Counseling Center

students in Dame Mall

Welcome to the Franklin College Counseling Center.

The Center provides students with support and resources to help them to achieve their personal goals and enhance their experience at Franklin College.

The center offers counseling to individuals, groups, and provides workshops to campus organizations on a variety of psycho-social issues. Our licensed counselors provide services to all students free of charge.

Location and Hours

The counseling center is in room 222 in the Napolitan Student Center, above the tray return area of the cafeteria. Hours are Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The counselors are happy to meet with students in-person or virtually, depending on the student’s comfort level. Students can indicate their preference when completing an availability schedule or email with the counselor prior to the appointment. If a student is not feeling well or experiencing symptoms of illness, the student should email the counselor to change the appointment date or meet virtually. Both the counselor and the student will be in masks for all in-person appointments, and each counselor uses a HEPA air purifier in the office during appointments.

Counseling Staff

Sara M. Kinder, MSW, LCSW, is the director of the Counseling Center. Sara has been with Franklin College since March 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in applied health science from Indiana University (Bloomington), where she studied human development and family studies, psychology, sociology and human sexuality. Sara obtained her master’s degree in social work from Indiana University (Indianapolis).  Sara is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), a form of psychotherapy as a treatment for trauma and has clinical interests in anxiety, relationship and communication issues, anger and grief.  Sara feels honored to be with students in their most vulnerable state and hopes to always make students feel welcome, safe, and supported. Sara’s personal hobbies include travel, cooking and baking, trying new restaurants, camping, being in nature, and spending time with friends and family.  skinder1@FranklinCollege.edu

Annie Kruse, MSW, LSW, is a counselor in the Counseling Center. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver. Her professional experience includes working with at-at risk youth, college students, families and individuals. Her professional interests include depression, anxiety, trauma, learning differences and self-esteem. Annie believes in a client-centered and strength-based approach to therapy.  Annie believes that college is a time of transformation and discovery. She is passionate about working with students to help overcome challenges so they may grow and develop in to their most authentic selves. Annie’s personal hobbies include spending time with her two Australian Shepherds, DIY home projects, reading and international travel. akruse@FranklinCollege.edu

Updates

To receive up-to-date information on offerings and resources from the counseling center, please visit https://linktr.ee/franklincollegecounseling, follow the Counseling Center on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/franklincollegecounseling/, and Twitter at https://twitter.com/FC_Counseling.  The Counseling Center also offers an app free to students (and faculty and staff), Oasis, for free wellbeing tools, resources and counseling center updates. It can be downloaded from the respective app store by visiting the link https://oasisapp.com/.

Crisis

If you are experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts, please call 911 immediately. You can also call the Franklin College Office of Security at 317.738.8888.  Additional resources for suicide include: the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available 24/7 by phone at 1.800.273.8255 or chat at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/, the crisis text line available 24/7 by texting HOME to 741741, or the Trevor Project available 24/7 to LGBTQ young people by phone at 1.866.488.7386 or chat or text at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/.

Counseling Center FAQs

How do I make an appointment?

To initiate an appointment with a counselor and indicate a counselor preference if you have one, complete the Availability Schedule and Intake Paperwork tabs at this webpage: https://titanium.franklincollege.edu/counseling. You can also make an appointment with a counselor by emailing them directly, or both of them at counselingcenter@FranklinCollege.edu. Lastly, you can visit the office of student development on the 2nd floor of the Napolitan Student Center and ask the executive secretary to make an appointment with a counselor or call directly at 317.738.8555. 

What can I expect from counseling?

Counseling is a safe process in which you share your thoughts, feeling and behaviors with a counselor. Counseling sessions typically last about 45 minutes in the office. Some clients come in for only one session and others visit more frequently. Students can talk about anything in counseling without fear of judgment or shame. The counselors support students through various issues such as roommate conflicts, stress, grief, anxiety and depression, and many more.

Is what I share confidential?

The counseling center at abides by the ethics of their respective licenses and by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. Confidentiality is considered an ethical priority in the counseling center.

Indiana state law and ethical standards obligate a breach of confidence in the following circumstances: (1) clear and imminent danger to client or others, i.e., suicide, homicide; (2) knowledge of current child or elder abuse; and (3) a court order for client records.

What happens in the case of sexual assault?

If you or a friend have experienced sexual assault, rape, or nonconsensual contact of any kind you may call security at 317.738.8888 or 911 for immediate assistance. The counselors on in the Counseling Center are both confidential sources, so they are available to students to support, help process, and assist students with resources and information without having to report any identifying information to the Title IX office.  The campus nurse and campus chaplain are the only other two confidential sources on campus.  There are several off campus resources including ASSIST, at 317.739.4456, and the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network at 1.800.656.HOPE or www.rainn.org.

Please see the college handbook for further information.

What is consultation?

The counselors provide consultation to a variety of persons. If you are concerned about a student, you can speak with a counselor about your concerns.