Two people on the ground hugging each other. // Courtesy of The Tangerine’s photo file

As the Fall 2023 semester winds down, many students may find themselves under stress for a plethora of reasons, but may not have the time to schedule a counseling session in person. 

Uwill, a platform for online counseling, has been recently adopted by Utica University to help provide therapy for those in need who may not be comfortable with an in-person experience. 

Ariel Rios, the executive director of the Health and Wellness Center, said the partnership came as a result of Uwill’s positive reputation. 

“They are one of the leading providers in collegiate therapy services,” Rios said. “They really specialize in college mental health, their clinicians are very well versed in issues that college students have.” 

Despite the naming convention, Uwill is not a Utica University exclusive program, Rios said, as plenty of other universities have contracts for their services. 

According to Rios, the contract between Utica University and Uwill allows students to have sessions with a counselor via phone, virtual meetings, or text chat. 

“It supplements what we are able to provide on the counseling side here,” Rios said. “Our counselors are in person or virtual, but oftentimes we have limitations around the hours of availability. With Uwill, you can have an appointment at any time, since they have people that work all hours.” 

Maria Klosek, a clinical counselor at Utica University, said that the service’s counselors are unique in that they are college therapists not tied to a college. 

“The therapists there don’t work for a school,” Klosek said. “They can work anywhere in the country since they are licensed. So, with Uwill, you can choose any type of therapist.”

Jacqueline Jones, one of Uwill’s counselors, hopes that college students recognize their stress and know that they can reach out for help, as it is available to them. 

“I know that the transition to college can be challenging as are the demands and rigor of college courses,” she said. “It helps to be able to talk to someone when feeling overwhelmed in order to manage your emotions.”

According to Jones, student responses have been positive thus far, with many feeling comfortable in the amount of choice they are given when it comes to selecting their therapist. 

“We know some students prefer in-person counseling, while others enjoy the privacy, flexibility, and choice that Uwill offers,” Jones said. “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure as many students as possible receive the help they need.”

Utica University’s contract with Uwill allows students to have eight free sessions per semester, according to Rios. For more information, contact the Health and Wellness Center ([email protected]), or visit the Uwill website at app.uwill.com.