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Painful feelings such as anxiety, anger, depression, low self-esteem, and tension are a normal part of being human and can affect anyone. Sometimes these feelings are temporary and can be eased by rest, relaxation, exercise, good nutrition, and support of trusted friends. At other times, stressors, relationships, or past family experiences cannot be managed so easily and become overwhelming. When this happens, and you find it hard to function, you may want to seek professional help.
Boynton’s staff of psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, and licensed independent clinical social workers provide a variety of counseling options. Services available include individual and couple counseling and psychotherapy (up to ten visits per year for one or in combination), medication assessment and management, urgent consultation (phone or in person), a variety of group therapies, social work assistance, and chemical health assessment and treatment.
Up to eleven counseling visits per 12-month period are offered at Boynton’s Mental Health Clinic. These are by appointment and the first appointment needs to be made in person.
For follow up appointments or more information, call (612) 624-1444. If you'd like, you may view the next available appointment at the Mental Clinic online. Sorry, we do not offer online appointment scheduling at this time. There is no limitation to the number of medication management visits.
At the first meeting, you and a counselor will work together to assess your needs, clarify your concerns, and devise a plan for helpful service. Sometimes the most appropriate help for you will mean that you need services other than those that the Mental Health Clinic is able to offer. If this is so, the counselor will work to help you find services elsewhere to address your problems.
For most full time, degree-seeking students, your first visit to the mental health clinic has no copayment. Additional visits typically require a $10 copayment.
The Mental Health Clinic at Boynton is open to full-time, degree-seeking students who pay the mandatory Student Services Fee. During summer semester, students who did not pay the Student Services Fee during summer term can be seen at the clinic if they were registered as fee-paying students during spring semester.
We have a therapist who is available on an urgent basis for consultation. There are several ways to access this individual. Call the direct line for the Urgent Mental Health Consultation at (612) 625-8475. If the counselor is available, the phone will be answered directly. If the counselor is busy or seeing another student, please leave a message. The line is confidential. Include your phone number and best time to reach you. On occasion, calls cannot be responded to immediately but every effort will be made to respond by the end of the day or within 24 hours. Upon speaking with a counselor, it will be determined if the phone consultation is sufficient or if an appointment should be scheduled. Referral to service in the community may also occur.
Another option is to come directly to the Mental Health Clinic at Boynton and let the staff know you want to be seen on an urgent basis. If our counselor is available, you will be seen at that time. If not, the counselor will be called to triage your particular situation and find another time that you can be seen. We will make every attempt to see you that day or within 24 hours if your concern cannot wait for a regular scheduled therapy appointment. Medication is generally not prescribed on an urgent basis. We will do our best to arrange for you to have a medical assessment in our first available time slot.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. For after hours phone counseling, you may call the Crisis Connection at (612) 379-6363. When Boynton is closed, you can call or be seen at a community crisis facility, such as:
Hennepin County Acute Psychiatric Services and University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Riverside Campus charge fees for their services. Clients who use these services in person may incur charges.
Mental Health Clinic
(612) 624-1444 Information and Appointments
If you'd like, you may view the next available appointment at the Mental Clinic online.
410 Church Street S.E., Mpls, MN 55455 - Parking
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Meet the Mental Health Clinic providers
Intake Assessment Form (PDF)
Please complete this form and bring it with you to Boynton's Mental Health Clinic in order to schedule your first appointment.
Release of Information Form (PDF)
If you would like to authorize another person to have access to your Mental Health Clinic medical records, please complete this form and turn it in to the Mental Health Clinic check-in-desk.
Do you experience excessive irrational fear and dread that makes daily functioning difficult? Fear in social situations? Excessive worrying, feeling keyed up, or being unable to relax? Physical symptoms related to worry? Difficulty going somewhere that's not familiar? Unwelcome thoughts or rituals? If so, you may benefit from participating in an anxiety group.
Boynton's Mental Health Clinic offers a student anxiety group. For more information, call (612) 625-8475.
The Eating Disorder Group at Boynton Health Service is an open-ended, ongoing therapy group. Students can join the group at any time and stay as long as needed. The Eating Disorder Group can be helpful to those students who are just beginning to address their eating issues, students actively working on change, or students in recovery or relapsing. The Group’s focus will be on symptom management, developing alternative coping strategies, and identifying underlying issues. For more information, call (612) 625-8475.
The University of Minnesota offers confidential, specialized help to students with eating disorders. This includes mental health care, medical care, and nutrition assessments at Boynton Health Service. Group therapy is offered through the Boynton Health Service Mental Health Clinic. In addition, referrals to outside resources can be provided by Boynton Health Service as needed.
Eating Disorder Assessment
You can begin the process of initiating care by visiting the Boynton Health Service Mental Health Clinic to set up an appointment for an “Eating Disorder Assessment”. This initial assessment appointment must be made in person. If you have questions about the program or how to initiate care call (612) 625-8475. If you have already talked with a provider at Boynton Health Service about your interest in getting help with an eating disorder, that provider can help direct you to the appropriate next step.
Medical Consultation
If you have an eating disorder, you may run the risk of serious medical problems. As part of your treatment at Boynton Health Service, you will meet with a Primary Care provider. The provider will determine your physical stability and provide follow-up care if needed. Call (612) 625-3222 to schedule an appointment for an "40 Minute Medical Consultation" with a member of the eating disorder team.
Nutrition Consultation
Another part of your treatment at Boynton Health Service is to talk with a nutritionist who can provide individualized nutrition counseling. Call (612) 625-3222 to schedule an appointment for a “Nutrition Consultation”. Upon completing these steps, the professional staff at Boynton Health Service will guide you in determining the best care option for you. Options include the Eating Disorder Group at Boynton Health Service or a referral to an outside intensive program.
