Counseling Services

MSW, LICSW

Ashleigh Hala is MCLA's associate dean and chief wellness officer, providing leadership for Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Health Promotion, Prevention, Peer Education, and the Care Team. Before joining MCLA, she led wellness and prevention initiatives at Wake Forest University and Babson College, where she also served as the founding director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services.

Ashleigh holds bachelor's and master's degrees in social work and is a licensed independent clinical social worker. She is actively involved in national higher education and college health organizations, serves in leadership roles with NASPA, and frequently presents on wellness, prevention, and student support. She is passionate about creating a campus culture where every student feels supported and has the opportunity to thrive.

Back to top

LICSW

Claire is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and staff counselor at the MCLA Counseling Center, where she has worked for many years. In addition to her role at MCLA, Claire has worked at The Brien Center in Great Barrington, the Bennington, Vermont, school system, and currently serves part time at Greylock Mental Health.

Claire enjoys working with students who are pursuing a specific path as well as those who are exploring their goals and future direction. She has worked with people from a wide range of backgrounds and values creating a supportive space where students can share their stories, reflect on their experiences, and explore how those experiences shape their lives at MCLA and beyond.

Back to top

LICSW

With over 25 years of experience supporting the well-being of youth and young adults across the Berkshires, Amrita utilizes a strengths-based empowerment model, empathy, and a trauma-informed approach. She incorporates mindfulness, somatic practices, expressive arts, and essential integration into sessions depending on what each student needs. She is extensively trained in various modalities and offers EMDR, TF-CBT, CPT, DBT, and IFS-IFIO. Whether working with individuals, couples, or groups, Amrita supports students to remember themselves, their innate qualities, and inherent wisdom. All are welcome.

 

Back to top

Susannah has served as a medical assistant at MCLA Student Health Services since 2018. Before joining MCLA, she spent 26 years working in a hospital, where she held a variety of roles, including transcription and medical coding. Currently, Susannah provides primary administrative support for the College's wellness departments, including Student Health Services, Counseling Services, and Health Promotion.

Back to top

24/7 Mental Health Hotlines 

Brien Center Crisis Team: Call 800-252-0227  
Massachusetts Behavioral Help Line: Online chat; Call or Text 833-773-2445 
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Online chat; Call or Text 988 
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 
Crisis Text Line for Students of Color: Text STEVE to 741741 
Call BlackLine (BIPOC): Call 1-800-604-5841; also an app 
Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+): Online chat; Call 866-488-7386; Text START to 678-678 
Elizabeth Freeman Center (domestic violence support): Call 866-401-2425 
Love Is Respect (domestic violence support): Online chat; Call 866-331-9474; Text LOVEIS to 22522 
RAINN Hotline: Online chat; Call 800-656-4673; Text HOPE to 64673 
The Network/La Red (LGBTQ+ domestic violence support): Call 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901 
StrongHearts Native Helpline (Native American domestic violence support): Online chat; Call 1-844-762-8483  
Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline: Online chat; Call or text HOPE to 800-327-5050 

Warmlines (click links for open hours) 

• NAMI HelpLine: Online chat; Call 1-800-950-6264; Text NAMI to 62640; email helpline@nami.org, or mail
• Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: Call 888-407-4515
• THRIVE Lifeline: Online chat
• Kiva Centers Peer Support Line: Call 508-688-5898
• Trans Lifeline: Call 877-565-8860
• LGBT National Hotline: Call 888-843-4564
• A Call For Change Helpline (violence prevention): Call 877-898-3411

General College Student Mental Health Resources 

• Mindfulness Exercises & Activities
• Active Minds, Student Mental Health Advocacy and Education

Emotional Health and Suicide Prevention Resources 

• The Jed Foundation, The nation's leading organization working to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college students.
• Half of Us, MTV's mental health campaign to address depression and combat suicide among American youth
• Tips for Talking About Suicide
• Myths about Suicide

Substance Use and Recovery 

• AA & NA Meetings in North Adams
• Online Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
• Online Narcotics Anonymous Meetings 

Race-Based Traumatic Stress and Psychological Injury 

• Black Girls Smile Inc.
• Black Virtual Therapist Community
• Loveland Therapy Fund
• The Steve Fund 

 

Back to top

MCLA Screenings 

• Brief Wellbeing Assessment
• Blood Alcohol Concentration Personalized Calculator
• Alcohol Assessment
• Cannabis Assessment
• Nicotine Cessation Reflection & Plan 

Outside Organization Screenings

• Eating Disorder Screening
• Is your relationship healthy? 

Back to top

A: Students are welcome to discuss any topic that is important to them. No problem is too big or too small. Some things students discuss with their counselors include feelings of depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, family problems, relationship problems, sexual orientation, disability issues, past sexual assaults, substance abuse, family or parental alcoholism, abusive relationships, eating disorders, learning disabilities, anger management, loneliness, grief and loss.  

Back to top

A: If it is urgent and you need to be seen right away, we may meet with you for a same-day emergency appointment. Same-day emergency appointments are usually 20 minutes and can be used for evaluation, to talk something over with a counselor, or to obtain a referral to an off-campus provider. Call Counseling Services at 413-662-5331, or walk over to us at 289 Church St. We are open Monday – Friday 8:30-4:00 and see students between 9 and 4. The building is closed for lunch between 12-1.  

Back to top

A: These emotions are very common and part of being human. There are lots of supports you can use to help improve your mood. You can call the guided meditation voicemail at 413-662-5544, option 2, or call any of the mental health hotlines listed in the “Mental Health Resources” section. The Tranquility Space (Mark Hopkins 109) is another great option. It's always open for students to relax on a bean bag, draw, stretch, or do a jig-saw puzzle. Sometimes just changing your surroundings or behaviors can help—like going for a walk or rolling down a hill, hula hooping, or blowing bubbles. And, of course, you can call or email Counseling Services to set up an appointment to speak with a counselor. 

Back to top

A: In case of a psychological emergency during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30-4:00), call Counseling Services at 413-662-5331, or walk over to us at 289 Church St.  

If this is a psychological emergency outside of business hours, contact MCLA Public Safety at 413-662-5100, speak to a member of the Residence Life staff, call 988, call the Brien Center Crisis Team at 1-800-252-0227, or go to your nearest hospital emergency room.  

Back to top

A: There is no cost for students to use Counseling or Psychiatric care from MCLA. However, if you are referred to an outside provider or given a prescription, your health insurance may need to be used to cover the cost. Emergency Funds can also help cover costs if you require essential needs support. 

Back to top

A: Counseling is a mutual, collaborative process and is most effective when clients actively participate in establishing and working on treatment goals, completing assignments, and discussing difficult issues. Your initial session will be an Intake and will involve an assessment of your needs. Your counselor will offer you some impressions of what the work will include and collaboratively create a treatment plan. Counseling sessions are usually scheduled for one 45-minute session every other week, or as clinically indicated. College campus counseling centers usually have a limit to the number of sessions per academic year. However, we do not have a limit.  Counselors will aim to be flexible, meet students where they are, and provide support that is culturally respectful and responsive. 

Back to top

A: Yes, most likely. All enrolled MCLA students (residential, commuter, and graduate) are welcome to meet with Counseling Services while academic classes are in session. Students can meet with a counselor in person while on campus or use telehealth if you are in the state of Massachusetts during the call. However, not every person is suited for telehealth. We recommend that students meet with their counselor in-person for the first session to discuss options. 

Back to top

A: Students must provide at least 24 hours’ notice if they need to cancel an appointment so the time can be offered to another student. If a student repeatedly misses appointments without notifying Counseling Services, their scheduled time may be reassigned. Students are always welcome to return to counseling and psychiatric care; however, their original time may no longer be available. 

Back to top

A: All conversations with Staff Counselors are considered confidential unless you have specifically given your written consent to a Staff Counselor to share information on your behalf with a particular person and about a particular topic. Your consent can always be revoked at any time. State laws and professional code of ethics protect your privacy as a client. However, there are exceptions to this. In general, all conversations are confidential unless we determine that you are at risk of hurting yourself or another, you inform us of child abuse or elder abuse, or if a court of law orders that we provide certain information. Email correspondence is not considered confidential.

Back to top

A: Absolutely. We can be a confidential sounding board for your concerns in a counseling session, and if it is a real concern, we will figure out next steps to support this person. Some solutions might be to offer resources, or help you complete an anonymous CARE report, or we might suggest that you walk the person of concern over to Counseling Services to make an appointment. To be transparent, everything you share with a counselor remains confidential between the two of you unless there is an indication of imminent risk to the student of concern or someone else. When a CARE report is made on behalf of a student of concern, Staff Counselors may reach out to the student of concern to invite them to a session. Whatever is happening, Staff Counselors will assess the situation to find a solution or the right resource.
 

Back to top

While Counselors and Staff cannot confirm or deny who uses Counseling Services without written consent from students, you are welcome to share your concerns with a Counselor. You might suggest that your student "give counseling a try" by attending one session. You might consider sharing the link to our forms to initiate a session. Check out the helpful Mental Health Resources section above for lots of helpful links and crisis hotlines to call, as well.  

If your student is a minor, they will need your signature on New Client forms to initiate Counseling Services. Parents/caregivers/guardians may request access to student records of minors unless state law or institutional policy states otherwise, and until the student is no longer a minor. Emancipated minors have expanded rights. 

Back to top