Let’s Talk

What is Let’s Talk? 

Let’s Talk is a program designed to be an either in-person or virtual, informal, drop-in mental health consultation. It is for all UTD students who may want to talk to a mental health professional from the Student Counseling Center (SCC) to get their perspective about current concerns, advice, support and resources/information about mental health. Students can attend Let’s Talk at one of our participating campus partner locations. Please see the schedule for more information. This program is not designed to replace counseling or other mental health treatments.

Let’s Talk Consultations 

• Brief informal consultation with a mental health professional from the Student Counseling Center
• Free  
• Join a virtual space or drop-in at one of our in-person locations 

Let’s Talk Can Help When:

• You’re unsure what counseling is and want to get more information on the counseling process. 
• You’re not interested in ongoing counseling but would like a brief consultation from a professional. 
• You’re concerned about a friend and would like support and guidance. 
• You’re interested in resources in the community or on campus. 

Let’s Talk is Not For: 

• Students having a mental health or medical emergency/crisis. 
• Students wanting psychiatric services.
• Students interested in ongoing counseling, group counseling or couple counseling. 

Students interested in ongoing services should contact the SCC by email or sign up for an initial consultation. We will respond to your message within 1-2 business days. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. If you are in crisis and need to speak to a mental health professional, call UTD TALK 972-883-8255 (24 hours a day/7 days a week). 

Let’s Talk: Spring 2024 Hours 

In-person Let’s Talk

Let’s Talk will be offering in-person drop-in visits in various locations on campus during the Spring 2024 semester – please refer to the schedule below for more details. Come by yourself, or bring a friend, meet mental health professionals, get free snacks, chat about mental health or anything that’s on your mind, or just say “HI.” Everyone is welcome! Look for a Let’s Talk sign at the designated locations. (*NOTE – Let’s Talk is NOT a confidential service; privacy & confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for in-person Let’s Talk occurring outside the SCC given that it is public locations where other people are present.) 

Virtual Let’s Talk

If you can’t come in-person or just need to be in the comfort of your own space, then virtual Let’s Talk is for you. Please refer to the schedule below for available options. You can click the Teams link to attend a Let’s Talk session within the available hour. When the mental health professional is available, they will welcome you into the virtual space.  

Questions?  

Are you interested in Let’s Talk but don’t see available times? Are you interested in speaking with a counselor who holds and/or identifies with a particular identity? Email Emily Akins, LPC (she/her) at emily.akins@utdallas.edu for more information. 

How to Prepare for a Virtual Let’s Talk

• Create a Microsoft Teams account utilizing your UTD NetID and password (if applicable). 
• Ensure you have a working computer/phone and Wi-Fi (if needed). 
• Find a private and quiet space where you feel comfortable talking. 
• Be available and ready to engage in the session at your selected day/time.
• Once you click the Teams meeting link, you will be in a “waiting room”. When the clinician is available, they will bring you into the virtual meeting space.  
• If you have requested a phone session, you will receive a call from a number starting with 972-883-XXXX. 

Disclaimer 

• Let’s Talk is an informal consultation only. It is not counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. 
• Let’s Talk is NOT a confidential service. There are limitations to confidentiality. Let’s Talk clinicians are required by law to report when there is an imminent threat of harm to you or others. Let’s Talk clinicians are required to report when a minor, elderly person or someone otherwise incapacitated is being abused or neglected. Let’s Talk conversations are not part of students’ releasable records. 
• If your Let’s Talk clinician assesses that you could benefit from a higher level of care, every effort will be made to refer you to the appropriate resource(s) at the university or within the surrounding community. 

UTD Let’s Talk is modeled in part with the help of “Let’s Talk” program at Ohio State University.