Let's Talk | Ithaca College

What is Let's Talk?

Let’s Talk allows Ithaca College students to meet for an informal and confidential individual consultation with a CAPS counselor. Let’s Talk counselors can listen to specific problems, help you explore solutions, and introduce you to what it’s like to speak to a member of the CAPS staff. Speaking with a Let’s Talk counselor can help provide insight, support, and information about other resources.

*PLEASE NOTE*

Although Let’s Talk consultations are with mental health professionals, this service is not a substitute for formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Because it is not therapy, Let's Talk is available to all IC students regardless of where they are currently residing. And Let’s Talk meetings are not part of a student’s mental health records.
Let’s Talk is not for urgent concerns. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please call CAPS at (607) 274-3136 and ask about Same Day Crisis Services; After-hours On-Call Counselors available 5 PM to 8:30 AM, Monday through Friday, and 24/7 on weekends/holidays/whenever CAPS is closed, just call CAPS and follow the prompts.
Submitting the Let's Talk form will send an email to the appropriate CAPS Counselor for the day and time you have interest. On the form, you will specify when you can meet and if you prefer in-person, zoom or phone. The counselor will the email you to schedule a time. For virtual appointments, we ask that you submit the form, at least, the day before you want to meet. In-person appointments can be scheduled ahead as well, but are also available for same day drop-ins.

To sign-up, go to the Let's Talk form

Interested in a Let's Talk Session? When will they be held?

Interested in a Let's Talk Session?

Let’s talk will remain primarily a same day “drop-in” service and not by appointment. And will be offered first-come, first-served.
Consultants will not begin new conversations with students within the last 15 minutes of a shift.
The demand for Let’s Talk might vary greatly from day to day and week to week. So, it is possible that the Let’s Talk counselor may not be able to meet with everyone who requested a specific day. If this happens, the Let’s Talk counselor will email students who were not reached that day and offer other options (referral to another Let’s Talk day, other CAPS services, etc.).
Important: Due to unforeseen circumstances, there may be times where Let's Talk will be canceled or the counselor for that day may be different from who is listed here. Regardless, you will be contacted if Let's Talk has been canceled or changed.

To sign-up, go to the Let's Talk form

When and where is Let’s Talk?

Fall 2024 Schedule:

Day of the Week	Hours	Location	Counselor
Tuesday	12 PM-2 PM	LGBT Center: 110 Towers Concourse (117C)	John Witkiewicz, LMHC
Wednesday	12 PM-2 PM	Office of Access, Opportunity, and Achievement: 8/21, 9/4, 9/18, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, 12/4, Peggy Ryan Williams, Room RW 074a, (Garden level) BIPOC Unity Center: 8/28, 9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/6, 11/20, 12/11. Campus Center, Room 341, enter via room #339	Stephanie Nevels, LMSW
Thursday	12 PM-2 PM	Music, Theatre & Dance: Whalen 3309	Jennifer Wapinski-Mooradian, LCSW
Friday	12 PM-2 PM	CAPS or via zoom	Ron Dow, LCSW

Let’s Talk is virtual & in-person!

LET’S TALK ALLOWS ITHACA COLLEGE STUDENTS TO MEET FOR AN INFORMAL AND CONFIDENTIAL INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATION WITH A CAPS COUNSELOR. COUNSELORS CAN LISTEN TO A SPECIFIC PROBLEM, PROVIDE INSIGHT, SUPPORT, AND INTRODUCE YOU TO WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SPEAK TO A MEMBER OF THE CAPS STAFF.

Let’s Talk is offered in-person and virtually. We plan to offer 4 sites that can be accessed in collaboration with several Schools or Departments on Campus. Among these are:

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance
School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Roy H. Park School of Communications
Department of Writing
Office of Access, Opportunity & Achievement
Office Of International Programs

LET’S TALK IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL ITHACA COLLEGE STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED REGARDLESS OF LOCATION. OUT OF STATE AND STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD CAN USE LET’S TALK (zoom option only).

Let’s Talk is especially helpful for students who...

Aren’t sure about counseling or wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor
Aren’t interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor
Have a specific problem and would like someone with whom to talk it through
Have a concern about a friend or family member and would like ideas about what to do

Let’s Talk sessions could be used to...

Learn more about mental health resources and virtual therapy services
Talk about stress and anxiety related to academics and/or relationship concerns
Talk about challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Learn about healthy ways to cope with stress and other concerns
Get emotional support and identify ways to increase social connection during this challenging time
Create a menu of therapy options to consider, or identify a future plan of action with CAPS

No topic is off limits. Common concerns include:

Stress, anxiety, worry
Sadness, Loneliness
Relationships
Academic performance
Family problems
Financial struggles

Submitting the Let's Talk form will send an email to the appropriate CAPS counselor. On the form, you will specify when you can meet and if you prefer in-person, zoom or phone. The counselor will then email you to schedule a time. For virtual appointments, we ask that you submit the form, at least, the day before you want to meet. In-person appointments can be scheduled ahead as well, but are also available for same day drop-ins.

Virtual: The counselor will then send an email with a link to a Zoom session (or make the phone call) at the agreed upon time.

In-person: If you completed a let’s talk form ahead of time then just show up at your scheduled time. If the door is open, just knock. If closed, please wait in the designated waiting area.

To submit the form:

You will sign-in with your Netpass.
If you are not available for any of the listed times, please note that on the form and indicate your availability.
Here is the Form: Let's Talk Form

Still have questions? Please read our FAQ on Let's Talk at the bottom of this page.

For general Let’s Talk questions, please email Brian Petersen (Let's Talk Coordinator) at bpetersen@ithaca.edu

Let’s Talk at Ithaca College is based on the Let’s Talk Program at Cornell University.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you completed a let’s talk form ahead of time for an-person appointment, then just show up at your scheduled time. If the door is open, just knock. If closed, please wait in the designated waiting area and wait until the counselor consultant comes to greet you. If virtual, the counselor will then send an email with a link to a Zoom session (or make the phone call) at the agreed upon time.

When you meet, the counselor consultant will listen closely to your concerns, possibly ask questions and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

If you submit the form during the Let’s Talk hours, the counselor consultant might already be meeting with someone. In this case, just wait and they will email you as soon as they are free.

CAPS provides ongoing counseling, which usually consists of attending sessions every 2-3 weeks. Let’s Talk is not formal counseling; it’s a drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a counselor from time to time.

Let’s Talk is an informal drop-in service, to provide brief consultation and support. An intake appointment is the first step toward linking students with counseling services. Part of an intake appointment is reviewing and signing formal paper work and assessing symptoms and distress levels.

Let’s Talk consultations are only with the individual making the request and the Let’s Talk counselor. You will not be meeting with the Let's Talk counselor in a group with all of the other students who are also signed up for Let’s Talk consultations that day.

Absolutely. The counselor consultant will help you talk through your issues and help you determine the best way to get support. If you feel comfortable with the counselor consultant, it is sometimes possible to meet with them at CAPS in an on-going way.

Let’s Talk is not for urgent concerns. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please call CAPS at (607) 274-3136 and ask about Same Day Crisis Services; After-hours On-Call Counselors available 5 PM to 8:30 AM, Monday through Friday, and 24/7 on weekends/holidays/whenever CAPS is closed, just call the CAPS phone number and follow the prompts.

It’s best to call CAPS directly if you believe you need to be seen sooner than your scheduled appointment.

Since regular counseling appointments are not available at Let’s Talk, following up with the referral is a good idea. Unfortunately, CAPS cannot provide ongoing counseling to every student who requests it.

Yes, however, if your next appointment is not soon enough, it is best to contact your counselor directly to see if they can see you sooner or if you should use emergency crisis hours at CAPS.

Express your concerns directly to your counselor. Counselors are eager to hear feedback—both positive and negative. Often, an open conversation about your concerns can resolve any issues.

Although Let’s Talk counselor consultants are professionals, Let’s Talk is not a substitute for psychotherapy or formal counseling and doesn’t constitute mental health treatment. Let’s Talk counselor consultants provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it’s like to speak with a counselor. Your Let’s Talk counselor consultant can help you determine whether formal counseling would be useful to you and, if appropriate, connect you with CAPS.

One exception is that counselors may need to share information in a situation in which safety for yourself or others is a concern. Let’s Talk counselor consultants keep brief written notes of their contacts with student in the event that there is an emergency, or when a student is referred to CAPS. In these situations, other CAPS counseling staff may see these notes. Information is also collected about attendance, so that we can keep track of the students we serve and those we need to continue serving.

We don’t want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality or accessibility, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let’s Talk counselor consultant, or call the CAPS front desk for further information.