Counseling, Accessibility, and Support Services

Not sure you need counseling? Students can take convenient online Mental Health Screenings to see if counseling could be beneficial.

CASS provides professional counseling, at no charge, for all YTC students through phone, virtual and in-person sessions. Please know that counseling can help you address various needs and concerns in your life, including academic struggles, career exploration, and how to access other resources on campus and in the community.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling, emailing, or through Navigate. Students will be asked to complete an intake questionnaire prior to their first appointment with a Counselor.

Confidentiality is a priority consideration so students can be assured of their privacy when seeking assistance. CASS follows the ethical guidelines for confidentiality set forth by the American Counseling Association and the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Code of Ethics (Chapter 36). Any counseling records are maintained separately from a student’s academic records. Confidentiality is fully explained in the “Informed Consent” section of the intake questionnaire. Students will be able to address any concerns or questions concerning confidentiality when they meet with a Counselor.

In addition to services through CASS, students can access counseling services through our Student Assistance Program. Services are available 24/7/365. For more information, visit their website at www.mygroup.com, call 800-633-3353, or download the MYGroup app, available at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You can also access a variety of online self-help and wellness information through the work-life services site! To explore the site, you can access directly through the Student Assistance Program icon on your Navigate app or follow this path: www.mygroup.com > Current Participants > Student Resources > Access Student-Life Services. Then, use the following to login:

Username: ytcsap
Password: guest

College can be a stressful experience, and taking time for self-care is very important. There are different areas of self-care, so be sure that your self-care routine is well-rounded. See the following suggestions to help you take the best care of yourself and your mental health!

Please note! The listed suggestions and resources can be helpful but cannot take the place of therapy if you find you are not able to follow through with the suggestions. If you are struggling with your mental health, please schedule mental health counseling through CASS or our Student Assistance Program.

Physical Self-Care:

Eat healthy foods
Take care of personal hygiene
Wear clothes that help you feel good about yourself
Eat regularly
Participate in fun activities (e.g. walking, swimming, dancing, sports)
Rest when sick

Psychological/Emotional Self-Care:

Take time off from work, school, and other obligations
Participate in hobbies
Get away from distractions (e.g. talking, creating art, journaling)
Recognize your strengths and achievements
Go on vacations or day trips
Do something comforting (e.g. re-watch a favorite movie, take a long bath)
Find reasons to laugh
Talk about your problems

Social Self-Care:

Spend time with people you like
Call or text friends and family who are far away
Have stimulating conversations
Meet new people
Ask others for help when needed
Do enjoyable activities with other people
Keep in touch with old friends

Spiritual Self-Care:

Spend time in nature
Meditate
Pray
Recognize the things that give meaning to your life
Act in accordance with your morals and values
Set aside time for thought and reflection
Participate in a cause that is important to you

Educational Self-Care:

Improve your communication skills
Learn new things related to your future career
Take breaks while studying
Say “no” to excessive responsibilities
Seek career counseling if you are not sure about your career/major
Speak to professionals in your future career
Maintain balance between your school life and personal life
Keep a comfortable environment that allows you to be successful
Limit distractions

Does any of the following describe you or a loved one? If so, it may be time to see a Counselor.

Feeling hopeless?
Feeling angry and/or acting out?
Being impulsive and reckless?
Feeling trapped?
Increased use of alcohol and/or drugs?
Isolating yourself and withdrawing from others?
Feeling anxious and agitated?
Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much?
Experiencing drastic changes in mood (including improvement)?
Feeling purposeless or finding no meaning in life?
Trouble with concentration or planning for class?
Having a hard time expressing feelings or feeling numb?

Need some help but don’t currently wish to participate in counseling?

In addition to the counseling provided through CASS and our Student Assistance Program, CASS recommends the following resources that address a variety of mental health and personal issues:

If you are experiencing an emergency, please reach out to 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

The following presentations are 10-25 minutes long and provide suggestions, tips, and resources to help you address some of the obstacles you may be encountering.

Accessibility Services coordinates services and accommodations for students with a documented diagnosis, including but not limited to physical, learning, and psychological disabilities. These services provide equal educational opportunities to students by minimizing the impact of functional limitations on their academic lives. They also assist with other needs related to access, including providing support and accommodations for any pregnancy-related concerns.

Click here to visit the Accessibility Services page for more information.

CASS is the home for YTC’s Veteran & Military Services. Click below to visit the VMS site to learn more about all that is available to support those who have and are currently serving our country. All military affiliated students are also welcome to access our services and support.

View Veteran and Military Services

We have an entire page dedicated to resources in our community and on campus that can help you overcome struggles with a variety of needs including housing, childcare, food insecurity, and being able to pay your bills . Click the following:

Discover Resources Available to You

Students who have experienced a death in the immediate family can request a consideration for absences, and/or the opportunity to make up any missed assignments/tests, for up to three consecutive days (not including weekends) for traditional in-person, hybrid, web-enhanced, and attend anywhere courses. For online (asynchronous) and other classes that have due dates on the weekends, the student may request make-up work/tests on a case-by-case basis to also include the weekend. Those students who are participating in clinical experiences may request consideration of absences, but those will be supported on a case-by-case basis depending on the program requirements and availability of make-up hours and clinical sites.

Immediate family is defined as the spouse, great grandparents, grandparents, parents, legal guardians, brothers, spouse of brothers, sisters, spouse of sisters, children, and spouse of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of either the student or the spouse of the student.

Students should complete the Request for Consideration of Absences for Bereavement prior to missing class(es) and/or due dates to attend a funeral. Once the form is completed, a Counseling, Accessibility, and Support Services (CASS) staff member will reach out to the student to confirm the request and discuss any needs or concerns. CASS will then reach out to the instructor(s) to request that the student be allowed consideration for the day(s) the student will need to miss class(es) and/or the assignments/tests that will be missed. The student will be required to provide documentation verifying their attendance at the funeral within three business days of the funeral.

Understanding that completing the form may not be possible, or a compassionate request given the circumstances, students can still reach out to CASS by email, cass@yorktech.edu, while they are away for the funeral, or within two business days after the funeral, to seek advocacy for consideration of absences and/or the opportunity to make up missed work/tests and clinical participation.

The student is expected to communicate with their instructor(s) concerning any missed work, tests, and/or clinical participation.

After consulting with CASS, the instructor(s) may decline to provide the consideration of absence(s), and/or the make-up of specific tests/assignments/clinical participation, with the approval of their department chair. A withdrawal or incomplete may be provided as appropriate.

The role of CASS is to serve as an advocate for the student and a consultant for the academic departments. Final decisions regarding consideration of absences, make-up work/tests, and/or clinical participation are at the discretion of the academic department.

In compliance with Title IX (Non-Discrimination) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE Act), which strengthens measures to prevent sexual violence on college campuses, York Technical College provides this interactive training workshop for its students. This online course contains interesting, real-life college situations and guidance on how to respond to some challenging situations. There is no extra cost to you to participate in this workshop. We encourage all YTC students complete the workshop. It only takes about 20 minutes.

To begin, please click on the sign-in link: https://yorktech-sc.safecolleges.com/register/a1d1d4b6