Loyola University Maryland Athletics

Loyola University Maryland Counseling Center

• Open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm 
• Located directly across from campus Starbucks in Humanities 150 (inside the turret entrance, one flight of stairs up, or elevator accessible via the courtyard to the right) 
• Front Desk: 410-617-2273 (CARE)
• Crisis Line (available 24/7, including holidays and university closures): 410-617-5530

The Counseling Center’s services are free and confidential for all Loyola student-athletes. This means that, unless an athlete gives written permission, or in instances where disclosure is mandated by law (e.g., imminent risk of harm to self or others, abuse to minors, etc.), the Counseling Center cannot disclose whether or not a student-athlete is receiving treatment or what is discussed in any sessions. Student-athletes have access to a wide range of services (see diagram below), including initial assessments, short-term individual therapy/counseling, group therapy, coping skills workshops, emergency/crisis support, and comprehensive referral support. 

Each year, approximately one-third of Loyola’s athletes use Counseling Center services to receive support around a wide range of difficulties and concerns. These include but are not limited to: 

• Mental skills training for issues related to sport performance (self-awareness, anxiety, confidence, focus/concentration, motivation, goal-setting, emotion regulation, team dynamics, etc.)
• Injuries
• Stress
• Relationship dynamics (romantic, peer, family, coach, teammates, etc.)
• Grief and loss
• Identity-related concerns (racial trauma, LGBTQ+ related issues, etc.)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Disordered eating
• Suicidality and self-harm
• Academic concerns

Support groups, skill-building groups, and workshops available to student-athletes can vary year to year. You can learn more about group services here. Some of the workshops and groups often offered include: 

• Support for coping with injuries
• Groups and workshops focused on mindfulness, anxiety management, and coping skills for resilience
• Grief support group
• Groups specific to BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities
• Psychoeducational group for trauma survivors
• Men’s group
• Women's group
• Group for individuals with disabilities or learning challenges

The Counseling Center staff works closely with Loyola Athletics each year to meet the mental health needs of its community. However, it is also important to recognize all the ways in which building a “culture of mental well-being” in Loyola Athletics is a collective responsibility. 

A quote often attributed to human rights activist, bishop, and theologian Desmond Tutu reads:

“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in.”

As important as it is to destigmatize mental health among athletes and normalize reaching out for help, it is also important to build systems and cultures that enable athletes to feel safe, to feel humanized, to be their full selves, and to feel a sense of connection, belonging, and mattering to the people around them. Research consistently shows how important these conditions are to peak performance – that athletes and other performers who feel these things experience a degree of internal freedom and confidence that allows them to perform at their very best. Performance and mental health do not exist in a vacuum. Both are intimately connected to the environments, spaces, and relationships in which we exist. 

What does a culture of mental well-being within Loyola Athletics look like? What does it look like within each team? Among other things, it looks like: 

• A community that is deeply invested in cultivating authentic, meaningful, and compassionate relationships.
• Policies and practices that are inclusive and humanizing.
• A community whose members are committed to growth and deepening awareness of themselves and others.
• A community whose members are honest with each other, feel loved and cared for by each other, trust each other, and respect and honor the humanity within each other.

This is the work of human relationships. And the responsibility for this work lies with everyone – you, your teammates, your coaches, your athletics support staff (e.g., sports medicine, academic advising, strength/conditioning), your parents/guardians, your fans, your alumni, and the broader Loyola community of students, faculty, staff, and administrators. 

Where is the Counseling Center located? 

Very close to the main Athletic Department offices, as well as the Reitz Arena film room and locker rooms/athletic training rooms! We’re located in Humanities 150, directly across from the campus Starbucks and the Student Center/Reitz Arena, down the ramp. Enter either through the turret entrance and go up one flight of stairs, or you can access elevators via the courtyard to the right of the turret, around the corner of the building. 

What is therapy/counseling like? Do I have to talk about my sport or athletic experience? What if I don’t know exactly what I’m struggling with? 

All of these are common (and excellent) questions. Therapy/counseling is a co-created and collaborative process and space. Unlike many other healthcare services where the provider may do most of the work, the work of therapy or counseling is co-created between therapist and client. This means that you have a lot of input and influence when it comes to your treatment goals and how you spend your time in sessions. It also means that trust and honesty within the therapeutic relationship is important. Finally, it means that the work of therapy is not limited to a 1-hour session every one or two weeks. There are 168 hours each week, and those who get the most out of therapy tend to find that much of that growth happens outside of that 1-hour with your therapist, as you continue reflecting on yourself and practice making small changes out in the world. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you’re struggling with…part of therapy can be helping you understand that. Many athletes come to therapy and rarely or never talk about their sport/athletic experiences, while others want it to be the primary focus of their sessions. It is also okay (and important!) to tell your therapist if your needs are not being met in therapy or if something feels “off.” The more you can take ownership over the process (including the work you put in outside of sessions), the more impactful you will find it.

What if I struggle to open up about my problems? 

Another great question. If we’ve never been in therapy before, it can feel hard (and weird) opening up to a stranger. Consider saying this part out loud and processing this with your therapist. Again, the more honesty and transparency within therapy, including transparency about the process and relationship itself, the more impactful it tends to be.  

Will my coach, athletic trainers, teammates, parents/guardians, or anyone else in my life know I am in therapy? Or what I talk about? 

Not without your written permission. Unless circumstances involve imminent risk of someone harming themselves or others, or instances of abuse to a minor or vulnerable adult which are mandated by law to be reported to state authorities, members of the Counseling Center staff are bound by ethical standards and law to not disclose whether someone has used their services or anything related to treatment. Many student-athletes choose to sign a Release of Information during their therapy for various reasons, whether it helps their therapist coordinate treatment with other providers (e.g., psychiatrist, Disability and Accessibility Support Services, SASS) or because they want their coach to know they are getting support. However, it is ultimately each student-athlete’s decision whether to do so. 

I don’t think I need ongoing therapy, just to chat with someone once or twice…is that an option? 

Yes! Many Loyola student-athletes come to therapy for one or two sessions and feel their needs and goals have been met. The Counseling Center’s “Let’s Talk” appointments are perfectly designed for this need, allowing student-athletes to meet with a therapist once or twice and focus on addressing a specific problem that doesn’t need ongoing treatment. 

How long will I have to wait for an appointment? 

The Loyola Counseling Center prides itself in ensuring that its services are readily accessible to all students. This usually means that when student-athletes reach out to schedule an appointment, even at the busiest times of the year, they rarely wait longer than a week to meet with a provider. Outside of busy times, student-athletes are often able to schedule an appointment sooner. Reaching out earlier in the semester will make it more likely that you’re seen sooner, including next-day appointments. Regardless of scheduling availability, the Counseling Center offers walk-in emergency appointments Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm for any student-athlete who is in crisis or concerned about another student in crisis. Outside of these times, emergency counselors are available via the Counseling Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line (410-617-5530). 

I’m looking for open-ended or longer-term therapy…How can I access that? 

The individual therapy offered in the Counseling Center operates on a short-term treatment model. The same holds true for university counseling centers and mental health services embedded within athletic departments all over the country. The Loyola Counseling Center does not currently enforce a session limit, but typically this means that individual therapy doesn’t extend beyond one semester. For student-athletes who want or would benefit from more open-ended support, the Counseling Center offers comprehensive referral support services to help you get connected to a provider in the community. This includes the Counseling Center’s list of referrals for providers in Baltimore and the surrounding area who have training in sport psychology or personal backgrounds as elite athletes, if student-athletes wish to get connected to someone with this background. Your Counseling Center therapist will help you navigate questions about insurance, transportation, finances, and the presence or absence of family support. The Counseling Center is committed to ensuring that all student-athletes get the support they need, and no one will be left without a therapist simply due to financial limitations or lack of transportation or family support. In your first session or two, your therapist will discuss your concerns and treatment goals with you and whether short-term therapy is an appropriate fit for what you’re needing. 

How do I make an appointment? 

There are three primary ways to reach out to schedule an initial appointment at the Counseling Center. You can:

• Visit the front desk (Humanities 150) between Monday-Friday, 8:30-5pm
• Call the front desk (410-617-2273)
• Online Scheduling Portal