This first appointment, offered at no charge, is a comprehensive evaluation. We schedule one and a half hours for these appointments so that we have time to review the present situation that brings you to counseling, how are you coping, discuss your personal history, social support, and medical history. We will also want to know about your strengths and hopes for your future. Before the end of the session your practitioner will review their assessment, discuss with you what your options are, and help you formulate a plan to address your problem.
Options may include counseling, medication, education, specific suggestions or "homework", or referral to another agency. Sometimes, no further counseling is needed, because just talking the situation out during this initial appointment is all a student may need to get a handle on their situation.
You can usually continue to work with the same practitioner you saw for your first appointment, unless you request a change.
Confidentiality
All mental health services are confidential. No information can be released to anyone without your written consent. Rare exceptions to confidentiality are required by law. These exceptions are related to intent to harm other, self or situations where a child is being harmed.
About Our Staff
The Student Health and Counseling Center is staffed with four Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, and, at times, a graduate student intern.
Georgia DeKeyser, RN,MSN, ANP is the Associate Director of the Student Health and Counseling Center and is certified as both a Family Nurse Practitioner, and as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has lived in Alaska since 1984, and has been working at the Student Health Center in Mental Health Services since 1998. She enjoys outdoor Alaska, ice skating, bike riding, and reading.
Nancy Felton RN, MS, ANP is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with many years of experience in the mental health field, working in Colorado, Hawaii, Nome, and various agencies in Anchorage. She returned to the Student Health Center in 2005 after working at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nancy enjoys traveling, outdoor recreation, exercise and trying to be creative.Kathleen Mattews, RN, ANP is a nurse practioner with both psychiatric and family practice ANCC certification.
Chris Haskell, RN, MS, ANP is certified as a Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in the mental health field in both in-patient and out-patient settings. She has lived in Alaska since 1990, and joined the team at the Student Health and Counseling Center in 2008. She is an avid hiker, loves animals, and enjoys gardening, dancing, running and reading.
Kathleen Matthews, RN, ANP is a nurse practitioner with both psychiatric and family practice ANCC certification. Originally from Minnesota, Kathleen earned her Master's Degree in Nursing at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT in 1989. She has extensive and varied work experience and is regarded as a strong patient advocate. Kathleen moved to Alaska in 1995 to work in the Aleutian fishing village and went on to get married, have kids, and become a dog musher. She also enjoys reading, snowmaching, photography, and farm animals.
