Guidelines for Referral

Walking Together, Referring with Confidence:
Student Counseling Referral and Collaboration at Yuan Ze University

We sincerely thank faculty members, military instructors, and staff for your ongoing attentiveness and proactive care for students. To support you in referring students to counseling resources with greater confidence and smoother coordination, the Counseling and Career Guidance Section, Office of Student Affairs (hereinafter referred to as “the Section”), has compiled the following principles and procedures for student referrals. Thank you for your willingness to take an extra step for the well-being of our students.

I. What Is a Counseling Referral?

When a student encounters difficulties related to psychological well-being, learning, or career development, and after meeting with the student you assess that psychological counseling resources may more effectively help alleviate their distress, a referral may be made. With the student’s consent (hereinafter referred to as “the student”), the student is guided into the counseling/case management system—this process constitutes a counseling referral.

Psychological counseling is a process that facilitates self-understanding and exploration, while also promoting personal change and growth. Counseling psychologists accompany students as they face emotions and challenges, collaboratively discussing priorities and the appropriate depth of intervention. Through counseling, students gain greater self-awareness, clarify life challenges, and enhance their capacity to adapt to their surrounding environment.

II. When Is a Referral Needed?

If a student exhibits any of the following signs, there may be underlying concerns that warrant a referral:

1. Expressions of suicidal ideation in conversation or on social media.
2. Prolonged low mood or engagement in self-harming behaviors.
3. Exposure to violent crises (e.g., domestic violence, intimate partner violence) or gender-related incidents (e.g., sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual bullying, or stalking).
4. Severe psychological distress or suspected mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, panic disorder).
5. Significant recent changes in emotions or behavior (uncharacteristic behavior).
6. Recent experiences of trauma or loss (e.g., breakup, death of a family member or close friend).
7. A history of frequent substance or alcohol use.
8. Feelings of confusion or uncertainty regarding career direction.
9. A marked decline in academic performance.
10. Social withdrawal or interpersonal isolation that causes concern among peers.

III. Referral Procedures for General Students

1. Prior to referral, please first express care and concern for the student and obtain their consent, so that the student can receive support in a context of respect and understanding.
2. After obtaining consent, please contact the counseling psychologist assigned to the student’s department by phone in advance to explain the student’s situation, discuss collaborative approaches, and confirm subsequent arrangements. Kindly refrain from bringing students without prior appointment, as the departmental psychologist may not be able to provide immediate follow-up.
3. Once arrangements are confirmed, referrals may be implemented through one of the following three approaches:
   • (1) Provide the student with the departmental psychologist’s name and contact information, and ask the student to initiate contact and confirm when counseling will begin.
   • (2) You are welcome to accompany the student to the appointment at the agreed time. Your presence can significantly reduce the student’s anxiety when seeking help for the first time and is often very meaningful to them.
   • (3) If you assess that the student has low motivation to seek help, you may, with the student’s consent, request that the departmental psychologist initiate contact. In this case, please also provide the student with the psychologist’s name and contact information and remind them to check and respond to messages.
4. To protect student privacy and to avoid information gaps or delays in intervention, please do not contact the Section’s service desk extension or ask student assistants or counseling volunteers to relay referral information on your behalf.

IV. Gentle Reminders for Referrals

1. Referral information should be presented in concrete and objective terms whenever possible (e.g., recent behavioral changes, emotional responses, or descriptions of events). This helps the departmental psychologist gain a clearer and more timely understanding of the student’s situation.
2. Counseling is a collaborative process that involves cross-unit and cross-professional cooperation. After a referral is made, you remain an important member of the student support team. The departmental psychologist will provide appropriate progress updates and continue to work collaboratively with you until the student’s physical and psychological condition stabilizes and the crisis is alleviated.
3. Departments and Colleges Assigned to the Section’s Counseling Psychologists  (Please Click)

Once again, we sincerely thank faculty members, military instructors, and staff for remaining attentive to students’ physical and psychological well-being amid their busy schedules and for extending a caring hand. Your acts of support are an indispensable part of the campus support system.

Referral process of YZU