share your interest and concern openly, directly, and with care;
set clear limits, don't lead the individual to believe you will "take care of everything";
maintain the individual's privacy;
do NOT promise confidentiality, inform the individual that you may need to speak to others (qualified professionals), but that you will exercise discretion while doing so;
allow the individual the opportunity and freedom to speak to you, to tell you what is wrong;
paraphrase what the individual has told you - this will ensure you understand correctly and will show that you are listening and attempting to understand;
clarify vague, confusing, or disturbing disclosures;
inquire as to how the individual is attempting to resolve the problem(s);
discuss with the individual the consequences of "doing more of the same", discuss new options for coping with the problem(s);
suggest a referral to the Counseling Center, or to some other source if the individual is unwilling to see a campus based therapist;
explain to the individual that counseling is not just for "crazy people", discuss various reasons people have for seeking counseling (financial worries, drug and alcohol problems, roommate difficulties, etc.);
and finally, realize that once the individual has been referred and is receiving assistance from a qualified professional, you will not necessarily be kept informed as to what progress is being made. Whether or not you are is entirely up to that individual .
Some further guidelines regarding when to refer:
when the problems or requests made are beyond your level of competence;
when there are personality differences which interfere with your ability to work with the individual;
when the boundaries of your role make it unwise to work with the individual on personal issues;
when the individual expresses a preference (directly or indirectly) to speak with someone else regarding the problem(s); and
when, after some time and effort, you feel you are not making any progress in helping the individual.
