Counseling and Psychiatry

Counseling Help

UIC Student Health and Wellness are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and affirming environment for all students. We commit ourselves to creating an environment based on values that allow our diverse student body to access care, receive high quality services and take positive pathways to sound mental health.

We recognize that many factors – including culture, racial/ethnic identities, socioeconomic status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, political viewpoints, religious/spiritual and/or philosophical beliefs, and physical and cognitive abilities – are salient in students’ lives, and we are committed to welcoming all clients with respect and sensitivity.

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Counseling Heading link

Visits for counseling and wellness services are a part of your mandatory student health service fee and are then “free” at time of service for all registered students seeking care at Student Health and Wellness Rockford.

No referral is necessary for a visit with a Student Health and Wellness Rockford counselor. There are no limits on the number of visits to see a counselor in Student Health and Wellness.  You are able to schedule and obtain services as needed throughout your career here as a student of our health science campus.

We offer a variety of services, such as but not limited to:

  • Individual, group, and couple’s counseling
  • Mind/body services
  • Coaching
  • Outreach services and programming
  • Consultations and referrals as indicated.

Issues commonly addressed through individual or group counseling:

  • Academic-related issues such as struggles with motivation, perfectionism, communication, and self-discipline.
  • Problems with mood or self-esteem
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loneliness
  • Stress/burnout
  • School and life balance
  • Drugs and alcohol
  • Relationship problems or family conflicts
  • Grief and loss
  • Trauma
  • Focus, concentration or memory concerns
  • Sadness or feeling overwhelmed
  • Difficulty coping with change or transition

All Psychiatry and Counseling records are strictly confidential as protected by law and are not available to or visible to anyone outside of our clinic.

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Office visits for psychiatry services are available to you by referral on campus in Student Health and Wellness on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday of every month.

Psychiatrist Ben Shepherd, MD, and Judie Heinschel, PhD, APN, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, are both in-network providers for CampusCare and copays for office visits are $15 due at the time of service. They also are on a number of private and public aide health plans – which you can easily verify on your own by calling your insurance network. Please be prepared with your ID and insurance card at the time of visit.

To obtain a referral, please schedule a visit to establish care with our Student Health and Wellness primary care provider Noel M. Pycior, MS, FNP-BC, at the number listed above.

Be prepared to plan ahead for office visits by scheduling necessary follow up appointments and planning ahead for any medication refills. Appointments are conveniently available both in the office and via telehealth, along with evening opportunities every Wednesday.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, we ask that you kindly cancel 24 hours ahead of time to avoid a no-show charge and to allow others the opportunity to schedule.

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  • The UIC Gender and Sexuality Center understands intersecting identities and the multiple layers of diversity within LGBTQIA identities including race, class, ability, geography, immigration status, and religious affiliation. You can contact them during limited business hours by calling (312) 413-8619 or emailing them at lgbtqa@uic.edu.
  • The Trevor Project specializes in supporting people in the LGBTQ community. You can call them any time at 866-488-7386. They also have a chat service and a text service (text START to 678-678) that are available 24/7/365.
  • Student Veterans Affairs at UIC provides caring and personalized support to UIC undergraduate and graduate student veterans. We help our veterans navigate the campus and provide a welcoming space, mentoring from student veterans, guidance on educational benefits, and tools to succeed academically and personally. Though the Dean of Students’ office (1200 West Harrison St., Suite 3030) is currently physically closed, you can reach out about Student Veteran Affairs by emailing dos@uic.edu or by calling during business hours 312-996-4857.
  • The Veterans Crisis Line is a 24/7 service available to all veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve, and their family and friends. Call 800-273-8255 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online to talk to a VA professional, many of whom are veterans themselves.
  • At Mental health is Health, explore information and resources that’s broken down into three categories: “For You,” “For a Friend,” and “SOS.” Find out what best suits your needs.
  • Hope For The Day is a non-profit movement empowering the conversation on proactive suicide prevention and mental health. You can find helpful mental health resources on their website, such as tips on how to support a friend, signs someone may need help and how to ask for help.
  • NAMI‘s College Student Mental Health Guide will help you navigate some of the life changes that may or may not occur during your time at UIC.
  • The National Institute of Mental Health is the lead federal agency for research on mental health disorders. Their website has several resources, including information on mental health disorders, statistics on prevalence and treatment, help for mental illnesses, information on clinical trials and brochures and fact sheets on mental disorders.
  • VeryWell Mind has information about mental health disorders and mental health topics in easy-to-read news posts. Take quizzes or listen to their mental health podcast, where they invite special guests to discuss concerns and strategies.
  • Psych Central has resources about mental health and wellbeing. It offers wellness-related news topics like grief, emotional health, sex and relationships, trauma, understanding therapy and workplace mental health.
  • Happify is a one-stop shop app that offers videos, tools and exercises to inspire, relax and help your cognitive mindset each day.
  • Calm is an app that’s available on Android or iOS that offers sleep stories, guided meditation and peace of mind. It also provides backgrounds and songs that stimulate restfulness.
  • Nod is a research-backed app for students that taps into positive psychology and the science of social connections to help you build the friendships you want and need. Offered free to UIC students.
  • Through science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools, Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you.