DMACC Counseling Department

Counseling is your chance to think out loud with an experienced and objective trained mental health professional who can help you build awareness, explore your options, offer new ways to cope with situations, provide information about helpful resources or just simply listen.

All currently enrolled part-time and full-time for-credit DMACC students ages 18 years and older (with the exclusion of those still in high school) are eligible for DMACC Counseling Services at no-cost. Students enrolled in non-credit and continuing education courses are eligible for an Information and Referral session, with the goal of connecting them to community-based resources and providers.

Students may submit an “Advising/Counseling Request” in myDMACC. For directions on how to complete a request, please view this guide. Students may also call 515-964-6200 or email counseling@dmacc.edu to get started. 

No. Counselors are trained and experienced mental health providers available to offer support to students regarding mental health and emotional distress. Advisors assist students in picking and registering for classes, transfer planning, and other academic/course related concerns. 

Not at all. In fact, talking with a counselor is a healthy way to address the challenges you are facing, establish coping skills, develop personal insight and achieve academic and personal success.

Students talk about a variety of personal and academic concerns in counseling. Personal concerns often include symptoms of anxiety or depression, dealing with roommates or friendships, romantic relationships, loneliness, self-esteem, substance use, body image, family challenges, dealing with grief, etc. Academic concerns include but are not limited to falling behind in class and strategies to catch up, low GPA, uncertainty about the future, how to talk with an instructor, and strategies for studying, time management, or test taking. 

All information shared in counseling sessions is confidential and will not be released to anyone (including parents, instructors, other college staff members, or your friends) without your written consent, unless it is to protect you or someone else from imminent harm.

Counseling is offered at no cost to all currently enrolled DMACC students. No insurance is ever billed for counseling services at DMACC.

No. Counseling services are available year-round to all currently enrolled DMACC students. Services are still offered between academic terms and over breaks while offices are open so long as the student is enrolled in the upcoming term. Appointments are offered typically between 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday.

No. Appointments are offered both in person and virtually (Zoom). Though students typically see a counselor located on their primary campus, if this is not possible or desirable, students may see a counselor at another campus.

Appointments typically last about 50 minutes, depending on the student’s needs.

The number of times and the frequency in which you see a counselor varies depending on the counselor and the issues you may want to work on in counseling. If you and your counselor determine that your treatment needs indicate more intensive or long-term therapy, or require resources and competencies beyond what we can provide, we will assist with a referral to an appropriate community mental health care provider.

No. However, we do provide referrals to community agencies for evaluation, medication, and specialized or long-term therapy.

Counselors will not talk with you outside of their office (on campus or off campus) unless you talk with them first. They want to protect your privacy and the confidentiality of their relationship with you. You may initiate conversation if you feel comfortable and it is appropriate in the given setting.

Counselors will generally use electronic communication, such as email, only to arrange and/or confirm appointments, including the date and time of appointments.

If you feel the situation is an emergency, call 911. If it is not an emergency, call 515-964-6200 or contact a counselor at your campus to discuss effective strategies to encourage the person to utilize DMACC Counseling Services or other community resources.