They may choose to  ignore or accept the help available. Your role is to see that they become  aware of this help and have the  maximum  opportunity to utilize it.

Special thanks to Dr. Wade Birch, Director of the Personal Counseling Service at Texas A&M University and author of this handout, for permission to use it at A&M-Commerce.

Student Services Building 204
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
903-886-5145 (Day)
903-886-5868 (Evenings)