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Welcome to the Counseling & Advocacy Center!

The mission of the Counseling & Advocacy Center is to provide services which help students overcome life challenges to achieve academic success and attain their educational goals. We provide Personal Counseling, Victim and Gender Advocacy, services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender students, Prevention and Education programs, the Women’s Resource Center Library and resources for students with emergency needs such as the Clothing Bank and Food Pantry. The Counseling & Advocacy center is the home of the Women’s Resource Center and Addiction Recovery Services.

Counseling Services

Sometimes life’s challenges feel overwhelming. The Counseling & Advocacy Center can help you develop answers to personal difficulties through short term individual counseling. We provide support for you to find solutions and feel better. Some concerns that students seek counseling for include:
Academic Stressors
Relationship Problems

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Career Guidance

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Career Guidance

At the Counseling & Advocacy Center, our counselors are trained to help you think about the career path that best suits your values, skills and life goals. We provide vocational assessment for students and community members as well as free career planning and guidance.  We coordinate with the KCKCC Career Placement Center to provide support for students who are ready to enter the work world. Vocational assessment includes:

  • Strong Interest Inventory
  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
  • Self-Directed Search
  • Work Values Inventory
  • Transferable Skills Assessment

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Depression and Anxiety

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Depression and Anxiety

In a national survey, 30% of college students reported that they experienced depressed feelings and anxiety that made it hard for them to get through the day.  Depression is a medical illness that affects your ability to think, concentrate, and make decisions.  Stress makes depression and anxiety worse. If you are struggling, we are here to help you with counseling, support and referrals.
Grief and Loss

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Substance Abuse Recovery

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Substance Abuse Recovery

The Substance Abuse Recovery program is focused on serving the students of KCKCC, providing individual counseling to help our students gain tools to live free from substance use.  We provide educational resources and presentations to groups both on campus and in the community.  Please contact us at 913-288-7640 for additional information about these services.

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Smoking Cessation

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Smoking Cessation

Kansas City Kansas Community College is a Tobacco Free Campus. If you are thinking about quitting tobacco use, or need support to get started, we offer individual or group counseling.  We can help customize a plan that works to give you immediate success.  These supports are available to students, staff and faculty.  You can quit, we can help. Stop by and talk with one of our counselors about your choice for a healthier you!
 

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Suicidal Thoughts

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Suicidal Thoughts

You matter. Talking with someone safe is the first step to feeling better.  Walk in to Jewell Building Room 3371 or call the Counseling & Advocacy Center at (913) 288-7640. We are here to listen and help.  See our Crisis Intervention information for after hours support.

The Women’s Resource Center

The Women’s Resource Center helps both women and men deal with gender issues, from gender equity to victim and gender advocacy.  Gender Equity combats traditional gender stereotypes through educational programing and individual assistance to students as they discover occupations that fit their personalities regardless of their gender.  Victim and Gender Advocacy includes a broad array of services and supports such as violence prevention programing, responding to issues of sexual harassment, assault and relationship violence and helping students understand affectional orientation and gender identity.  The work of the Women’s Resource Center supports an end to gender discrimination, so that all students can live happier, healthier, and fuller lives. 

Women's Resource Library List

Violence Prevention and Gender Advocacy Services

Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Relationship Violence and Stalking are all crimes of power and control.  They are a violation of Title IX protections for students and not tolerated on our campus. If you are the victim of one of these crimes, we can help you reclaim your power through nonjudgmental support and advocacy. As a survivor, you have the right to choose if and when to report the assault; you decide how you want to proceed.  

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Sexual Harassment

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Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment includes a wide range of behaviors that are characterized by unwanted sexual behavior in professional relationships. Harassment can range from inappropriate jokes and remarks, sexual advances, unwanted touching, to asking for sexual favors.  People of all genders may experience sexual harassment.  We can help you report sexual harassment so that it stops.
 

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Sexual Assault

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Sexual Assault
We provide counseling, advocacy and assistance with reporting for persons who have experienced Sexual Assault.  Any nonconsensual sexual act is considered Sexual Assault.  Consent for sexual behavior has to be clear and voluntary; it must be ongoing throughout the encounter and can be revoked at any time. Intimidation, coercion and physical force in sexual activity is sexual assault. Consent cannot be given by someone who is asleep, unconscious, intoxicated or severely developmental delayed.   

If you have experienced a Sexual Assault
  •  Get Safe. Go to a safe place away from your attacker. You may find it helpful to call a trusted friend or family member.   • Get medical help.  There are Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) at KU Medical Center, Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Overland Park Regional Medical Center.  These nurses receive special training to help victims of sexual assault.
  • Get Justice. Preserve your evidence. Don’t change your clothes, bathe, shower, eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, comb your hair, or douche. And if you already have, don’t let that keep you from seeking medical attention.
  • Get Support. The Counseling & Advocacy Center can provide you confidential counseling and advocacy to process your emotions and decide how to respond to a sexual assault. Call us at (913) 288-7193. If you need assistance after business hours, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) provides support through their 24 hour crisis line and can be reached at (913) 642-0233. 

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Relationship Violence

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Relationship Violence

Relationship Violence is also known as domestic violence, intimate partner violence or dating violence. It also includes roommate violence. Relationship violence is characterized by mental, emotional, physical, sexual or financial power and domination of one partner over another. The Counseling & Advocacy Center is here to help you with relationship concerns and provide support to end violence.

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Stalking

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Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact or any other course of conduct that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.  Stalking may include knowing your schedule, showing up at place you go, sending mail, email and pictures, repeated calling and texting, and posting about you on social networks.  If this is happening to you, we can help.

LGBT Services

The Counseling & Advocacy Center is a strong ally for members of the LGBTQIA community. Our resource center is located in room 3372 and we advise the Gay-Straight Alliance on campus. We provide support including:

Individual Counseling

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OQS Diversity Club

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The OQS Diversity Club
The Out, Questioning and Straight (OQS) Diversity Club is the Gay-Straight Alliance at KCKCC.  OQS works to provide support for all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex and Straight individuals to create a safe, welcoming and equitable environment at Kansas City Kansas Community College.  The OQS Diversity Club works toward creating understanding and acceptance through education, social activities and mentoring.  If you are interested in the OQS Diversity Club, please contact club advisor Jennifer Gieschen at (913) 288-7193. Find us on Facebook.
• Coming Out Day
• Day of Silence
• Ally Appreciation Day
• Fund Raisers
• Conferences
 

Education and Advocacy

Making life better through educational programs that address issues of concerns to students is an essential part of the work of the Counseling & Advocacy Center. Our counselors are available to provide workshops and programs to create awareness and understanding on a broad range of advocacy, mental health and healthy lifestyle issues.  We provide education through:

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Women’s Resource Library

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Over 1,000 books on personal and career development, mental health, gender and diversity studies and women’s health are available for checkout to students and the community. Come by or contact Jennifer Gieschen at (913)288-7193 for more information.

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Monthly Brown Bag Programs

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Monthly lunchtime programs on timely topics of interest available to students, faculty, staff, and the community.

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The Inclusive Voice Newsletter

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The Inclusive Voice
Monthly newsletter designed to provide resource information on a variety of topics for the adult learner.

Recent Editions

Social Services Referral and Resources

Are financial stressors making it tough to meet your academic goals? We can guide you to supports in the community and offer resources to help with an urgent need through:
Food Pantry
Clothing Bank

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Student Emergency Services

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This service provides one time, limited support for currently enrolled students with an emergency situation who would be at risk to leave school without special assistance.  Please contact the Counseling & Advocacy Center at (913) 288-7640 for additional information.

Crisis Intervention

A person is in crisis when their ability to act and think clearly is impaired and they are unable to cope with problems.  Crisis situations may include but are not limited to:

Suicidal or Self Harming thoughts
News of the death of a loved one
Experiencing a traumatic event
Physical or Sexual Assault
Relationship Violence

The Counseling & Advocacy Center is not a 24 hour mental health agency. Office hours are from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday in the Jewell Building, Room 3371.  If you are experiencing a crisis situation during office hours, you can walk in to our office or call 913-288-7640 and ask to speak to a counselor. 

If you are in need of crisis support after 5:30 pm or during the weekend you can access help in these ways:

  • Campus Police (913) 288-7636
  • Mental Health Crisis Line – Wyandot Center 913-788-4200
  • KU Med Center Emergency Room – 3901 Rainbow Blvd. Kansas City, KS
  • Suicide Prevention Hotline – (800) 273-8255
  • Trevor Lifeline- Suicide Prevention for LGBT youth 866-488-7386

 

 

The Inclusive Voice Newsletter

Contact Information
Linda Warner - Director 913-288-7194

Jennifer Gieschen - Coordinator
913-288-7193

In Focus

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7250 State Avenue | Kansas City, KS 66112 | 913-334-1100
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