College life places a number of new demands on students: increased academic pressure, navigating new—and old—relationships, and dealing with homesickness and change. It’s common for college students to experience depression and anxiety as they deal with these changes.

Student counseling and Health Services are here to help.

We employ two licensed mental health counselors to help you address any challenges you may face.

Free counseling services for students
We have a licensed mental health counselor on campus to help you address any challenges you may face as a student at Holy Cross. From the Counseling Center site, you may click on the link to schedule an appointment, free of charge, with any of our clinical staff. Additionally, you can always walk over to our offices–located in Vincent Hall in the offices of Student Success.

*As with all clinical services, the Counseling Center follows HIPAA standards for confidentiality and privacy. Feel free to contact our offices for additional information as needed.

Dr. Phyllis Florian Psy.D.,LP
Director of Mental Health and Wellness
Office V:166
Phone: 574-239-8303

Schedule an Appointment with Me

Students may also send a confidential email to schedule an appointment by emailing: [email protected]

Students seeking the services of a psychiatrist or other licensed psychologist may do so using their health insurance plan. Student Counseling and Health Services can assist you by providing contact information for area professionals, as needed.

• In South Bend, IN, the local hospital, Epworth Memorial Hospital, is available for 24hour emergency mental health crisis situations: https://locations.beaconhealthsystem.org/in/south-bend/memorial-epworthcenter

• Free, confidential, and caring support is available 24/7 through the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Use your phone to call or text 988. Use the web to chat.

• You may also call the Suicide Prevention line at 1(800) 273-8255

*In the event of any other on-campus emergency, please contact our on-campus security at 574-239-8312.

The Counseling Services and Health Clinic at Holy Cross College values the privacy of its patients and the confidentiality of the personal and mental and physical health information entrusted to us. We respect that students have concerns about confidentiality. Counseling Services and Health Clinic staff maintain confidentiality of all private communications in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

In accordance with HIPAA mandates, we will not release information to anyone, including the student’s immediate family, without the student’s prior approval. In addition, if a student needs their health records sent to another facility, they will need to first sign a release form available from Counseling Services or the Health Clinic. Information is released only with written permission by the student, except as required by law or in a life-threatening situation. Health records are not a part of a student’s transcript or college records and are not available to Holy Cross College faculty or staff outside of Counseling Services and the Health Clinic. Counseling records are also confidential and are NOT accessible by any college employee except clinical counseling staff.  Our clinical/counseling staff do consult as necessary, only sharing minimum information to ensure student safety and best clinical care.

Oversight includes internal and external audits, chart reviews, investigations, licensures, and inspections required for compliance with government, college and accreditation programs and laws as well as internal quality assurance/risk management programs. Only the minimal necessary information will be released. All individuals performing these reviews, audits, etc. will be required to agree with and sign the non-disclosure confidentiality standards of Counseling Services or the Health Clinic before being granted access.

Information and complaints: Students may file complaints regarding the security and/or privacy of their personal health information with the Dean of Student Engagement