Personal Counseling Services
At Prairie State College, our Personal Counseling Services are designed to help with
your well-being and academic success.
At Prairie State College, our Personal Counseling Services are designed to help with your well-being and academic success. We help with psychological, social, and emotional issues through short-term counseling. Referrals for long-term support are provided as needed.
On-campus Counseling
Ms. Shannon Word, a licensed professional counselor, provides on campus confidential short-term counseling. Some additional free services include assistance with: Test anxiety, Study skills Time management Stress management Social, emotional, and psychological concerns - Referrals for long-term care, housing, and other basic needs
Please contact Shannon Word at sword@prairiestate.edu to inquire about on-campus counseling services.
On-Campus Counseling - Shannon Word
Personal Counseling Contact:
Shannon Word, NCC, LCPC
Personal Counselor
sword@prairiestate.edu
708-709-3511
If you are experencing an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
Virtual Counseling Services
PSC offers free virtual counseling, workshops, and a resource library through
BetterMynd. Counselors are available during the day and evening, seven days a week.
The virtual counseling appointments are live, 50-minute, one-on-one sessions that are private and confidential. Select the link below to register with BetterMynd and explore opportunities.
Peer Support
TalkCampus provides virtual peer-to-peer chats, groups, and more. The virtual service
is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Virtual Screenings
You can now “check in” on your well-being. Screenings are free, confidential, and only
take a few minutes to complete. Select from twelve options (i.e., constantly worried
or
stressed, struggling with anger, etc.), answer a series of questions, and
receive resources and lifestyle factors that can assist.
We’re here to help.
- Vital Resources – We offer support if you need essential resources – food, clothing, housing, help with daycare, and more.
- Academic Support – We help you overcome test anxiety, develop stress management skills, strengthen study habits, and more.
- Success Counseling - Workshops and educational activities are offered to equip students with tools to ensure success in the classroom.
- Virtual Check In - We offer a virtual option to check in on your mental wellbeing.
Personal Counseling Resources
BetterMynd provides free virtual counseling, workshops, and a
resource library. Counselors are available during the day and evening, seven days
a
week. The virtual counseling appointments are live, 50-minute, one-on-one sessions
that are private and confidential.
(800) 662-4357
https://www.mhagcusa.org/service-providers-directory/crisis-hotlines.html
If you need immediate assistance, visit the link above to access a directory of various crisis hotlines.
Text HOME to 741741
Provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.
https://www.crisistextline.org/about-us/
1 (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
Available 24/7, The Hotline has highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages. The hotline’s expert advocates also provide essential tools and support, such as creating safety plans to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.
For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 9-8-8
https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/en-espanol/
(800) 273-8255
Provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
TalkCampus encourages and celebrates the power of human connection by building safe online communities worldwide. Download TalkCampus today to connect with other students in a non-judgmental environment, 24/7.
Mental Wellbeing Check In
Your mental health matters.
Take a quick, easy, confidential screening
with information regarding free resources in addition to on-campus and community
services.
Addictions
South Suburban Council for Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, 1909 Checker Avenue, Hazel
Crest / 708.647.3333
Haymarket Center (Chemical Dependence Treatment Programs) / http://www.hcenter.org / 312.226.7984
Rosecrance Adolescent Substance Abuse, Frankfort, IL / 815.391.1000
Adult Literacy Services
Cancer Support
708.798.9171 / Cancersupportcenter.org
Career Services / Unemployment Support
National Able / 708.709.7970 / chghts@nationalable.org
IDES / 708.709.7970 / chghts@nationalable.org
Charities
Catholic Charities (non-denominational) / 312.655.7459 (Spanish) / 708.333.8379 / 877.426.6515
Childcare and Assistance
Action for Children Child Care Resource and Referral / http://www.actforchilcren.org
Illinois All Kids Insurance Program / https://allkidscovered.com
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) / https://www.womeninfantschildrenoffice.com/Illinois-wic-application-wa13
Catholic Charities (non-denominational) / 312.655.7459 (Spanish) / 708.333.8379 / 877.426.6515
Clothing (Emergency Need)
Respond Now / 708.755.4357
PSC Student Career Development Center / 708.709.3755
Counseling
Access Psychological Services, South Holland, IL (assessments, individual, couple
and family therapy, anger management, bereavement, etc. Medicaid accepted and sliding
fee scale) / 708.825.1986 / http://www.ctfillinois.org/what_we_do/access-psychological-services.html
Governors State University (individual, group, family), University Park, IL / 708.534.4545 / 708.444.1012
Grand Prairie Services (individual and family counseling, sliding fee scale) / 708.444.1012 (various locations) / gpsbh.org
Sertoma at The Living Room, Matteson, IL (provides FREE counseling from 4-8 pm) /
708.748.1951 / https://sertomacentre.org/services
Ingalls Memorial Drive / 708.333.2300 / ingalls.org/behavioral-health.aspx
Sertoma Center / 708.478.1951
Dating Violence
South Suburban Family Shelter (domestic violence) / 708.798.7737
South Suburban YWCA (therapeutic help and advocacy for sexual assault) / 708.754.0486
Dental
Aunt Martha's / 877.692.8686
Prairie State College Dental Hygiene Clinic / 708.709.3707
Access and Disability Services
Prairie State College / Shelley Tekeste / 708.709.3603 / stekeste@prairiestate.edu
Vocational Rehabilitation / South Suburban Cook County American Job Center @ PSC /
708.709.7970
Displaced Workers
National Able / South Suburban Cook County American Job Center @ PSC / 708.709.7970
Domestic Violence
Crisis Center for South Suburbia / 708.429.7233 (English and Spanish) / 708.429.7255
South Suburban Family Shelter / 708.335.3028 (English and Spanish hotline)
Emergency Assistance
Catholic Charities, South Suburban Region, 16100 Seton Drive, South Holland, IL /
708.333.8379
Jones Center, Chicago Heights, IL / 708.755.4357 / www.respondnow.org
Greater Chicago Food Depository Agency / https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org
Respond Now, Chicago Heights, IL / 708.755.4357 / www.respondnow.org
Employment/Career Services
Chicago Heights Park District Job Fair (yearly), 1400 Chicago Road, Chicago Heights,
IL
National Able / South Suburban Cook County American Job Center @ PSC / 708.709.7970 / chghts@nationalable.org
Food Pantries
Bloom Township Office (must be a Bloom Township resident) / 708.754.9400, 425 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL / M 3-7 pm/W 10-2 pm
Chicago Heights Park District (every 4th of the month @ 9 am), 1400 Chicago Road,
Chicago Heights, IL / 708.755.1351
Emmanuel Church (every 2nd Wednesday 4-6 pm), 22515 Torrence Avenue, Sauk Village,
IL / Contact: Ted Young 708.758.3343
Greater Chicago Food Depository (search by zip code) / https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food
New Zion/BOOC Joseph Store HS, 14200 Chicago Road, Dolton, IL / M 11-1 pm, S 10-1 pm / Contact: Mary Wood 708.849.6904
Respond Now, 1439 Emerald Avenue, Chicago Heights, IL / M/F 10-5 pm / W 10-7 pm / 708.755.4357
St. Irenaeus, 207 S. Orchard Park, Sauk Village, IL / M 10-12 pm / 708.748.6891
Grief and Loss
Centre for New Beginnings / 708.503.9670 ext. 8432
Homeless Shelter
PADS / 708.754.4357
South Suburban Family Shelter / 708.283.1421
Hotline Numbers
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline / 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
National Sexual Assault Hotline / 1.800.656.HOPE (4673)
Housing
Heartland Alliance / 312.660.1300 / https://www.heartlandalliance.org/heartland-housing
Housing Authority of Cook County / https://thehacc.org
South Suburban PADS (emergency) / 708.332.7700 / http://www.sspads.org
Immigration Services
Communidad En Accion, 202 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL / TH 6-8 pm / Contact: Lorena Varela 708.510.8989 / https://ceadeil.wixsite.com/ceadeil
Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRIR), 228 S. Wabash Avenue,
Suite 800, Chicago, IL / 312.332.7360
Visa Services (TBD)
Legal
Chicago Legal Clinic Pro Bono Program / 773.731.1662 / http://www.clclaw.org
Illinois Legal Aid / 312.977.9047
Legal Assistance Foundation / 312.271.4950 / 312.341.1070
Medical Services
Access Family Health, 152 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights, IL / Offers sliding
scale with proof of income – Medicaid application assistance at clinic / 708.754.9687
Aunt Martha's Community Health Center, 1536 Vincennes Avenue, Chicago Heights, IL
/ Offers sliding scale with proof of income – Medicaid application assistance at clinic
/ 877.692.8686
Aunt Martha's Women's Health Clinic, 233 Joe Orr Road, Chicago Heights, IL / Offers
sliding scale with proof of income – Medicaid application assistance at clinic / 877.692.8686
Aunt Martha's Pediatric Health and Wellness Center, 500 Dixie Highway, Chicago Heights,
IL / Offers sliding scale with proof of income – Medicaid application assistance at
clinic / 877.692.8686
Reentry Services
GEO Group / 708.754.6980
Rental Assistance
Catholic Charities (non-denominational) / 312.655.7459 (Spanish) / 708.333.8379 / 877.426.6515
Substance Abuse
Aunt Martha's / 877.692.8686
Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery @ Ingalls Health System / 800.522.3784
South Suburban Council (telephone screening required) / 708.647.3333
Suicide Prevention
Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS) / 800.345.9049 or Crisis Referral Entry Services (CARES)
Sertoma Centre / 708.748.1951
Transportation
Chicago Heights Park District, 1400 Chicago Road, Chicago Heights, IL / Dial-a-Ride
Service Days: M-F 8-3 pm / Reservation: Call 24 hours in advance / Cost: $2.00 / Eligibility: Age 55 or older,
disabled with some restrictions / 708.755.1351
Pace (suburban bus system) / 847.364.7000
RTA (route for public transportation) / 708.836.7000
Utility Bills/Weatherization Programs
CEDA (Community of Economic Development Assoc. of Cook County) / 800.571.2332 / 708.754.4575
Respond Now (food, shelter, utility assistance) / 708.332.0100 Blue Island / 219.838.0380 Munster