Mental Health Resource Guide - Transitioning Out of College

Purpose of Mental Health Resource Guide

As you transition out of college, we know that the need for mental health and well-being support doesn’t end. This mental health resource guide is the starting tool if you are looking to get connected to resources after you walk across the stage. Whether you are looking to establish ongoing support, navigate a new environment, or simply explore your options, this guide can help you take the first or next step in prioritizing your mental health.

The top five concerns are:

  1. anxiety
  2. depression
  3. relationship problems
  4. stress
  5. trauma

Common Mental Health Trends of College-Aged Students 

The Clinician Index of Client Concerns (CLICC) was designed by CCMH to capture and facilitate reporting on the most common presenting concerns of counseling center clients, as assessed by the clinical staff during an initial appointment.

Why Therapy Is Helpful

Therapy can be a valuable space to better understand yourself, manage stress, and navigate life transitions. As routines, relationships, and responsibilities shift, therapy offers support in building coping skills, processing emotions, and maintaining or improving overall well-being. It can help address the common concerns you see above. Whether you are seeking short-term support or ongoing care, therapy can be a proactive step in taking care of your mental health. 

How to Find a Therapist / Counselor

  1. Insurance Provider

    • Best For: Affordable, in-network mental health providers.
    • Filter: By location, virtual/in-person, speciality, identity considerations

  2. Online Therapy Platforms

    • Best For: Lots of options quickly: Psychology Today, TherapyDen, GoodTherapy, ZocDoc
    • Filter: By insurance, location, specialty, identity considerations

  3. Primary Care Provider

    • Best For: Coordinated care with medical concerns. Can provide mental health referrals & assist in medication options if necessary

  4. Community Mental Health Centers

    • Best For: Good option without insurance, offer lower cost for services, provide sliding scale fees, typically shorter waitlist 

  5. Employee Assistnace Programs (EAP)

    • Best For: Often includes free sessions, provided through employer for short-term support

  6. Specialized Providers

    • Best For: Specific and Niche presenting problems: Sport Psychologist, Performance Psychologist, Grief, Maternity/Women’s Issues (?), etc 

  7. Telehealth Options

    • Best For: Virtual therapy options across state lines (depending on licensure) - good for busy schedules, frequent travel, and flexible hours 

  8. Local Private Practices

    • Best For: Long-term therapy, search by location

Definitions: Therapist Licenses & Training

  • Trained extensively in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions.
  • Provide individual, group, couples, and family therapy.
  • Often conduct psychological evaluation and assessment (ADHD, learning disability, personality assessment).
  • Cannot prescribe medication.
  • Trained in both psychotherapy and understanding a client’s environmental, social, and systemic influences.
  • Skilled with connecting clients to local and national resources.
  • Provide individual, group, couples, and family therapy.
  • Cannot prescribe medication.
  • Specialized in understanding presenting problems through a relational and systems lens.
  • View mental health concerns in the context of family dynamics, communication patterns, and social connection.
  • Specialize in couple and family therapy, can provide individual therapy.
  • Cannot prescribe medication.
  • Mental health clinician trained in psychotherapy and counseling techniques.
  • Use a wide variety of therapeutic approaches, most common CBT, DBT, and solution-focused approaches.
  • Provide individual, group, couples, and family therapy.
  • Work with presenting problems on a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions.
  • Cannot prescribe medication.
  • Medical doctors who specialize in mental health and psychiatric disorders.
  • Can prescribe medication, monitor side effects, and adjust treatment plans.
  • Provide diagnosis and prescribe medication for wide range of diagnosis.
  • Some also provide therapy, but primary focus on medication management.
  • Advanced practice registered nurses with specialized training in psychiatric care.
  • Can assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders.
  • Can prescribe medication and often provide supportive therapy.
  • Frequently work alongside psychiatrists in outpatient clinics and hospitals.

Questions & Qualities In a New Therapist / Counselor

Questions

  • What is your approach to counseling or therapy?
  • What type of counselor are you and what is your training?
  • How much experience do you have with problems or situations similar to mine?
  • If you formulate a diagnosis, will you inform me?
  • How often will we meet and how long do you generally end up working with someone like me? 

Qualities

  • Experience: The Counselor’s experience should be similar to the type of problem or symptoms you are experiencing. 
  • Compatibility: Within a few sessions you should begin to feel comfortable with your counselor and develop trust and feel you can work together. 
  • Personal Boundaries: Counselors should not spend the session discussing their own personal problems with you. 
  • Response to Feedback: Counselors should give straightforward answers to questions, discuss any conflict, and takes any complaints seriously

 

Local to Stockton & New Jersey Resources

National Resources