The door to the University of Northern Colorado Counseling Center doesn’t look much different from any other office on campus. However, for many students, walking through it can feel like one of the hardest steps they’ll take all semester.
As the semester wraps up and finals approach, the UNC Counseling Center sees its busiest time of the year. While mental health challenges are not new to college campuses, the demand for services continues to grow. Access, awareness and support are more important than ever.
At UNC, that growing demand is not just a statistic. It’s something students and counselors experience daily, shaping how services are offered and how care is delivered across campus.
Counselors say they are seeing increased demand firsthand, especially during high-stress points in the semester like midterms and finals. The trend mirrors national conversations about student well-being, as many universities report rising use of mental health services. At UNC, however, it also reflects the specific challenges students face in balancing responsibilities and being away from home.
The Counseling Center, located on the second floor of Cassidy Hall, has become a critical resource for students navigating the pressures of college life. It offers a range of services designed to meet students where they are, including individual and group therapy, crisis drop-in appointments and referrals.
Referrals are a key part of the process. When the Counseling Center isn’t the best fit for a student’s needs, whether that’s due to scheduling or personal preferences, staff connect with other providers in the community to ensure students still receive care. Dr. Anna Joseph, a licensed psychologist and outreach coordinator at the Counseling Center, says staff work diligently to help students get the support they need.
“We try to make finding help as hands-on or as hands-off as the student wants,” Joseph said. “The last thing we want is students to feel like they’re doing this alone.”
That sense of support can be especially important for students who may already feel hesitant to seek help. For many, stigma surrounding mental health remains a barrier.
“I think the idea of coming into a space you’ve never been before and talking to a stranger about really vulnerable things can feel pretty scary,” Joseph said. “We really work to normalize that and build a sense of safety.”
Before getting into personal topics, counselors focus first on building trust between the student and themself. Joseph says early appointments are used to establish a sense of safety. Counselors also check in throughout the process to evaluate what is working and what is not in order to better meet students’ needs.
“Those first appointments aren’t about diving into the hardest things right away,” Joseph said. “It’s about building that relationship and helping students feel comfortable in the space.”
For students, stress often peaks at predictable points in the semester. According to Joseph, the Counseling Center typically sees an increase in demand at the beginning of the academic year, during midterms and during finals. During those times, the center offers drop-in services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. These drop-in sessions are designed to be accessible even for students who have never visited the Counseling Center before. They can serve as a one-time check-in or a starting point for longer-term support.
“One-time appointments are great for talking about stressors such as test anxiety, feeling overwhelmed or having low motivation,” Joseph said. “With that, we can help students there or connect them to ongoing services.”
Beyond academic stress, counselors are also seeing broader trends affecting student mental health. One of the most common issues is a sense of isolation. Joseph said feelings of loneliness and disconnection have become increasingly common among college students, both at UNC and nationwide.
For students who have used the Counseling Center, those services can make a significant difference. One UNC student, who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, said taking the step to visit the Counseling Center lifted the burden of everyday college life.
“I get really overwhelmed and still struggle a lot but coming here makes it a lot easier,” the student said. “I’m still not where I want to be mentally, but it’s nice to know there’s someone in my corner.”
The student added that having an accessible on-campus resource made it easier for them to take that first step, but noted that many students may not know about the resources available on campus.
“I didn’t realize how many options there were until I actually came in,” the student said. “I think more people would go if they understood what it’s really like.”
As mental health continues to be a growing concern nationwide, UNC’s Counseling Center plays a critical role in supporting student well-being. By offering accessible services and connecting students to additional resources, the center makes sure no student has to navigate the challenges of being a college student alone.
For many students, that first step of walking through the door can lead to something much bigger. A reminder that they don’t have to figure everything out on their own.
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